Press Release

6 August 2007

MITIE ENABLES TOP UNIVERSITY TO REDUCE ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT

MITIE has linked up with the University of Bristol to install new combined heat and power (CHP) plants which will enable the University to reduce its impact on the environment. 

The University, looking for ways to generate power at its main campus whilst reducing its carbon footprint, decided on the installation of environmentally friendly CHP plants, and employed MITIE on a design and build basis to install two plants at the site. 

The plants are set to reduce CO2 emissions by 1,500 tonnes and save in the region of £300,000 per annum. 

Martin Wiles, Energy and Environmental Manager at the University of Bristol said: “This is the start of a significant programme of CHP installations at the University. With more legislation like the Carbon Reduction Commitment soon to come into force, programmes like this are key to help address climate change.”

John Beardsley, Director at MITIE’s engineering division said: “MITIE has enjoyed a long and successful relationship with the University. This project was delivered as a design and build contract based on an outline scheme by PB Power. It involved installation work in existing plant areas, passing through occupied and operational buildings. Our knowledge of the campus infrastructure, along with our relationships with the University Faculties and staff enabled the project to be completed with a minimum of disruption.” 

Further CHP projects are planned at the University. The next one is at the University’s Langford campus which is due for installation by MITIE during the autumn of 2007. 

A CHP unit is an installation where heat and power (electricity) is generated in a single process. The heat is used for a variety of purposes including water and space heating. Through using CHP, electricity can be generated at a lower cost than it can be purchased and CO2 emissions are reduced by over 30 per cent in comparison with separate generation from power stations and boilers.

The CHP plants
The first unit is powered by an 8 cylinder 30 litre gas fired engine which produces 500kW of power fed through to the main switchboard of one of the faculties. This provides 500kW of heat towards the year round heating requirements for this building. A second unit is powered by a 60 litre V16 gas fired engine and produces 1,160kw of power. This CHP unit is connected to the University’s district heating system serving four boiler rooms. In each boiler room, a heat exchanger transfers the heat to the heating system in their respective buildings. In total, both units will generate around 1.6MW of electricity for the campus. 

06 August 2007 

- ENDS -

Notes for editors

David Revis, PR and Investor Relations Manager, MITIE Group PLC
T: 020 7407 0063 M: 07979 702465 E: david.revis@mitie.co.uk 

Richard Starkey, Communications Manager, MITIE Engineering Services Ltd
T: 01252 732400 M: 07979 701752 E:richard.starkey@mitie.co.uk

MITIE Group PLC 

MITIE is one of the UK’s leading support services companies, delivering facilities, engineering and property services to more than 6,000 public and private sector clients. It is also one of the UK’s largest employers with over 45,000 people supporting customers every day. 

MITIE provides all of the facilities services that organisations may wish to outsource including Catering, Cleaning, Document Management, Front of House Services, Energy Services, Engineering Maintenance, Facilities Management, Landscaping, Grounds Maintenance, Pest Control, Security and Waste and Environmental Services. MITIE also offers engineering and property services, improving buildings for its customers by providing Building Refurbishment, Fit-Out and Maintenance Services, together with Mechanical & Electrical Engineering. 

MITIE’s unique share ownership ethos ‘Management Incentive Through Investment Equity’ (MITIE) encourages our employees to focus on what our customers want. MITIE’s success in delivering sustainable growth, through responsible and proactive engagement with stakeholders, has enabled the Group to become a FTSE 250 company, achieving annual revenues of over £1.2bn. 

MITIE’s engineering division specialises in the design and installation of building services throughout the full property lifecycle and is well placed to meet clients’ requirements, including reduction of their carbon footprint and supply of renewable energy technologies. Core services include mechanical and electrical engineering, air conditioning, heating and ventilation, process systems and ICT (Information & Communications Technology) installation. MITIE also provides specialised green solutions to the education, health, retail, social housing and water sectors.

Customers of MITIE’s engineering division include some of the UK’s best known brands, organisations and establishments. Customers include (among others) Kier, Laing O’Rouke, Cowlin Construction, DVLA, Chelsea FC, Urban Splash, BHS, BT, Land SecuritiesTrillium, Wates, Marks and Spencer, IBM, DEFRA and many UK universities. Additional work has recently been awarded with The British Library, The Palace of Westminster and Birmingham City Council. 

To date in 2007, MITIE’s engineering division has been shortlisted as ‘Mechanical & Electrical Specialist of the Year’ in Construction News’ Specialists in Construction Awards, ‘HVAC Contractor of the Year’ in H&V News’ HVAC Awards and ‘Major M&E Contractor of the Year’ in Building Services Journal’s Building Services Awards.

Bristol University
The University was founded in 1876 as University College, Bristol. It was the first higher education institution in England to admit women on an equal basis to men. The University of Bristol is internationally distinguished and one of the very best universities in the UK dedicated to learning, discovery and enterprise. It is a world leader in research and a member of the Worldwide Universities Network and of the Russell Group of universities. 

The University has more than 11,000 undergraduate and 5,000 postgraduate students. The University organises its academic affairs in some 45 departments and 15 research centres which are arranged in six faculties. 

In the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), 15 of the University's units of assessment achieved the top grade of 5* and a further 21 were awarded grade 5. Thus 36 (78 per cent) of the 46 units of assessment were judged as world class or of international standing. Seventy-six per cent of the academic staff work in departments ranked at these levels.

Website: www.bristol.ac.uk