Our energy use

We conduct our own operations and activities to reflect best environmental practice.

This information page was withdrawn on

The Driving Standards Agency was replaced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) on 1 April 2014. You can read about DVSA’s energy use.


The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) closed on 31 March 2014. It has been replaced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). This is the information about DSA that was published at the point that it closed. It is no longer current.

How we affect energy use

We have over 400 sites which each year use around:

  • 8 gigawatt hours of energy
  • 32,000 cubic meters of water

We travel around 7.5 million miles (12 million kilometres) a year.

We also influence how millions of road users drive. This includes whether they drive in an eco-safe way.

Our vision for energy use

By 2016 our staff will operate energy efficient sites and travel using low carbon vehicles.

Our energy consumption and travel will be accurately monitored. This will allow real-time reporting to help us make decisions that affect our carbon performance.

How we’re doing this

We’re doing this by:

  • following the Greening Government Commitments
  • meeting all current and foreseen environmental legal requirements and related official codes of practice - we require our contractors to do the same
  • using automatic meter readers to identify unnecessary energy use
  • using lower carbon vehicles when we cannot avoid travelling
  • telling all our staff and contractors about our environmental policy and performance
  • making sure that the goods and services we buy support our environmental objectives when it’s practical
  • encouraging our suppliers and contractors to improve their own environmental performance
  • providing training, advice and information for our staff
  • encouraging the development of new innovations

Our plans about energy use

We publish these documents about our energy use: