A ROOFING company is on a high after buying a fleet of “green” machines.
Brighouse-based Ploughcroft Ltd has taken delivery of three Mercedes ECo-Start vans to cut exhaust emissions and slash its fuel bills.
The vehicle automatically cuts the engine when standing for more than two seconds and restarts it when the driver depresses the clutch. The vans are able to significantly reduce fuel consumption, especially in busy city centres or heavy traffic.
The new vans will cut the company’s vehicle fuel bills by at least 6%.
The move is the latest part of a wider environmental strategy for Ploughcroft, which has just gained accreditation to the internationally-recognised environmental standard ISO 14001.
The firm has already achieved the IS0 9001 quality standard and the ISO 18001 health and safety management standard.
Managing director Chris Hopkins said: “Over the last few years, we have built a solid reputation for raising standards in roofing and building generally through our purpose-built training facilities and courses, which we have opened to other companies.
“Our passion for quality and for health and safety is matched by our commitment to the environment.
“We set out to strike the delicate balance between maintaining profitability and reducing environmental impact and we continually review our management processes and working methods to find new and better ways to do that.”
The company’s recycling policies include using slates and mortar from roof jobs as hardcore; separating out wood, copper and steel; recycling toner cartridges and paper in its offices and looking at reducing fuel use and carbon emissions.
The company has also trained its workforce to fit “green” roofing options, such as solar thermal panels.
It transfers savings made from recycling activities to an employee’s welfare fund for use in team building activities and social events – a practice that recently led to it being nominated as the Best Place to Work in a construction industry competition.
