Carbon offsetting

We will reduce emissions as much as possible through energy efficiency measures and use of renewable energy.

To become carbon neutral we will procure offsets for any remaining emissions.

“The carbon efficiency programme for 201 Bishopsgate and The Broadgate Tower is a groundbreaking collaboration between owner and occupiers. It will minimise emissions that arise from occupier operations at the two properties, with high quality emission reduction credits purchased to offset actual emissions.”

Niall Thorburn, Commercialisation Manager at EcoSecurities

Employees, particularly younger workers, are increasingly looking to work for organisations with green credentials*. By becoming carbon neutral we are demonstrating our commitment to fighting climate change, improving environmental performance and responding to staff concerns.

We will purchase good quality, robust emission reduction credits from EcoSecurities to offset the estimated emissions for the coming year. As a project developer EcoSecurities is also able to provide us with up to date, comprehensive information on the social and environmental impacts of our projects.

Our commitment to become carbon neutral includes emissions from all our Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scope 1 and 2 activities and some of our Scope 3 emissions, as defined by the World Resource Institute.

The expected cost of carbon offsets is £0.03 per sq ft for common areas and £0.09 per sq ft for occupied areas. Energy efficiency features included in the design are estimated to reduce operational costs for occupiers by an average of £1.20 per sq ft each year, based on gas costs of £0.03 per kWh and electricity costs of £0.10 per kWh.

* The quarterly CIPD/KPMG Labour Market Outlook survey of 757 employers, published in May 2008, shows a link between being ‘green’ and attracting employees.

Our carbon emissions at 201 Bishopsgate and The Broadgate Tower in 2009 are forecast to be 6,000 tonnes.

Benefits resulting from this collaboration:

  • Put a price on carbon emissions at 201 Bishopsgate and The Broadgate Tower, further encouraging carbon reduction
  • Introduce clean technologies to developing and non-Western countries, reducing carbon emissions whilst generating investment and employment

Those supporting our carbon neutrality commitment are:

  • British Land
  • Broadgate Estates
  • Henderson Global Investors
  • Reed Smith LLP

Our carbon neutral commitment
Scope 1
Direct, controlled emissions  		 Scope 2
Indirect, controlled emissions		 Scope 3
Indirect, influenced emissions
  • Gas and oil use
  • Controlled refrigerant emissions
  • Emissions from British Land owned vehicles that serve the buildings
  • Electricity use
  • Waste disposal  

Links and downloads

Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse gases make up only about 1% of the Earth’s atmosphere, but act like the glass roof of a greenhouse, trapping heat and keeping the planet some 30°C warmer than it would be otherwise. They are: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride.

Carbon dioxide and carbon emissions

Carbon dioxide is probably the most important of the greenhouse gases, responsible for over 60% of the enhanced greenhouse effect, warming the earth's surface and lowering the atmosphere. We use the terms ‘carbon’ and ‘carbon dioxide’ to refer to greenhouse gases throughout this website. To generate total carbon emissions, other gas emissions are converted to the equivalent global warming potential of carbon dioxide emissions.