Our main use of energy is for manufacturing bulk chemicals (contrast media and separations media), and for purifying water used in pharmaceutical production. Our ventilation and cooling systems also use significant amounts of energy, particularly in areas where radioactive materials are handled.

Burning fossil fuels for energy (such as coal, gas and oil) results in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), and other gases such as nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂).CO₂ is the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. Our energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions have increased since 1999 by 12% and 15% respectively, due to an increase in production. Our carbon dioxide calculation takes into account the average mix of fuels used to generate electricity in different countries.

In 2001, 49% of our energy was derived from electricity, 28% from gas,17% from off-site waste-to-energy plants, and 6% from oil. Our overall CO₂ emission factor of 0.19 tonnes per GWh is relatively low due to the high proportion of hydro-electric power in Norway and Sweden where four of our major sites are located.

Example projects

• In the UK, energy efficient features have been incorporated into the design of new buildings planned at the Grove Centre, Amersham. These include passive solar heating and shading, waste heat recovery, insulation, energy control systems and low energy lighting and air conditioning featuring chilled beam technology rather than air circulation.
  
  
• A green travel plan was introduced to encourage car sharing, cycling and use of public transport at the Grove Centre.
  
  
• In Sunnyvale, California,we installed new lighting and motion sensors in 2001 to conserve the amount of energy used at the site.