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Verdantix Sustainability Report 2008/09

Sustainability Report 2008/09

Welcome to the first annual Verdantix Sustainability Report. Our Sustainability Policy was endorsed by the Board in May 2008 and states that the firm will seek to minimise its environmental impacts and to engage with employees and communicate with clients and suppliers on our policies and the actions we take. We divide our sustainability initiatives into areas of control and areas of influence. All data refer to the period from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009.

Report On Areas Of Control

Emissions from business travel. Verdantix largely controls greenhouse gas emissions from employee travel for business purposes. Based on the DEFRA-certified Carbon Credit Agency calculator we estimate our total emissions from road, rail and air travel were 0.12 tCO2. Verdantix has a policy to minimise air travel which has the potential to be the largest source of emissions. Whenever possible Verdantix employees select low emissions vehicles such as Green Tomato cabs and advises clients travelling to the Verdantix office to use public transport in the first instance or to use Green Tomato cabs. Verdantix provides facilities that enable employees to cycle to work.

Energy consumption and emissions from IT equipment, lighting and HVAC. Verdantix uses laptop computers, IP desk phones and outsources web hosting and software applications. These devices and outsourced services all consume electricity. Verdantix laptops are set to power off after 15 minutes of inactivity. We do not permit employees to run screen savers that consume energy. Verdantix is located in an office which permits the use of fresh air cooling as opposed to electricity-powered air conditioning.
 
Consumables and recycling. During the reporting period Verdantix worked with the office management company to replace trucked-in bottled water with mains-delivered water resulting in reduced emissions from fuel consumption. Verdantix has a tap-water only policy for corporate hospitality. The firm sources 100% recycled paper and has a company policy to print double-sided. All non-confidential paper waste is recycled with Paper Round. Using the Carbon Credit Agency calculator we estimate emissions from distribution and freight were 0.04 tCO2.

Report On Areas Of Influence

Electricity and gas consumption. Verdantix is a tenant with other firms in a large office building which limits our control over changes to electricity and gas supply. Based on a floor space allocation, we estimate electricity use and gas consumption for heating generated annual emissions of 5.62tCO2 (10,667 kWh) and 2.47tCO2 (12,000 kWh).

Employee household emissions monitoring. As part of our employee engagement programme on sustainability we request that employees calculate their household emissions on a quarterly basis and submit the data to the firm. For the reporting period employee household emissions averaged 1.61 tCO2 for heating, 0.91 toCO2 for appliances and 4.67 tCO2 for travel. The average carbon intensity per household was 7.18 tCO2 per annum. All figures were calculated using the DEFRA Act On CO2 calculator.

Sustainability Action Plan For 2009/10

Carbon Accounting And Reduction Fund
For the reporting period the average emissions per employee are estimated to be 2.1 tCO2 with a total carbon footprint of 8.26 tCO2 based on energy consumption of 22,667 kWh. To monitor, manage and reduce its carbon emissions Verdantix has implemented a carbon financial accounting policy. We apply a £25 / tCO2 shadow price for the firm’s carbon emissions. For the reporting period the internalised cost of carbon to Verdantix was £206.50. This sum will be invested during the 2009/10 reporting year to reduce the firm’s emissions. Carbon reduction investment will target areas of control and specifically electricity consumption by office equipment.

Sustainability Initiatives For 2009/10

Tuesday, 19 May 2009