Energy use and Carbon Dioxide Emissions

We are directly responsible for the energy (electricity, gas and oil) used in the common (landlord–controlled) area of our multi–let properties. This energy is used for lighting, heating, ventilation, cooling and cleaning activities.

Figures 4 and 5 show energy use and associated carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, as a total and on a square metre (m²) basis for the different energy types for the period April 2005 to March 2006.

Total consumption of all energy types (electricity, gas and oil) and consumption per m² reduced slightly in 2005/06. Associated CO2 emissions also declined. This slight decrease reflects year-on-year reductions in reported resource use by properties as well as year-on-year changes in the composition of the property portfolio.

Electricity use accounts for almost 80% of the total CO2 emissions from the property portfolio and represents our most intensive source of CO2 per m². During 2005/6, 100% of the electricity supplied to properties, with a total common floor area of 422,624m² , was from Climate Change Levy exempt sources, which represents 85% of the total reported CO2 emissions associated with electricity and 67.5% of total reported emissions.

Gas use accounts for almost all of the remaining portfolio’s CO2 emissions and is our most intensively used energy source per m².

Oil use, which was reported in one of our properties, makes a minor contribution to our CO2 emissions and remains constant with 2004/5.

Properties sold and purchased in the reporting year are included in the data, and account for 0.29% and 1.8% respectively of CO2 emissions from multi–let properties with common areas. For reference, data have been included from 2004/5 and 2003/4.

Figure 4. Annual energy resource consumption
Consumption Consumption per m²
2005/6 2004/5 2003/4 2005/6 2004/5 2003/4
Electricity (kWh) 41,578,383 41,812,892 42,486,640 29 33 45
Gas (kWh) 24,462,849 27,226,146 31,567,234 34 47.6 82
Oil (kWh) 698 1,246 139,645 0.09 0.17 11
Total 66,041,930 69,040,285 74,193,519 – – –
Total resource usage is calculated by adding resource use from all reporting properties. Resource usage per m² is calculated by dividing the total usage by the total common floor area values for reporting properties for which reliable common floor area data were available (71 of 79 properties). This provides a broad overview of the dataset.


 

Figure 5. Annual CO2 emissions
CO2 (tonnes per year) CO2 (kg/m²)
2005/6 2004/5 2003/4 2005/6 2004/5 2003/4
Electricity (kWh) 17,879* 17,980 18,269 12.55 14 19
Gas (kWh) 4,648 5,173 5,998 6.54 9 16
Oil (kWh) 0.17 0.312 35 0.02 0.04 2.65
Total 22,527 23,153 24,302 - - -
Total CO2 emissions (tonnes) are calculated by converting reported energy use into kilograms of CO2 using DEFRA conversion factors.

*All CO2 calculations include emissions from energy used in properties supplied by Climate Change Levy exempt sources through the National Grid.

CO2 emissions per m² are calculated by dividing total CO2 emissions by the total common floor area values for which reliable common floor area data were available (71 of 79 properties). This provides a broad overview of the dataset.