Environmental Impacts

Performance:

• We can report that the Emissions for Annual Reporting Year 2010/11 for

• In 2010-11 we extensively reviewed our energy data to prepare for the Carbon Disclosure Project and the CRC Energy Efficiency scheme. This process uncovered discrepancies and inconsistencies in the datasets. We decided that the 2009-10 data was insufficient to evaluate whether or not we achieved a reduction in emissions.
• The process now established for CRC reporting is rigorous and will provide accurate data for comparison in 2011/12 and future years.
• Going forwards we will report our emissions using our CRC annual reporting figures.*
  
  *The figures reported and going forwards represent 90% of Workspace Group emissions. We believe the 10% of emissions not included represent those from our empty units. This 10% poses a significant challenge for data gathering and yet does not represent a significant enough proportion of our emissions to justify the administration involved for their on-going collation.

Actions taken:

• Initiated a roll out of automatic meters across the portfolio
• Renewed boilers in 11 of our buildings in the last five years
• Installed air source heat pumps in a further four
• Upgraded eight of our buildings’ lighting by retrofitting Passive Infra-Red sensors and energy efficient light bulbs
• Water efficient taps and WC dual flushes now installed in 12 buildings;
• Installed secondary or double glazing in four buildings;
• Solar panels feature at three of our sites

Future Strategy:

• Building Refurbishment: Five major building refurbishments are planned in 2011/12. All include energy efficiency technologies as standard. 
• CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme: To reduce our CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme liabilities we will continue to implement energy efficiency measures at key sites. This includes installation of automatic meters, new building management systems, voltage optimisation and low energy lighting. 
• Customer engagement: To enable customers to benefit from environmental efficiencies and appreciate the benefits of community participation, we aim to negotiate green leases and establish joint sustainability action plans.
• Training: We will continue to support for centre managers providing trainign on environmental and socio-economic responsibilities, which will be communicated to our customers.

Performance:

Energy

In 2010/11 electricity consumption at Magenta House reduced by 6%. We achieved this through tight management of the heating and air conditioning systems. By amending HVAC running schedules and tightening the temperature bands we reduced consumption whilst maintaining employee comfort. 
 

Water

Consumption increased by 8%, however in 2010/11 all bills received were estimates. As the water company is unable to provide acurate water consumption we cannot determine whether this is an actual increase based on our meter read consumption in 2009/10.

Actions taken:

• The improved management of our heating and air conditioning systems.
• Providing local temperature control over a tighter bandwidth to employees.

Future Strategy:

• We Have Moved. In July 2011 Workspace Group headquarters moved to Chester House, Kennington Park.
• The move provides an opportunity to further embed sustainable behaviours in our own office operations through employee engagement.
• We will monitor our utilities consumption and waste management practices to ensure we are implementing sustainable practices.

The environmental initiatives already in place at Chester House include:

• Energy - PIR lighting which is also influenced by ambient lighting - where less artificial light is required, for example by the windows, the lights dim accordingly and consume less energy.

• Energy - We no longer support an on-site communications room which previously used up to 25% of Magenta House’s annual energy consumption.

• Waste - Desk bins have been removed and banks of bins introduced at key points around the office, providing mixed/dry recycling and general waste bins.

Performance:

• The proportion of waste diverted from landfill increased to 70%.
• 55% of our portfolio saw an increase in recycling rates from 2009/10.
• We avoided over £216,000 in landfill costs across our portfolio during 2010/11 by diverting 4,513 tonnes of waste through recycling programmes and converting our waste to energy.

Actions taken:

• Our centre managers have continued to engage with our customers to increase recycling rates.
• Our waste management strategy which now includes sending waste that cannot be recycled to energy recovery has strengthend our position.

Future strategy:

• In 2011/12 we will be engaging further with customers and employees to increase the recycling rate from 39% to 55%.