100% climate neutral - Eneco Climate Footprint 2008
As of 1 January 2008, Eneco’s internal business operations are climate neutral. We have not only achieved this result by increasing the share of Eneco’s brand of green energy, Ecostroom, but also by compensating CO2 emissions. Compensation is subject to the strict requirements of the internationally accepted quality standard; the Gold Standard. Projects qualifying for the Gold Standard generate sustainable energy from sun, wind, biogas or biomass without any extra CO2 emissions. Many of these projects are located in developing countries. There, they offer immediate advantages for the local population. Validation and verification can only be carried out by organisations accredited in accordance with the UN Climate Treaty (www.cdmgoldstandard.org).
Our objective has been refined to achieving business operations that are 100% climate neutral and maximising reductions. Compensation automatically increases the need for reductions. The reduction of CO2 emissions also saves costs. First, because there is no need to purchase the energy and second, because we need to purchase fewer CO2 certificates. Starting next year, the costs for the purchase of CO2 certificates will be charged to the core company that generates the emissions, in order to optimise the effect of this tool.
With the aid of our own Climate Footprint Service, the results of which are published on our intranet, we give our own organisation insight into the status of the different projects. A Climate Footprint is an assessment of an organisation’s CO2 emissions and provides advice with regard to sustainability measures. Four items are measured: energy use, vehicle fleet, mobility and paper consumption. The item waste will be added in 2009.
Information regarding our consumption
Gas, heat and electricity
Adjusted for the lower temperatures in 2008, we have used 8% less energy for space heating.
Our electricity consumption in 2008 was approximately equal to that of 2007. In 2008, we have substantially increased the number of buildings in which green electricity is used. In cases where the owner or the manager of the premises decides which type of electricity is used, we still use grey electricity. This amounts to approximately 20% of the total consumption.
Vehicle fleet
The vehicle fleet, which consists of company vehicles and leased cars, has grown by 9%. The number of company vehicles increased by 6% and the number of leased cars by 23%. Nonetheless, it appears that the first effects of the lease policy that was implemented in 2007 (only cars with an A, B or C certificate for low fuel consumption may be selected), become visible. CO2 emissions decreased from 202 to 187 grams per kilometre.
Employee mobility
In 2008, the Eneco employees together travelled more than 47 million kilometres to and from work. Business travel by car amounted to 5.7 million kilometres. These numbers are in line with those of 2007. Since mid-2007, drivers of leased cars can request restitution of any public transport cost for business purposes. This option was only used on a limited scale (4%) and leaves much room for improvement.
Paper
The paper consumption that we measure includes letterhead paper, blank paper and printed materials. The amount of blank paper and printed materials remained constant. The 10% growth of the total paper consumption is due to the increase in the use of letterhead paper. This was mainly caused by the house style changes at Joulz, Stedin and Eneco. This was, however, a non-recurring event. Other measures, such as the introduction of the digital invoice, should eventually lead to a reduction of our paper
consumption.
The item ‘waste’ will be assessed in 2009. CO2 emissions will be compensated with retroactive effect as soon as the extent is known.
The item ‘paper’ accounts for a remarkably large share. Since the item ‘waste’ has not yet been assessed, this also applies to our paper waste. As it is not sufficiently clear how our paper waste is processed, a conservative emission factor has been applied.