Reducing greenhouse gases

Reducing greenhouse gases Reducing greenhouse gases

Fighting climate change and controlling energy consumption, quantifying and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions has become a strategic priority, in the interest of the greater good. Since 2007, Diehl Metering has been implementing, in France, a certain number of social, economic and environmental actions to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (eco-design, raising staff awareness, ISO 14001 certification, energy assessment, and more).

Why it is so important?

The industrial exploitation of mineral resources and fossil fuels results in  the intensive emission of greenhouse gases which cause pollution and climate disruptions these resources will disappear in the coming years. The greenhouse gas emissionsthat are identified now will represent the financial and environmental challengesof the future. While our approach at Diehl Metering may be just a drop in the ocean in global terms, it is part of the group´s strategic priorities: "Embracing our Social Resposibility".

  • Carbon Assessment

    The Carbon Assessment called “Bilan Carbone®”, gives a snapshot of the impact that a business is having on the planet. It enables us to evaluate the size and origin of direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions caused by our activities. The distribution of our greenhouse gas emissions was calculated in 2009, for the production site in France, and then confirmed in 2012 by “Bilan Carbone®”, an approach recognised in France for the evaluation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Main sources of emissions have been identified, that allows targeting priorities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

    • Raw materials (inputs),
    • The transportation of goods (freight),
    • The transportation of people (travel): employees’ home-work commute, business trips, visitors, etc.,
    • Energy.

    The “Bilan Carbone®” assessments have shown encouraging results, driving the company to strive for excellence and motivating to take even more action.

  • What actions are we taking?

    Eco-design

    Diehl Metering has adopted an eco-design approach for approach for the products since 2007. It consists of integrating the environmental impact of products into their design, development and life cycle (extraction of raw materials, production, distribution, use and end of life). Thanks to this eco-design approach, it has demonstrated that by replacing brass, which is traditionally used for meter bodies, with a composite material, the carbon footprint of meters can be reduced. Indeed, it takes more energy to make and transform brass than it does for the composite material using, and the end result is equivalent. What’s more, the composite material is lighter than brass, so the impact on freight is positive. Undeniably, the cargo is lighter, so less fuel is consumed and less greenhouse gases are emitted. The ALTAIR meter is the first fully eco-designed product made by Diehl Metering. The goal is to apply the eco-design approach to all of the products’ ranges, specifically through a careful choice of materials.

    Energy

    Diehl Metering also pays attention to the tools with the same goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions: equipment of new electric presses; thermal energy meters and temperature sensor to track the daily consumption. This gives to the company in France an overview of the energy yield of our boilers, day by day.

  • Taking a look at Diehl Metering’s travel

    Because taking environmental action is everyone’s business, Diehl Metering encourages its employees to have good practices. The aims:

    • Choosing means of transportation by order of priority: train, car and plane,
    • Reducing CO2 emissions from Diehl Metering vehicles,
    • Encouraging the use of new technologies: telecommuting, video or web conferencing,
    • Encouraging carpooling,
    • Providing bike parking at the plant,
    • Maintaining a systematic transport allowance based on km/car, regardless of the mode of transport.

    Long term objectives

    With local actions in France, Diehl Metering wants to continue reducing impact on the environment. This goal is an integral part of the ongoing efforts to improve all of products and services, also for the entire group.