Sustainability r e p o r t - Sabesp

EN 18 Pioneering use of solar energy in water and waste servicesTransparencyAs part of this work, we maintained our participation in the Carbon Disclosure Project(CDP) for the fourth consecutive year. The CDP report is prepared annually basedon inquiries to the largest world companies, using a questionnaire that allows thecompanies to report relevant information on their exposure to potential risks andopportunities related to climate changes. Another purpose of CDP is to include thistopic in the companies’ investment decision-making (http://www.cdprojetoct.net/). In2009, more than 3,000 companies participated of the CDP, 62 of which are Brazilian.Sabesp installed a solar heater in the Taubaté-Tremembésewage treatment plant to heat up to 55ºC the washingwater of two centrifuges and the thickening equipment,responsible for the dewatering at 20 percent of solids ofthe 10 to 12 tonnes of sludge produced on a daily basis.This is an innovation in line with sustainability as it avoidsthe consumption of approximately 120kWh/month ofelectric power. Solar energy is the cleanest alternativepower source since it does not generate direct greenhousegas emissions, or waste during use. Note also that we usereclaimed water in washing, obtained by polishing of thefinal plant effluent.Solar energy collectors of the Taubaté-Tremembé STP.Seal the Deal - manifestation for COP-15GRI 4.12 Sabesp is signatory of the United Nations Global Compact initiative since2006 and participated in the Seal the Deal, a campaign to raise awareness of worldleaders gathered at the COP-15, in Copenhagen, to set the ambitious goals, throughthe testimonials of CEs from all over the world. Twelve Brazilian companies sentmessages in this sense, adding to a total of 148 signatories from all over the world(see www.unglobalcompact.org/Issues/Environment/Seal_the_Deal).We also conducted a lecture on the carbon inventory, the first in the industry, andon the initiatives to generate own power (Small Hydropower and Thermal PowerPlants) in a COP-15 topic meeting, as part of the Brazilian delegation and the grouporganized by organized sustainable Plant in April.EN 18 / EN 29 Fleet renewed with flex-fuel carsIn 2009, we replaced the 4,800-vehicle service fleet by flex-fuel cars, and required thatalcohol be used as fuel. The conversion generated savings of 1.2 million liters of fuelper year, due to the higher performance of more modern engines (overall average: 6.18km/l), and the rationalization of the number of cars, as 1,605 company owned cars weredecommissioned and 1,442 were leased.The sludge contains vegetal and animal grease, difficult to be removed from the equipment, which mustbe washed on a daily basis during approximately 30 minutes. The hot water also eliminates the use ofchemicals and, therefore, brings an additional environmental advantage. It also avoids possible damages torubber components by the chemicals used in the detergents. The heater has a 1,800 liters per hour capacityand has 15 two-square meter collectors each and a 2,000-liter boiler pressurized at 2.5 kgf/cm2, installed inthe rooftop of the solid waste treatment building.Accounting and Environmental Balance SheetIn July 2009, we initiated the studies commissioned to Business Administration,Accounting and Economics Research and Development Foundation (Fundace, linkedto FEA–USP – Ribeirão Preto) for the development of a conceptual EnvironmentalBalance Sheet model. This is another important environmental management tool,whose purpose is to improve the financial statements on Sabesp relationships withthe environment through the measurement of its impacts on our financial positionand the economic and financial performance.This information will allow stating the Organization’s environmental managementcapacity, benchmarking our environmental performance with other companiesover time, and perceiving the level of exposure to risk of the financial players andpotential business partners.Maintenance was also streamlined, as the contract contains clauses related to serviceagility. The share of alcohol in the volume of fuel purchased, considering the entire fleet,increased from 17 to 28 percent. Considering the decrease in gasoline consumption andthe increase in alcohol consumption, and the related average emission factors (1.81 and0.22kg CO2-e/l), there was an annual reduction of 1,206 t of CO2-e in emissions.100 Relatório de Sustentabilidade 2009 101