Paris, 3 December 2015 – 16 leading European companies from across the built environment have taken a new energy efficiency commitment today for the buildings supply chain, to help drive delivery of ‘nearly zero energy buildings’ (nZEB) for new build by 2020, and refurbished buildings by 2030.
Energy efficient buildings will help unlock productivity and boost EU innovation and low carbon economy
The 'Moving towards net zero buildings' commitment, initiated by The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group, in collaboration with property services company JLL and property company Hammerson, aims to deliver ultra low energy buildings. It comes in response to a lack of co-ordinated approach across the built environment sector in the delivery of energy efficient buildings. EU regulation states that by 31 December 2020 all new buildings must be nZEBs.
The commitment has been signed by 16 leading organisations representing different sectors of the property sector supply chain, including: Acciona, British Land, Doosan, Ferrovial, GlaxoSmithKline, Hammerson, Heathrow, Interface, JLL, Kingfisher, Land Securities, Lloyds Banking Group, Philips, Skanska, Sky and Tesco.
The property sector has a huge role to play in delivering a low carbon economy across the EU – contributing approximately 40 per cent of total carbon emissions. In recognition of this, the first ever 'Buildings Day' as part of the Lima Paris Action Agenda is being held at COP21 on 3 December, where this commitment was unveiled.
The pledge outlines several actions that the signatories commit to, including:
- Driving down energy intensity across corporate property estates;
- Committing to the 2020 goals of nZEB for new buildings and further action on renovation by 2030 as well as transparently reporting on progress against this;
- Collaborating across the supply chain to set sector specific targets and goals; and
- Continuing to engage with policymakers on policy, progress, reporting and performance towards zero energy goals.
The commitment simultaneously calls for action from the EU and Member States to support delivery of these commitments through a range of measures, including a stable long-term sector plan for emissions reductions and a consistent programme of public sector involvement in low carbon and energy efficiency technologies.
Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Director of The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group, said: "Better energy efficiency of buildings will put us on a low carbon pathway while improving the productivity of the economy as a whole. It offers a new business opportunity in its own right. The inconsistent performance of the building sector to date in improving energy efficiency highlights the need for a more focused and concerted approach. The new commitment presented today by The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group and partnering companies aims to address this gap."
David Atkins, CEO of Hammerson, said: "Establishing a forum for purposeful collaboration between businesses across the property supply chain is a major achievement. It has the potential to drive significant results in our immediate challenge of limiting the damaging effects of climate change. The range of businesses represented already within this commitment is clear evidence in itself of the commercial sense that lies within tackling urgently this most pressing problem. Hammerson looks forward to work with our fellow signatories to bring about real change."
Guy Grainger, UK CEO at JLL said: "This pledge makes complete business sense. Moving towards a low carbon economy will boost much needed UK productivity levels and will help drive innovation. The building sector is also highly reliant on imported energy and we need to raise ambition, provide the right incentives for upgrading existing building stock and end energy import dependency. With only 4 years to go until the 2020 zero carbon deadline, the time for concerted action across the industry is now."
Eric Rondolat, CEO Philips Lighting said: "Improving energy efficiency of buildings not only provides an important contribution to reducing carbon emissions, it also creates a significant number of – mostly local – jobs for people renovating existing buildings, boosts innovation for better new buildings, and perhaps most importantly makes the places where we live and work more comfortable and productive. We see great examples of such impact by switching to the latest connected LED lighting in offices, schools and homes. So, all in all very good reasons to accelerate renovation of the huge stock of existing buildings – ideally to 3 per cent per year – and to step up innovation investments in even better smart technologies for buildings yet to be constructed."
John Holland-Kaye, CEO of Heathrow, said: "Using the latest innovations in building design is one of the ways that Heathrow is working to reduce carbon emissions across the airport. Heathrow’s Terminal 2 was designed to be sustainable and is the first airport terminal to be BREEAM certified. That has set a benchmark for the industry. But we are not done yet. We will work closely with our supply chain and with our aviation industry colleagues to deliver the actions in the Net Zero Buildings Commitment announced today."
Robert Boogaard, CEO Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Interface, said: "At Interface we have reduced our own GHG by more than 90 per cent and it has paid back well. Even better opportunities are in buildings, thanks to the holistic combination of purpose-driven design, smart technologies and advanced insulation solutions, among others. We call for industry at large to join forces in this tremendous business opportunity."
Jennifer Clark, Senior Vice President Green and Community Investment, Skanska, said: "Green building is a great business opportunity for us as it is right for the planet, attractive to customers, communities, and employees alike; and it creates value for our shareholders. The best part is that we don’t have to wait. Skanska already has the competence and technology we need to build Deep Green and Net Zero Energy Buildings. Through working with our customers and other value chain stakeholders we seek to scale up the delivery of these projects and inspire transformative change in the market."
/ENDS
Media contacts
For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact:
Sylvain Biville | Media & Communications | Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Sylvain.Biville@cisl.cam.ac.uk | T +44 7771 894 345
Read the commitment
'Moving towards net zero buildings': read the commitment.
For more information, read “Futureproof buildings in Europe: Net Zero Energy and beyond”, a report by the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE), commissioned by the CLG in October 2015.
About The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group
The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group (CLG) brings together 23 European business leaders who work under the patronage of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to advocate solutions on climate change to policymakers and business peers within the EU and globally. CLG members are committed to playing a leadership role in securing a just, low carbon transition, both in terms of changing their own businesses and sectors, and advocating change in the wider economic and political context. At a minimum the CLG supports the goal of achieving net zero emissions globally well before 2100. The CLG has galvanised tangible business momentum for this goal through the Trillion Tonne Communique, signed by over 160 companies.
CLG members are: 3M, Acciona, Anglian Water Group, BT, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Doosan, DSM, EDF Energy, Ferrovial, GlaxoSmithKline, Heathrow, Iberdrola, Interface, Jaguar Land Rover, Kingfisher, Lloyds Banking Group, Philips, Skanska, Sky, Tesco, Thames Water, Unilever, United Technologies Corporation. They represent combined revenues of over $170 billion and employ 2 million people across 170 countries. Communications from the CLG benefit from the input of the entire group but do not necessarily require the formal agreement of all member companies.
The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) provides the secretariat to the CLG. Decisions of the CLG do not necessarily represent the policies or positions of CISL or of the wider University of Cambridge.
Follow us on Twitter @ClimateCLG
About JLL
JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a professional services and investment management firm offering specialised property services to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying and investing in property. With global annual revenues of $4.7 billion, JLL has more than 230 corporate offices, operates in 80 countries and has a global workforce of approximately 58,000. On behalf of its clients, the firm provides management and property outsourcing services for a portfolio of 3.4 billion square feet, or 316 million square metres, and completed $118 billion in sales, acquisitions and finance transactions in 2014.
JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information about JLL UK, visit www.jll.co.uk.
About Hammerson
Hammerson is a FTSE 100 owner, manager and developer of retail destinations in Europe. Our portfolio of high-quality retail property has a value of around £7.9 billion and includes 22 prime shopping centres, 21 convenient retail parks and investments in 15 premium outlet villages, through our partnership with Value Retail and the VIA Outlets joint venture. For more information, visit www.hammerson.com.
