OWNERS & OCCUPIERS MEET TO CUT CARBON
09/09/2009
Over one hundred business representatives met on Wednesday 9th September to discuss how they can help stem climate change by cutting carbon dioxide emissions from commercial properties in London.
The Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) and Green500 event brought together for the first time some of London's most prominent owners and occupiers to develop sustainability solutions to the commercial property market.
Commercial property owners have an important role to play in reducing CO2 emissions from their buildings - as the commercial building stock in London is responsible for a third of London’s CO2 emissions. But there are several barriers.
After a keynote address by Jonathon Porritt - who stressed the growing importance of collaborations like the Better Buildings Partnership and Green 500 - the landlords and occupiers looked at the different strategies they can use to agree carbon reduction strategies which best fit with the circumstances of individual properties. They also looked at the financing available to fund the retrofitting of existing commercial properties - the key to unlocking the potential carbon dioxide savings from London’s property market.
Paul Edwards, Head of Sustainability at Hammerson and Chair of the Better Buildings Partnership Owner-Occupier Working Group said:
"Cutting CO2 emissions from London's commercial properties is going to be a vital part of the drive to cut London's emissions. The turnout at today's event shows that there is a clear appetite to learn how landlords and occupiers can work together to improve their energy efficiency and help meet the Mayor's target of a 60% cut in CO2 emissions by 2025."
The Green 500 and Better Buildings Partnership are London Development Agency-backed programmes that work with London’s businesses and commercial property owners to improve their energy efficiency and cut carbon dioxide emissions. They are part of the London Development Agency’s drive to cut London’s CO2 emissions and move toward the Mayor’s target of a 60% cut in London’s CO2 emissions by 2025.
