CR management
Carbon management
As part of our commitment to responsible business leadership, we will become carbon neutral by 2008/2009. This will help future-proof our properties, enhance our brand and relationships with customers and stakeholders and so increase the long-term value of the business.
The carbon neutral drive has three elements:
- Continue to manage and reduce direct emissions through the collection and analysis of energy data, sustainable design of buildings, responsible waste and water management and sustainable travel plans for developments and properties.
- Continue to reduce the carbon content of energy supply , by purchasing energy from Climate Charge Levy exempt sources, commissioning feasibility studies into alternative energy sources, installing turbines and solar panels and investing in combined heat, power and cooling sources.
- Off-setting to introduce to the business a benchmark cost against which carbon reduction initiatives can be measured and deliver a direct incentive to reduce energy use which, in turn, will reduce the cost of off-setting in future years.
We will also continue to work in close partnership with suppliers and customers to help them to reduce their carbon footprints.
Becoming carbon neutral does not signal a change in strategy, but an acceleration. Since 2001 we have been monitoring energy usage for the landlord-controlled areas of our multi-let properties, where we have direct control of usage and can make improvements. Since 2004 we have been working with the Carbon Trust to improve understanding of our energy usage and to set energy performance benchmarks. We have also included carbon management guidance in many of our policies and documents, such as the British Land Sustainability Brief for Developments which has been applied to all our developments since 2004, our Sustainability Guide for Acquisitions and our site-specific Travel Plans.
Examples of the effectiveness of our approach to carbon management include:
- In the 2005/6 financial year we reduced water use in the landlord-controlled areas of our portfolio by 16% and energy use by 4%. This reduction in energy use reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 626 tonnes and saved an estimated £70,000.
- Since 2005 100% of electricity supplied to the common areas at Meadowhall, Eastgate and Peacocks Shopping Centres, as well as the multi-let properties we manage at Broadgate, has come from renewable sources.
Eastgate Centre
Eastgate Shopping Centre provide communal bikes for employees and occupiers to encourage sustainable travel and reduce carbon emissions.
Stephen Hester, Chief Executive
“We aim to lead the market in developing and managing buildings in a sustainable manner. By financing, developing and managing properties that responsibly utilise energy, water and waste, we conserve the world’s resources and can also reduce our costs and those of our occupiers.”