Clowes Developments have engaged Environment Social Governance (ESG) specialists BE Design to deliver the group’s ESG strategy. Construction and its impact on the environment have rightly become a regular topic of conversation amongst industry leaders, all looking to find effective and realistic ways to move forward.
Clowes have identified the urgent need to proactively integrate ESG into the day-to-day function and decision-making processes across the group, from land and planning to development through to asset management. ‘Building for future generations to prosper’ has always been a key value instilled into the team at Clowes but the board have now invested heavily into this area of the business’s long term strategy.
Clowes have taken several essential steps this year to kick start making their ambitions a reality. The team have had to review and implement several changes to ensure data is correctly gathered and reported according to government legislation including Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) and Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR). The group have historically published their carbon usage in their end of year accounts through Companies House but are now taking that a step further by verifying the data through an industry leading carbon tracking platform, Planet Mark.
Backed by the Eden Project, CEO and Founder Steve Malkin began Planet Mark as an effective, people-driven sustainability certification. Clowes have been focusing on carbon reporting which involves measuring and disclosing the amount of carbon emissions produced by a business. Understanding your carbon footprint is the first step on your journey to becoming net zero. By becoming Planet Mark certified, it will help the business implement an effective carbon reduction strategy, stay ahead of legislation and mitigate risks, eliminate the risk of greenwashing and help to boost operational efficiency. The group’s utility co-ordinator, Daniel Houldey-Wright collated the groups energy usage data in line with the reporting requirements for Planet Mark which also comply SECR scope 1 and 2.
Daniel commented,
“At first it felt a somewhat overwhelming task. The group has a large number of properties and meter supplies which needed to be streamlined. We identified exactly which supplies needed to be reported to comply with scopes 1 and 2 and began gathering the data. We have had to implement several administrative changes to the way we collect our data as well as expanding our efforts to have smart meters installed across our portfolio; allowing us to not only access readings more swiftly, but to also better manage energy consumption across the group. During the process, we were also very pleased to calculate that around 90% of our total energy usage stems from renewable sources, so we will be working on the balance of our supplies to achieve 100% renewable energy across our portfolio. We now have all our processes working efficiently and we feel confident in our ability to accurately track our energy usage across the portfolio. This has been reinforced by the speedy certification we have received through Planet Mark. We anticipated queries and inaccuracies but were pleasantly surprised with the quick turnaround from submission to certification.”
Managing Director, Thomas Clowes, Development Director, James Richards and Head of Marketing, Kate Henderson are leading on the set up, roll out and ongoing management of the groups ESG Strategy.
Thomas commented,
“I am incredibly pleased with the teams’ efforts to submit this year’s Planet Mark data successfully and according to a tight schedule; we now have an accurate benchmark of our current carbon footprint, and we can begin our journey to reduce this year on year. Our aspiration is to deliver a 5% reduction by 2025. Clowes have a responsibility to play our part in reducing carbon emissions.”
According to the World Green Building Council, buildings are currently responsible for 39% of global energy related carbon emissions: 28% from operational emissions, from energy needed to heat, cool and power them, and the remaining 11% from materials and construction.
Now that Clowes have received their first year’s certification, BE Design will be working with Thomas, James and Kate to firm up their ESG strategy and carbon reduction action points which will be published online later in the year. Clowes will also be engaging their ESG committee members to help communicate with and empower employees across the group to support and drive forward the ESG strategy.
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