Carbon

In 2017 we:

• Reduced our carbon emissions, relative to turnover, by 23% between 2016 and 2017, and by 58% since 2010, smashing our 2020 target of a 50% reduction, three years early
• Paid nearly £23k in green bonuses to employees choosing low emissions cars
• Retained The Carbon Trust Standard
• Still the only company in our sector to achieve The Carbon Trust’s Supply Chain Standard
• All offices (where we’re responsible for energy-procurement) now powered with natural renewable energy – and all new sites

Total emissions (tCO₂e)

In 2015 we set a new, industry-leading target to halve carbon emissions intensity by 2020 (compared with 2010). Between 2016 and 2017 we reduced our emissions intensity by 23%, meaning that since 2010 we have reduced emissions by 58% – surpassing our 2020 target three years early.

The reductions are mainly due to improvements made by our site teams. By ensuring early grid connections, they are reducing reliance on carbon-intensive diesel (our diesel usage has halved since 2012). Emissions from business travel have also decreased.

2017 carbon-reducing activities included:

• Paying out nearly £23,000 in bonuses for employees choosing low emissions company or private cars
• Continuing to offer generous car share and bicycle mileage
• Offering employees public transport commute mileage at the same rate as car commute mileage
• Broadening the choice of electric cars on our company car list, offering substantial bonuses for employees choosing them, to cover the cost of installing home-charging points
• Continuing to prioritise electrical zoning and out-of-hours master switches on our construction sites
• Promoting agile working

In 2016 we signed a deal to power all our offices, where we are responsible for energy procurement, with renewable energy. In 2017 we turned our focus to sites. All of our new grid-connected construction sites (where we are responsible for providing power supplies) are now powered by renewable energy, and we are turning our attention to the remaining sites which are powered by other sources.

In 2017 we were re-accredited to The Carbon Trust Standard. We also continued our pioneering work on The Carbon Trust’s Supply Chain Standard – the world’s only accreditation for companies who collaborate with their supply chain partners to reduce emissions.

Our team working on the Nexus Training and Production facility near Gatwick Airport was the first to attempt to power an entire site with renewables. While cost constraints meant it was not possible to go fully off-grid, a large proportion of the site’s energy requirements are being supplied with solar PV.