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Royal Mail has unveiled ambitious plans to roll out over 300 green upgrades across its estate, targeting heating, lighting, and water systems as part of its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2040. Among the enhancements, Royal Mail is introducing its first-ever gas-free heating system alongside other energy-saving measures.
The improvements—ranging from motion sensor lighting to centrally controlled heating and water systems—are projected to cut 3,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. These initiatives will be implemented across Royal Mail's extensive property portfolio, which includes more than 1,200 operational sites and offices across the UK. These sites and offices currently account for around 8% of the company's total emissions.
In the coming year, several sites will switch to air-source heat pumps and district heat networks, while Royal Mail plans to replace older boilers with more energy-efficient models as part of its long-term low-carbon strategy.
In addition, nearly 100 locations will undergo complete LED lighting overhauls, enhanced with motion sensors, which are expected to cut emissions and make room for electric vehicle charging stations or heating systems. Further, over 120 sites will upgrade to centralized heating control via advanced building energy management systems, while up to 80 sites will receive water-saving features such as urinal controls, marking a significant step toward Royal Mail's sustainability goals.
"Our property estate is one of the largest in the country, and it plays an important role in helping us meet our goal of being net zero by 2040," said Stuart Hookins, Royal Mail director of property and facilities solutions. "Effective energy management, new building technologies, and investment in our portfolio and assets are key to unlocking the improvements we need to achieve our objectives."
The latest initiatives are part of Royal Mail's ambitious 'Steps to Zero' strategy, which aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2040—ten years ahead of the UK government's 2050 target. By 2030, Royal Mail also seeks to halve its Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Since 2020, the company has already made significant progress, cutting those emissions by 18%, and it now boasts the lowest emissions per parcel of any courier in the UK, with each delivery contributing just 200g of CO2e.
These heating, lighting, and water upgrades are just the latest in a series of green measures by Royal Mail this year. In July, the company announced it would cut domestic air freight by halving the number of flights it operates within the UK, a move projected to save around 30,000 tonnes of CO2. Around the same time, it revealed plans to add thousands more electric vans to its fleet over the coming year, further driving its decarbonization efforts.
Royal Mail achieved a significant milestone in May by using over 10 million liters of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel in its heavy goods vehicles, cutting over 30,000 tonnes of CO2e since June 2023. Additionally, the company recently met its 2030 target for reducing waste volumes by 25%—an achievement seven years ahead of schedule.
In a related development, public-sector facilities management firm Amey reported replacing inefficient lighting in 430 cells at HMP Leeds with energy-efficient LED lights. Notably, the LED fittings were manufactured by prisoners at HMP Garth in Lancashire as part of a rehabilitation program designed to help ex-offenders acquire job-ready skills.
Since 2021, Amey has implemented 16 similar LED lighting projects across the UK’s prison system under a Hard FM contract with the Ministry of Justice. These projects have collectively saved 45 tonnes of CO2 annually, reduced energy costs by £89,000, and lowered energy demand by 223,500 kWh, marking a substantial contribution to the nation's broader sustainability goals.
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