1. Doing the right thing

The UK Government is unique in the emission-reduction targets it has set, the legislation it has introduced and the specific incentives it has developed to support these goals. This, coupled with a changing market due to overwhelming environmental arguments and customers who increasingly wish to address these issues, add to the ever changing market that we find ourselves in. We believe that increasing awareness of, and support for, broader energy-production and consumption goals are the right thing for our industry to do. To this end, Green Gateway is closely aligned with national and international targets and supports the creation of a built environment able to help meet them. It also requires us to manage the impact of our own business.

2. Increasing efficiency

Achieving major and lasting reductions in running costs and emissions demands we use energy more efficiently. To do this we believe the priorities that affect the way equipment is selected, installed, maintained and controlled need to change. We also need to take a whole life cycle view when applying a solution.

3. Reducing carbon

Carbon will increasingly be given a direct value and as a result become more visible to those responsible for its consumption. It’s crucial that we switch away from burning fossil fuels on-site as these generate relatively high emissions. A future where electricity is the only end-use energy is desirable and possible.

4. Promoting renewables

Renewable solutions applied to buildings enable a level of energy independence from the grid supply and reduce our reliance on fossil fuel, thereby aiding fuel security. In addition, users of renewably generated energy tend to be more aware of their consumption and so are more proactive in reducing it – to the benefit of these individuals and society as a whole.

Many UK buildings are ripe for the installation of renewable generating systems. Truly mass-market solutions exist now and represent a massive opportunity to make a real and immediate difference.

5. The way we do business

Ensuring the right solutions are selected, taking into account the product’s entire lifecycle, requires more collaboration and diversification by all involved in the industry. It has changed the way we do business by ensuring that engagement with all those required to deliver truly sustainable buildings is at the centre of all our activity. We are also open to learning how others do things, and look to exchange expert knowledge with our working partners. The best solution will always be an integrated solution. Collaboration at a corporate level enables us to pass on know-how and to learn the issues facing the ultimate users of our solutions, so we can all work better together. Developing new solutions and ways of doing business, in response to current and future challenges, is always the aim of our discussions. Also paramount is education – for example through best-practice installation methods and responsible end-user behaviour.

Developing our skills and knowledge within the sector, Mitsubishi Electric is uniquely positioned to help inform all those in the supply chain. We don’t think we know all the answers – that’s why we listen. But we do know our technologies and the solutions to which they can be integrated inside out.