Our performance

In 2009 the Green Office Working Group continued to review performance and develop strategies for reducing our operational footprint, including reviews of building controls systems, and the introduction of flow restrictors on taps. For the second year we took part in WWF Earth Hour. As standard practice, we now switch off all but safety lighting at all offices, sites, show homes and marketing suites.

Energy

During 2009 we closed two divisional offices, and reduced headcount, thus adversely affecting per capita emissions from electricity and gas – heating & light. Normalised by area, annual office electricity consumption totalled 95kWh/m²/yr, (FY08: 143kWh/m²/yr), a further improvement and considerably better than the CIBSE good practice benchmark of 234kWh/m²/yr.

Gas consumption has also reduced by 19% from 514,556kWh to 418,524kWh. Normalised by area, annual office buildings gas consumption is 64kWh per square metre (FY08:69), compared with the CIBSE good practice benchmark of 114 kWh/m²/year.

Water

Water use showed an apparent reduction to 6m³ per person per year, but the accuracy of utility meter readings remains poor.

Waste

Waste recycling covering paper, card, plastic and cans was extended across all our divisional offices, resulting in an increase in recycling rate to 46% (FY08: 29%). Obtaining robust figures on weight of waste still remains a problem (for the sector in general), with waste carriers charging by volume or skip call off, and using industry conversion factors to generate tonnages from skip numbers.

In 2009 a detailed assessment of each office better identified forecast waste volumes, resulting in a considerable reduction in skip use, and therefore an apparent reduction in waste arisings.

Transport

Our company car emission cap remains at 195g/km which was set in 2007. Actual fleet average is 160g/km, (FY08:168g/km). We are currently reviewing company car policy, including restrictions on carbon emissions.

In 2009 we surveyed employees to establish commuting patterns, including research on interest in less carbon intensive modes of transport. Over half of those participating said that they would be willing to try alternatives, such as cycling, public transport and car sharing. The biggest barrier perceived was distance, with only 23% of staff living within 10 miles of their workplace. In response, Crest Nicholson partnered with Cyclescheme, a national body funded by the Government's Green Transport Plan Initiative, which offers employees a tax-free loan to purchase cycles for work use.

Our Performance

Note 1: All CO₂ emissions are stated using the 2009 Defra guidance. In previous reports figures were calculated using the Defra guidance for that year. Crest Nicholson's carbon footprint for 2009 has once again been verified by Camco UK Ltd;

Note 2: WBCSD 2005 Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard – Revised Edition. World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Geneva and World Resources Institute, Washington.

Helping employees reduce carbon emissions – and save money

To successfully address climate change throughout our operations we continue to develop communication strategies that engage a broad audience, are accessible and easy to understand. It also helps when there are direct benefits from reducing carbon emissions.

In October 2009 we invited the Energy Saving Trust to visit two of our offices, and energy advisors were on-hand to assist employees in identifying potential for savings on home energy bills. Tips on 'Smart driving' were given, and employees assessed their low emission driving skills through EST's driving simulator.

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