Weather monitoring specialists reap reward for environmental practices

Skyview Systems have received the Suffolk Carbon Charter Silver Award for their carbon reduction efforts throughout their business practises.

Now in their 30th year of business, Skyview delivers weather monitoring solutions to organisations and individuals throughout the UK. They operate as a small, family-run team based in Sudbury, Suffolk, with a shared passion for improving the world around us and inspiring others to do the same.

Since their beginning in 1989, they have prioritised their green efforts by implementing a two-pronged approach: Firstly, the measures taken within their internal office environment and ecommerce operations; and secondly through their long-standing services to the industrial and commercial sectors to enable safe and energy efficient operations.  

The Carbon Charter is awarded to organisations that are monitoring and actively reducing their carbon emissions. It is intended to provide public recognition of this vital step to the shared goal of “Creating the Greenest County”.

The Silver Level is only awarded to organisations that have implemented effective measures to manage and reduce energy use, and can demonstrate measurable progress in implementing a carbon reduction action plan.

As part of their Carbon Charter journey, Skyview worked with Business Energy Efficiency (BEE) Anglia to consult on how to set short-term and long-term measureable goals to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Skyview are delighted to be recognised by the Carbon Charter for their efforts to date.

The panel noted that they were particularly impressed with Skyview’s clear focus on investing in their buildings and vehicles, which clearly links environmental management and climate change to the products and services provided, as well as their use of social media and other forms of communication to share information on climate change and their operations.

Since installing solar panels on their office roofs earlier this year, Skyview are proud that their offices are now run 100% on solar power. Having built their offices back in 1998, they are delighted to have the opportunity to support local businesses and spread their green message further by offering solar power to their tenants, some of which have been with them for over 10 years.

Additional internal measures, such as using unbleached recycled paper, energy conservation, paper reduction and lift sharing are in place. Skyview also gift all interested staff members a FitBit watch to participate in the “Skyview Step Challenge”, adding an element of fun to leaving the car at home! Skyview have even set up crisp packet and battery recycling points and encourage staff to bring waste from home to recycle.

Plans to lease an electric car to be run solely on solar energy, complete with carport and charger are underway. Initially acting as a staff pool car, this will serve as a stepping stone to Skyview’s long-term objective to have a 100% electric or carbon-offset fleet in line with industry advancements. Skyview’s tenants and visitors will be welcome to charge their own electric vehicles whilst on the premises, thereby making the decision to switch to an electric powered vehicle a potentially easier one!  

Going forward Skyview plan to upgrade all office heating to Air Source Heat Pumps to reduce overall energy usage. They are also in the process of purchasing land for tree-planting and carbon offsetting business mileage and mail order deliveries.

The Skyview commercial team delivers weather monitoring solutions to many industrial and commercial organisations nationwide. With a client portfolio that includes National Police Air Service, the London Eye, Air Ambulances and Felixstowe Docks to name but a few, Skyview is in a unique position to assist a broad range of sectors in streamlining their operations, thus minimising manpower, energy usage and ultimately reducing carbon emissions on a large scale. Whether assisting power stations in maximising the efficiency of their turbines, or ensuring that emergency services have the critical data needed to avoid taking off during unsuitable conditions, to avoid burning surplus fuel, Skyview’s environmental scope is far-reaching.

Nic Hart, MD of Skyview Systems stated, “This award couldn’t have been presented at a more poignant time for global environmental sustainability. Measuring and protecting the environment remains at the heart of our business. As a team, we share a passion for the great outdoors and we are committed to leading by example when it comes to respecting our planet.

Businesses should be doing all they can to reduce their carbon footprint and work with like-minded companies to do the same, as ultimately we will all prosper from a greener outlook.”