The green credentials of the Ricoh Arena in Coventry have been rewarded after the venue was shortlisted in the Energy Awards 2011.

The multi-purpose venue has been nominated in the Excellence in Carbon Reduction - Large Company section.

They will be competing against BCM (Alliance Boots), CEMEX UK, Laing O'Rourke and Schneider Electric when all the winners of the Energy Awards 2011 will be announced in front of a 400-strong audience at the Grange St Paul's Hotel in London on Thursday, December 1.

Alan Pickering, energy manager at the Ricoh Arena, said the competition to reach the nomination stage had been tough.

"We have been short-listed alongside four high-profile companies in our category in the Energy Awards and we are really pleased to have reached this stage," he said.

"Our carbon footprint is a subject we take very seriously and we have implemented a series of measures to make the building more environmentally friendly.

"They range from installing passive infra-red sensors in corridors so that lights are not left on for long periods to introducing a billing system to accurately charge tenants for their energy use.

"The projects we have introduced have led to cost savings in our electricity, water and gas consumption which is good news for the Ricoh Arena and our tenants.

"We have also reduced our carbon footprint by 23 per cent which we are really pleased to have achieved.

"These awards are designed to give the leading players in the energy sector the opportunity to meet each other and discuss the environmental methods which we have found to be successful as well as hear about new strategies which can be used by everyone to improve the carbon footprint at their own companies."

Alan said plans were in the pipeline to further improve the long-term sustainability of the Ricoh Arena.

He said: "Looking to the future, we are working with sustainable energy consultants to consider introducing more renewable energy technologies such as harvesting rain water and we have commissioned a survey to discuss installing solar panels on the roof of the Jaguar Exhibition Hall. 

"One other improvement under consideration is to install LED lighting to help in further reducing electricity consumption.

"All energy projects have been funded by the board of directors of Arena Coventry Limited, who run and manage the Ricoh Arena, which underlines their commitment to lowering energy costs and consumption."