Energy use
We used 2% less energy in the common parts of our like-for-like portfolio than in 2004, compared to our target of 15%.
We used 10% more energy in our annual like-for-like portfolio than last year. This was largely due to higher demand for heating during the coldest winter in over ten years. This led to increased gas use across our office, shopping centre and retail park portfolios.
- At our shopping centres, gas use increased by 13% and electricity use increased by 25%. This increase in electricity use followed refurbishment projects and extensions at Meadowhall in Sheffield and Eastgate in Basildon, as well as the installation of an air conditioning system at Meadowhall. Energy use in the comparison year was also lower than normal, as large areas of Meadowhall were closed following flooding in June 2007. Shopping centres accounted for 50% of energy use.
- At our offices, gas use increased by 33% whilst electricity use reduced by 0.4%. This slight reduction in electricity use was largely due to energy efficiency initiatives, such as the installation of low-energy lightbulbs. Offices accounted for 41% of energy use.
- At our retail parks, gas use increased by 8%, whilst electricity use reduced by 12%. This reduction in electricity use was mainly thanks to the introduction of energy efficiency measures at a number of parks, such as fitting daylight sensors to lighting systems. Retail parks accounted for 9% of energy use.
We focus on like-for-like energy use because this removes the impact of changes in our portfolio and in the number of properties reporting data.
We aim to reduce like-for-like energy use by 20% by 2012, compared to 2004. Next year, we aim to reduce like-for-like energy use by 5%, compared to this year.
