For example, staff are reminded via their computers to turn out the lights when leaving the office. On the corporate intranet, all HOCHTIEF employees are given tips on economical driving. Travel-related costs and energy consumption are reduced by making better use of communications media, such as telephone and video conferences. A climate protection day is to be launched at HOCHTIEF in November 2009 to underscore the issue’s importance within the Group. It is planned to provide employees with further information on how they themselves can help combat climate change.

One employee suggestion from the Ideas Room cuts energy costs in tunnel construction: Savings of EUR 100,000 a year can be achieved by using a timer to considerably shorten the operating time of the stirrers for the bentonite suspension used as a support medium in shield tunneling.

Our US subsidiary Turner provided an example of in-company initiative in energy efficiency when refurbishing its Seattle office. The new workplace is not only made greener by using energy-efficient technology: Employees themselves are to set an example and cycle to work where possible. Newly installed showers are designed to encourage acceptance of the plan. The office has also purchased five bicycles and a hybrid car for transporting small loads. The Seattle office’s new trucks purchased in addition to the existing fleet run on biodiesel.

A further measure relates to the Leighton Contractors vehicle fleet serving the mining business. Engineers changed the design of wheel loaders to reduce their weight. The result is higher capacity and lower fuel consumption. Compared with their predecessors, the new wheel loaders use ten percent less fuel. Management expects to cut carbon emissions by 2,960 metric tons in the long term. Energysaving lamps have also been installed in branch offices,