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Norwich MP Goes Green at Anglian Home Improvements

A visit to Anglian Home Improvements in September left Norwich North MP Dr Ian Gibson extremely impressed with the company's energy efficiency programme.

Dr Ian Gibson discovers the secrets of environmentally friendly window making with managing director manufacturing Stig Hansen, and chief executive Alex McNutt.

Dr Gibson toured the Norwich extrusion factory, with chief executive Alex McNutt and managing director of manufacturing Stig Hansen.

He learned not only of the energy efficiency of Anglian's products, but also the steps the company has taken to adopt more energy efficient manufacturing practices and to conserve energy.

Dr Gibson was shown how windows which are rated as high as an A for energy efficiency are made. He was also told of Anglian's recent success in being runner-up in a prestigious award by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

The IMechE award looked at a broad range of topics including glass and UPVC recycling, the company's Switch It Off campaign, producing energy efficient products, reduction in use of solvents in paints, and sustainable manufacturing.

Dr Gibson, who was dean of a science school at the University of East Anglia before becoming an MP, said: "It's wonderful to see a company leading the way nationally in adopting more sustainable manufacturing practices.

"All individuals and businesses have a responsibility to consider the impact we are having on the environment and ways to reduce our carbon footprint.

"Anglian has taken that responsibility very seriously and has made major advances in its manufacturing procedures and improving the energy efficiency of its products."

The MP learned how materials taken from installations were recycled, instead of going to land fill, UPVC products are collected, sorted and graded prior to re-processing into new mouldings. Glass waste is collected nationally and returned to Norwich for re-use into a range of applications.

Other process glass goes back to the float glass manufacturers to be melted and used again; this significantly reduces the energy consumption needed to melt sand to produce new glass.

"During the course of just one year we recycle many tonnes of materials taken from customer's properties that in the past would have gone to landfill," explained engineering director Chris Dixon.

"Our fitters take everything from old guttering and fascias to the windows which they are replacing. The materials are returned to Norwich on the lorries which have delivered new products to them for installation.

"The highest growth area has been in glass recovered in this way. It has grown nearly tenfold in the last five years. The glass is used in the production of glass-fibre wool which is then used in loft insulation thereby saving even more energy."

And it doesn't stop there other products such as timber, solar film, paper and polythene are also collected for recycling.

As important as it is, recycling makes up just a part of Anglian's environmental policy. Recent changes in the extrusion factory have seen new process water chillers and a free-cooling system installed which could save more than 850 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

It is also more economical to run and reduces the company's fuel bill. An audit in December by consultants Energy 2000 predicted savings of £150,000 on electricity alone.

Anglian has now commissioned the Lancashire experts to look at how the company buys, monitor's use and for ways to reduce consumption of all its energy.

On Dr Gibson's visit and Anglian's energy efficiency programme Alex McNutt said: We take environmental stewardship very seriously at Anglian, and have made major investments in improving the sustainability of our products and manufacturing.

"We were delighted to be able to show Dr Gibson the advances we have made.

"At a time when more and more households are looking at ways to make their homes environmentally friendly, we are proud to be leaders in our field."