Carbon Reduction Plan
1st June 2024
Commitment to Achieving Net Zero
Clearsprings Group, including Clearsprings Ready Homes Ltd is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050.
Baseline Emissions Footprint
Baseline emissions are a record of the greenhouse gases that have been produced in the past and were produced prior to the introduction of any strategies to reduce emissions. Baseline emissions are the reference point against which emissions reduction can be measured.
Baseline Year: FYE 2021/22
Additional Details relating to the Baseline Emissions calculations.
Prior to 2021 sustainability figures had been prepared on a less formal basis for internal purposes only but following the impact of the Covid-19 lock-downs in 2020 the business operational framework shifted towards hybrid working (home-based for the majority of staff) and the carbon figures were significantly affected as a result.
Baseline year emissions:
Emisions
Scope 1
Scope 2
Scope 3
(Included Sources)
Total Emissions
Total (tCO2e)
201.04
14811.24
4266.61
19279
tCO2 per employee is 77 tonnes
Current Emissions Reporting
Reporting Year: FYE 2023/24
Emisions
Scope 1
Scope 2
Scope 3
(Included Sources)
Total Emissions
Total (tCO2e)
222
13037
16035
29564
tCO2 per employee is 63 tonnes.
(A reduction of 14% on baseline year)
Emissions reduction targets
Clearsprings Group has previously created ‘environmental and sustainability targets and objectives’ for internal comparison only and they did not have such a long-term focus.
This is the first formalised Carbon Reduction Plan and the previously existing targets have been reviewed and adapted to suit the longer-term ‘net-zero by 2050’ objectives.
To continue our progress to achieving Net Zero, we have adopted the following carbon reduction targets, which are part of the Group’s overall ‘Environmental & Sustainability Targets and Objectives.
Reducing Carbon Emissions from energy consumption:
1.1 - Continued measurement of carbon emissions seeking yearly reductions under the SECR guidelines to comply with financial auditing requirements.
1.2 - Reduction sought in final carbon emission figures quoted in annual financial report / accounts, specifically on a tCO2 per employee basis.
2. Fleet Management:
2.1 - Leased vehicles incorporated into the company fleet to be lowest CO2 emissions figures possible, regardless of fuel options.
2.2 - Min. 3% pro-rata reduction to CO2 emissions from vehicle fleet over every consecutive 5-year period.
3. Energy Management Issues:
3.1 - Improve the energy ratings for the CRH portfolio against EPC rating figures; the CRH rental property portfolio has a minimum EPC rating requirement of grade ‘E’.
3.2 - CRH to encourage and work with landlords to improve the energy efficiency of properties moving towards EPC rating ‘C’ on a continuing basis.
3.3 - Energy saving measures to include areas such as LED lighting, boiler thermostatic controls, wall & roof insulation (replace or improve), single to double glazed windows, underfloor heating, and smart meter installation.
We project that carbon emissions per employee will decrease over the next five years to 57 tCO2e by 2029. This is a reduction of 10% on the current figures.
Progress against these targets will be tabulated as part of the carbon reduction actions this year creating a graph showing progress to date and projected to 2050.
Carbon Reduction Projects
Completed Carbon Reduction Initiatives
The following environmental management measures and projects have been implemented since the 2022 baseline:
Installation of ‘Ecostats’ on boiler controls in identified properties.
2. Inclusion of electric vehicles for directors and senior management use.
3. The use of Microsoft Teams for both remote meetings and training sessions.
The specific carbon emission reduction achieved by these schemes has not previously been calculated, but they have assisted in the 14%ge reduction per employee against the 2022 baseline. The aim is to reduce the total tCO2e overall figure year on year hereafter using the continuing measures alongside additional measures outlined below:
a) Improving EPC ratings for rental properties, working with landlords to increase the ratings using some, or all, of the measures listed in 3.3 above.
b) Continuation of the Group’s Environmental ISO14001 accreditation, with the creation of an appropriate measurement structure to identify performance against specific targets earlier and allow for changes to be made by the Environment Manager and company directors.
c) Push for installation of smart metering in all rental properties by the end of 2025.
In the future we hope to implement further measures such as:
Solar panel installation to office buildings utilised under the contract, or relocation to more energy efficient office buildings.
CRH staff to be encouraged to improve the energy efficiency of their own vehicles utilised as part of the ‘Grey fleet’ for work purposes.
Declaration and Sign Off
This Carbon Reduction Plan has been completed in accordance with PPN 06/21 and associated guidance and reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans.
Emissions have been reported and recorded in accordance with the published reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans and the GHG Reporting Protocol corporate standard: https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-standard and uses the appropriate Government emission conversion factors for greenhouse gas company reporting.
Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions have been reported in accordance with SECR requirements, and the required subset of Scope 3 emissions have been reported in accordance with the published reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans and the Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard.
As this is the first Carbon Reduction Plan created by Clearsprings Group additional actions are acknowledged in order to standardise it against the relevant standards and guidance mentioned above.
This Carbon Reduction Plan has been reviewed and signed off by the board of directors (or equivalent management body).
