2012 Activity and sustainable development report - RTE

A NEED FOR INNOVATIONRTE employs a meticulous approach and is trialling new options to reduceits environmental footprint and, in particular, to help in the battle againstclimate change.INNOVATING TO…REDUCE OURENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTRTE has been certified for the ISO 14001 environmentalmanagement standard for all of its activities. The certificationwas renewed in 2012 until December 2013. RTE’s EnvironmentalManagement System (EMS) is steered by anEnvironmental Committee consisting of representatives of allthe departments of RTE. In 2012, training programmes devotedto environmental management totalled approximately7,300hours and RTE spent €68.9million on improving itsenvironmental management.SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTIONRTE is permanently acting to improve the safety of itsinstallations. Its efforts focus in particular on preventing oilleaks in transformers and underground links and on preventingfi res in substations and close to power lines. Simulation exercisesare carried out on a regular basis with the aim ofbringing accidents under control rapidly. Installationscontaining oil polluted with polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)in excess of 500 ppm have all been treated, along with 70%of installations presenting lower levels. This programme isdue to be completed by 2015.RTE is improving its policy of traceability and salvaging of sitewaste: since 2012, all contracts for site work include a clausestipulating a minimum of 75% of recovery of non-hazardous waste.A FOURTH CARBON BALANCE ®For the fourth year running, RTE has performed an inventoryof the annual greenhouse gas emissions associated with itsactivities. The Carbon Balance ® carried out in 2012 assessed theemissions relating to RTE’s activities as 468,000 tonnes of CO 2equivalent in 2010, compared to 503,000 in 2010. Emissionshave fallen by 7% because of a signifi cant reduction in SF6discharge (down 19.7% in comparison to 2010).RTE is taking action to reduce its own emissions, andin particular of SF6 1 discharge. The company is committedto a 20% reduction in its SF6 discharge by 2014 compared to2008 levels. The first effects of this new policy were seen in 2011:SF6 discharge decreased very significantly and was substantiallybelow RTE’s target, i.e. approximately 21% lower than in 2008.RTE is improving the energy efficiency of its property assets.A development plan has defined priorities over a five-year period.Whether purchased or rented, all new office accommodationwill now involve BBC 2 or HQE 3 buildings. A diagnosis operationon commuting for employees of the company’s twenty largestsites has been completed. The first local action plans were putin place in the third quarter of 2012. •FOR MORE INFORMATION >Management report1. Sulfur hexafluoride: 1 tonne = 23,900 tonnes of CO 2equivalent. 2. Bâtiment de basseconsommation [low-energy consumption building]. 3. High environmental quality.42