How They Do It: Grosvenor Cuts Building Emissions By A Third

Decarbonization

Part of a Climate Innovation Network series profiling the firms making real climate progress.

Emissions from buildings represent an enormous part of the world’s carbon budget, accounting for 39% of global energy related carbon emissions, so the pressure’s particularly on real estate to address it. Here we profile one firm that’s made solid progress, despite planning constraints.

Who:
Grosvenor, a London-based real estate firm with properties across US and UK markets.

What particular challenges do they face?
A portfolio of heritage properties with strict planning restrictions, forcing them to work closely with both developers and authorities.

What did they do?
Reduced their reported emissions 32% on a 2019 baseline.

How did they do it?
A three-pronged strategy:

Halved supply chain emissions through preference for suppliers with science-based targets.
Cut building emissions through air source heat pumps and sub-metering.
Set an embodied emissions target for new developments.

Where you can find out more:
Grosvenor published an update on its net zero plans in mid-September 2023. Follow Tor Burrows, Group Sustainability Director at Grosvenor Group, on LinkedIn for ongoing updates.

Ryan Skinner

Ryan leads the Verdantix Net Zero & Climate Risk research practice. The team’s current research focus encompasses net zero drivers and strategies, and climate risk, emissions reduction, and carbon management technologies. Ryan has 10 years of experience in the research business, previously working at Forrester, where he led research on ESG. Ryan speaks English natively, Norwegian, and French conversationally. He holds a BA from Duke University.