Considerable consumption savings have been achieved through energy management initiatives in 2007, such as tighter controls on lighting systems, better use of the Chillers and Air Conditioning systems by means of utilising free cooling when the outside temperature is below 17oC.

We have also managed to reduce consumption by reducing the period of time from system start up through to an event opening, as well as system shut down through to event close. This has been achieved by understanding the time it takes to get the system operating at its optimum as well as how quickly the system condition degrades once switched off.

Apart from reducing consumption, we will also be using our stand-by generators to supply power to the National grid to meet any shortage of power needed in the area or on the grid. Rather than letting them stand unused, we now provide 7 megawatt of power a year - enough to power about 12,000 households - to the National Grid.

To cut consumption we reviewed all our systems and the one that had the biggest effect was lights. Our default mode used to be lights on, now it is lights off. If an area is being used, it is well lit, if not, everything except the emergency lighting is switched off. We also decided to operate build and breakdown with reduced lighting and - except in the organisers' offices - no heat or air conditioning.

Our staff and clients have all bought into this way of working and as a result, during the first three months of the year we saved 1,174 tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to the same period in 2006. That is equivalent to a 747 with 329 passengers flying London to Sydney and back.