ROSE CALENDARS INCREASES USE OF GREEN ENERGY

The company has already implemented many environmental measures such as the use of recycled and recyclable materials, heat recycling of hot air in the winter and cool air being vented in the summer, zero waste to landfill and operational energy conservancy has also been implemented.

With a desire to further strengthen its environmental credentials and reduce carbon emission, Rose Calendars started implementing solar power generation at its Colchester factory some 10 years ago.

By harnessing solar power through the installation of four solar panel arrays, now totalling 251 panels on the roof of the factory, the aim is to cut annual power consumption by 25%, taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint through harnessing solar energy. On a sunny day, the output of the Rose Calendars’ solar panels totals 70 kw per hour, forecasting a dramatic reduction in CO2 emissions by 40,000 tonnes per annum. However, the savings in electricity through instigating other power efficiencies within the business could potentially save another 20 tonnes – so a reduction of 60 tonnes overall.

After detailed work analysing production hours at the factory, it was estimated the best return could be achieved by using roof space in a more westerly direction. South facing solar panels have a spike in energy at the middle of the day, but research demonstrated that positioning was key for Rose Calendars to achieve a return at a more efficient time – reduced spikes and flattened output over a longer period gives a more efficient system.

During the highest peak of energy generation (on the sunniest days), zero demand is now made by the company on the grid for additional energy to run production equipment.

Managing director Michael Rose said, ‘We are proud to be leading the way in reducing our environmental impact by using solar energy in the production of our promotional calendars. This is another vital step in our strategy to be environmentally friendly.’

Note to editors:

• Rose Calendars also subscribes to an initiative to capture carbon through The Woodland Trust. For every tonne of paper purchased, a levy is paid which contributes to new native woodland being planted here in the UK.
• The company uses vegetable based inks to print its calendars, making them a great choice for businesses looking to be sustainable in their marketing promotions.
• Avoiding harmful solvent based products ensures the printing process is as environmentally friendly as possible.
• Rose Calendars also sends zero waste to landfill. Materials which are by products of the printing process, such as paper trimmings, test sheets, packaging and samples are all recycled through local partners with specialist removal of anything like metal or plastic being separated and sorted for recycling. Any remaining waste is then transferred to energy generation to produce new electricity.