Unite Group says it cut total carbon emissions 8.8% and water consumption 17% in 2017.
According to its annual report, the student accommodation provider did so despite increasing beds by 11.6% to 54,000.
From May 2017, the firm agreed to procure 100% renewable power backed by renewable energy guarantees of origin (REGOs) from supplier Npower. That decision will have played a part in reducing carbon emissions, given absolute electricity consumption increased by 3.7% to 116.7GWh versus 2016. Natural gas use also increased by 5.6% to 30.7GWh.
Over the year the company said it completed detailed energy surveys of each individual property and had created a modelling tool with consultancy Sustain “to help produce fully costed, individual energy efficiency plans for each property, which informs our five-year energy efficiency programme”.
Meanwhile, Unite Group has now installed LED lights and controls across most of its estate, with 120 out of 132 buildings upgraded to date.
It also completed a networked heating and hot water controls system at Waverley House, a 217-bed property in Bristol.
The company’s energy management team has previously told The Energyst that such controls will enable it to trial demand-side response provision as well as improve customer comfort. If successful, the company may increase use of networked controls and demand-side response activity (see our most recent DSR Report for details.
Unite Group will outline how it constructs multifaceted business plans to deliver benefits beyond energy at The Energyst Event, April 17-18, National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham.
The conference and exhibition focuses on the interrelation of energy procurement, efficiency and flexibility and is free to attend. Reserve your ticket here.
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