The Crown Estate is focused on restoring and protecting the environment for future generations
Read the Crown Estate’s Commitment profile here.
In the UK, the Crown Estate has released its Annual Report for 2021/22. The report outlines continued progress on portfolio decarbonisation with a focus on whole life carbon reduction across operations and construction.
They have developed further net zero pilot plans including for 30 Warwick Street, London and aim to commission at least 15 additional net zero asset plans. The Group continues to implement ongoing energy efficiency and carbon reduction measures, such as installation of automatic meter readers and LED lighting replacements.Priorities for 2022/23 include setting targets for London, Regional and Windsor real estate for carbon reduction, energy intensity and data quality.
The Crown Estate has recycled 57% of its operational waste, the Group’s year-on-year reduction in absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions is 13%, and 8.6 million homes were provided with green electricity generated by off shore wind from The Crown Estate’s seabed holdings. 4,000 square metres of green space was also added to Central London as part of the Wild West End partnership.
Read Hibernia’s Commitment profile here.
Hibernia recently released its 2022 Sustainability Report indicating that the company has achieved reductions in scope 1, 2 and 3 by 50% from its 2019 baseline.
In 2021, Hibernia achieved a 41% reduction in energy usage and building intensity decreased by 24%. This was achieved by consistently reducing emissions across the business’s portfolio. Hibernia’s proposed development at Clanwilliam Quarter will be fossil fuel free and the first all-electric development in Hibernia’s portfolio. The building will be designed using natural ventilation, reducing the need for mechanical alternatives. Clanwilliam Quarter will make use of renewable energy generation through rooftop mounted solar PV panels. Several buildings in Hibernia’s portfolio now operate on 100% renewable energy and three buildings produce their own electricity from installed PV panels.
The business has set ambitious targets of being a net zero carbon business by 2030 – well ahead of international targets of 2050. Hibernia doesn’t want to travel this journey alone and the business believes it’s important for all their stakeholders to be net zero carbon by 2030.
Read Salesforce’s Commitment profile here.
Salesforce has launched Net Zero Marketplace – an eCommerce platform that will connect buyers to environmentally focused entrepreneurs. The platform will launch in the U.S. in October and in additional markets in 2023. At the launch of the marketplace, it will offer almost 90 projects across 11 countries. The carbon credit projects featured on the marketplace support decarbonisation through forest conservation, tree planting, the development of wind farms and use of better farming methods.
This future-forward platform won’t only connect buyers with ecopreneurs, it will also aggregate and publish third-party ratings – with no account registrations or paywalls. By making data freely available, Salesforce will enable better decision making for available projects.
Salesforce is also a signatory of The Climate Pledge.
Read Charter Hall’s Commitment profile here.
Charter Hall in Australia recently released its 2022 Sustainability Report outlining progress across multiple facets of the business’ sustainability journey. The business understands the devastating impact climate change has on the world and the environments we inhabit and have committed to a 100% reduction in operational carbon emissions.
Through the procurement of grid-supplied renewable electricity, Charter Hall achieved an emissions reduction of 61,500 tonnes CO2e in FY22. To date, more than 54% reduction in absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions was achieved compared to FY17 baseline, despite a 49% increase in floor area. The business has accelerated its overall Net Zero target to 2025 and they are targeting a 20% reduction in embodied carbon for new office developments that are commencing construction from FY23 and targeting a 40% reduction for new developments commencing construction in FY26. This aligns with Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star for Buildings rating tool.
Read Schneider Electric’s Commitment profile here.
The Forge in London’s cultural hub of Bankside is Landsec’s flagship Net Zero building. Schneider Electric partnered with the developer, Landsec, from the early stages of the project to explore opportunities to reduce carbon emissions. The project aspires to be recognised as the first commercial office development constructed and operated in line with UK Green Building Coucnil’s net zero carbon building framework. The building has already been selected by Innovate UK as a demonstrator for the Transforming Construction Challenge initiative for pioneering design and groundbreaking construction techniques.
Schneider Electric has contributed to the offsite construction process and has produced package units for Building Management System controls. The project will benefit from the full breadth of Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure™ for Buildings that will enable smart building and energy management solutions. A key element of this is taking intelligent technologies and leveraging the power of smart, clean, and digital electricity – or as Schneider Electric calls it, Electricity 4.0. All these considerations early on means that the building’s occupants will benefit from an enhanced experience.
The Forge is proof that net zero buildings are possible, today.
Schneider Electric is also a signatory of The Climate Pledge.
Read the State of California’s Commitment profile here.
The State of California has experienced the impacts of climate change firsthand and that’s why it’s taking a stand to protect its environment and the people who inhabit its communities. More than 880 structures have been damaged or destroyed and over 365, 895 acres of forest burned in California in 2022. That’s why the state has drafted the AB-2446 Embodied carbon emissions: construction materials bill.
The bill will require the state board to consult with specified stakeholders by 1 July 2025, to develop a framework for measuring and reducing the average carbon intensity of the materials used in the construction of new buildings and those for residential uses. The bill requires that the framework include a comprehensive strategy for the state’s building sector to achieve a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of building materials.
The state board will be required to form and maintain a technical advisory committee that will review and analyse data submitted to be used for further research. Change on this scale cannot happen without collaboration across sectors and the bill requires the state board to encourage the production and use of materials with low greenhouse gas intensity.
Without frontrunner action like this, we won’t achieve our net zero goals.
Further Information:
Read The City of New York’s Commitment profile here.
The Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, has signed the Clean Construction Executive Order 23 (EO 23) which aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the city’s construction projects. It requires that the city’s capital project agencies commit to actions that will lower embodied carbon.
EO 23 directs agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the embodied carbon of building materials and construction equipment through:
The City of New York understands the impact its construction has on the environment and those who reside there, and so the city has also committed to reducing its emissions from city government operations by 40% by 2025 and by 50% by 2030. By improving the city’s construction activities, New York can begin building a more sustainable city – reducing greenhouse gas emissions, air and noise pollution. It’s action like this that will encourage other cities to follow and confront climate change.
New York City is addressing the climate crisis and tackling it head on.
