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energy
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- Energy: carbon dioxide emissions to air (Operations)
- Energy: sulphur dioxide emissions to air (Operations)
- Energy: nitrogen oxide emissions to air (Operations)
- Energy: particulate emissions to air (Operations)
- Energy: volatile organic emissions to air (Operations)
- Continue to maintain the bank's 70% reduction in CO2 emissions per customer account, whilst also exploring the
possibility of securing future renewable supplies via merchant windpower contracts. TARGET ACHIEVED
- Per customer account, and in line with the UK Government's 'Making a Corporate Commitment 2' indicative targets,
reduce emissions of SO2 by 83%, NOx by 56% and VOCs by 53% by 2010, based on a 1997 baseline. ACCEPTABLE PROGRESS
- Explore the scope for further reductions in problematic emissions to air via the supply of renewable electricity to network
premises and supply of renewable gas to major occupancies. ACCEPTABLE PROGRESS
- Continue to argue the case in public for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as a matter of priority, and run a
branch-based awareness campaign in 2001. TARGET ACHIEVED
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performance
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- Follow this link for details of all conversion factors used in this report.
- Emissions from major occupancies reduced by 178 tonnes as a result of carbon
sequestration undertaken by the bank's community woodlands.
- Emissions from major occupancies reduced by 250 tonnes as a result of carbon
sequestration undertaken by the bank's community woodlands.
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commentary
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Background Energy consumption is a major contributor to
pollution and a whole range of environmental problems.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary agent of global climate
change. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is the principal contributor to
acid rain. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) contribute to acid rain, global
warming and respiratory ailments. Volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) have been linked to health problems such as cancer.
Carbon dioxide emissions As a result of the increased use
of renewable energies, the bank's net emissions of CO2 have
fallen by 77% compared with a 1997 baseline. CO2 emissions
per customer account are now down by a significant 83%.
Compared with 2000, the bank's net CO2 emissions have
fallen by 45%, whilst net CO2 emissions per customer account
have fallen by 46%.
Carbon offset The 42 hectares of new planting undertaken in
the bank's community woodlands since 1997 are
taken to offset 250 tonnes of CO2 per annumi. In addition, the
bank offsets 1,163 tonnes of CO2 on behalf of its mortgage
customers via Climate Care (follow this link
for details of the bank's carbon offset programme) ii.
Other emissions to air The bank's move to renewable
electricity has resulted in a 54% reduction in SO2 emissions
compared with 2000. However, NOx, particulate and VOC
emissions have increased by 89%, 83% and 279%
respectively. In the future, the bank will be mindful of how
different renewable energies contribute to emissions of
pollutants other than CO2. Over time, this may result in a shift
in the renewable energy suppliers and portfolio.
Energy usage During 2001, energy consumption across the
bank increased by 12%. This was due to a 7.3% increase in
electricity usage and a 23.3% increase in gas usage. The
significant increase in electricity consumption does not have a
significant negative impact on the environment as the majority
(98%) of the bank's electricity portfolio is now sourced from
renewable electricity. However, working with Syncro Energy
and Property Management, the bank proposes to identify
branches where energy consumption is high, as indicated by
DEFRA's Energy Efficiency Good Practice Guide. Once
identified, where commercially viable, the bank will take steps
to reduce consumption. The increase in gas consumption has
resulted in the emissions of an extra 409 tonnes of carbon
dioxide compared with 2000 (although when compared with
1997, CO2 emissions arising from gas consumption are 134.5
tonnes lower). It is believed that both the increase in electricity
and gas consumption are correlated with changes to ambient
air temperature. The years 1997 to 2000 were all considered to
be mild: the annual mean surface air temperature for 'Central
England' ranged from 10.30-10.63 Celsius (șC).iii In contrast,
2001 was a cooler year, 9.94șC. In addition, the 'winter'
months (January-March and October-December inclusive) of
2001 contained 8.2% more 'degree days' than those of 1997
to 2000 inclusive.iv This means that the average outside air
temperature was more frequently below the base temperature
at which heating was required in 2001. Moreover, the 'summer'
months (May to August inclusive) of 2001 were on average
warmer than those of 1998 to 2000 inclusiveiv. This would lead
to an increased requirement for cooling systems and an
increase in electricity consumption. In conclusion, it can be
stated with a reasonable degree of confidence that variation in
energy consumption over the period under review (1997 to 2001
inclusive) was principally driven by changes in air temperature.
Renewables During 2001, all of the bank's major offices,
London, Manchester, Stockport, Salford and Skelmersdale
sourced electricity from renewable energy producers via
ecotricity (formerly known as the Renewable Energy
Company). Generation technologies used at the bank's major
offices during 2001 include landfill gas (88%) and hydro (12%).
During 2001, all but one of the bank's network premises
(96 branches) switched to renewable sourced electricity.
Generation technologies used in the bank's network include
landfill gas (48%), hydro (29%) and wind (23%). The only
remaining locations where the bank has fossil fuel generated
electricity are the bank's kiosks (21 in total), Regent House in
Stockport and Guernsey branch. These account for the
remaining 2% of the bank's non-green electricity portfolio. It
has not yet proved possible for the bank to source a renewable
gas supply for its locations. The bank will continue to research
alternatives during 2002.
Campaigning Follow this link
for an analysis of the bank's campaigning activity in the area of climate change.
 By comparison, according to their 1999/00 Environmental
Report, CO2 emissions per employee at Credit Suisse Group
amount to 2.6 tonnes (cf. the bank's net emissions of CO2 per
employee are 0.7 tonnes). |
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- Conversion factors supplied by Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
- www.co-operativebank.co.uk/ethics/ethics_ecomortgage_credential.html
- www.cru.uea.ac.uk/~mikeh/datasets/uk/cet.htm
- www.vesma.com/ddd/history.htm
To follow any of the links mentioned within the Partnership Report 2001, please visit the links page.
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ethical and ecological value analysis
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- Compared to the cheapest alternative offer, the annualised additional cost of 'green' electricity is – £67,000
- Annual cost of utilities monitoring activities, including third party contracts and capital investment – £8,000
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new target
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- Continue to maintain the bank's 80% reduction in CO2 emissions per customer account.
- Per customer account, and in line with the UK Government's 'Making a Corporate Commitment 2' indicative targets, reduce emissions of SO2 by 83%, NOx by 56% and VOCs by 53%, by 2010 based on a 1997 baseline.
- Explore the supply of renewable gas to major occupancies.
Eric Boshell, Procurement Consultant
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