BIG Green Commuter Challenge - 16th to 22nd May
2011
The BIG Green Commuter Challenge is an opportunity to join with
other organisations in the area to encourage a healthier
environment and reduce emissions and congestion. Commuting by
more fuel efficient sustainable transport will not only benefit
your health and save you money, but will reduce the effect of
climate change.
Havant Borough Council ran the 2011 competition for businesses
based in the borough (i.e. business addresses with a PO7 - PO11
postcode) between the 16th and 22nd May 2011.
Organisations and individuals competed against each other to see
which could reduce congestion and pollution by cutting miles
travelled alone in a car. It's a fun event which encouraged team
working.
BGCC 2011 full
report>>
Summary of results
Below is a summary of the winners for the Havant Borough Council
run 2011 commuter challenge for businesses based in the
borough. For a complete set of results, please download the report
using the link above.
| Category |
Winning organisation |
Number of miles saved per person
employed |
| Small organisation (1-49
employees) |
Tri-Synergy Ltd |
6 |
| Medium organisation(50 - 249
employees) |
Capita |
3.4 |
| Large organisation(250+
employees) |
Pfizer |
6 |
More background information about the BIG Green Commuter
Challenge:
What is it?
Objectives
Benefits of taking part
How to kick the car habit ....
Useful web
links for those taking part in the Commuter Challenge
BIG Green Commuter Challenge - 17th to 23rd May
2010
Below is the report for the first Havant Borough Council run
commuter challenge for businesses based in the
borough.
BGCC 2010
full report >>
More news and events for the wider
competition - see Portsmouth City Council's website (external link)
>>
Powerpoint
presentation for participants explaining the working of the
Challenge (683kb,
PDF)
>>.
Previous Years
Each May until 2009, Portsmouth City Council organised
the Commuter Challenge. Starting from a single day in 2003, it
has, since 2008 grown to be a week-long event.
The aim is for employees to travel
to work and undertake travel for work on that day by means of
sustainable transport - walking, cycling, bus, train or car
sharing. Even using the stairs instead of the lift counts as part
of the score. As
Transport Direct puts
it,
"In absolute terms of
reducing
CO2
it is
always better to use a scheduled public transport service. This is
because when you use a car the result is an extra journey is made
and extra
CO2
is
emitted into the atmosphere. On the other hand, when you use public
transport journey by bus, coach, plane or train the journey is
always scheduled and would take place whether or not you travelled.
So in real terms there is no additional
CO2
emitted."
The first Portsmouth Commuter
Challenge in 2005 was entered by 15 companies, with Robert Benn
Associates winning overall and winning the small company category.
Havant Borough Council won the Large Organisation category and came
second overall with about a third of Havant Borough employees
taking up the challenge saving a total of 2456 car miles, an
average of 7.14 miles per person employed by the Council and an
equivalent total emissions saving of 965.08kg.
Many of the staff continue to reduce
the amount of travel by private car since the challenge by using
sustainable travel helping towards a cleaner and safer
environment.
In 2006, 18 companies took part in
the Challenge which was held on 10th May. Robert Benn Associates
again won the Challenge overall, as well as winning the Small
Company category, by achieving a saving of 13 miles per person
employed. Gunwharf Quays won the Large Organisation
category with a saving of 11.42 miles per person employed.
Havant Borough Council came third in the Large Organisation
category and fourth overall, saving an average of 4.24 miles per
person employed by the Council with a total saving of 1485 car
miles and an equivalent emissions saving of 583.53kg.
The 2007 the Challenge was rebadged
as the BIG Green Commuter Challenge and was held on 9th May. We are
proud to announce that we won the Large Organisation category
again, with an overall saving of 879 miles (remember, it was a
really wet day!) and over 345kg of emissions saved.
Havant Borough Council won Large
Organisation category again in 2008, with an average of 12.2 miles
saved per person - that's a massive 3957 miles for the 16.9% of our
employees who registered results, and equates to over
11/2 tons of emissions saved! In 2009 we were
second in the Large Business class, managing a creditable saving of
4639 miles with over 20% of employees taking part at some
stage of the week.