Memorandum submitted by the House of Commons
Management Board
INTRODUCTION
1. This memorandum provides a summary of
2008-09 Parliamentary environmental performance and plans
to reduce the environmental impact of Parliament. It also provides
an update on progress against the recommendations made about the
Parliamentary Estate in the Environmental Audit Committee's Seventh
Report of Session 2007-08, Making Government operations more
sustainable: A progress report.
SUMMARY
2. The Management Board recognises that
the activities of the House of Commons have a significant environmental
impact and take this issue very seriously. The 2009-10 Corporate
Business Plan states that it is one of our principal goals to
increase and demonstrate the environmental sustainability of the
services delivered. Together with the Management Board of the
House of Lords, we have put resources in place to drive environmental
improvement across the Parliamentary Estate.
3. An action plan, drawing on the recommendations
of an internal environmental audit conducted in 2007-08 and
accepted good practice, has been developed. It identifies the
steps required to develop the environmental framework necessary
to turn around Parliamentary environmental performance and has
been endorsed by the Management Boards of both Houses.
4. Historically, Parliamentary environmental
targets have drawn on the Sustainable Operations on the Government
Estate (SOGE) targets. Progress against targets has been mixed.
Good progress has been made with the procurement of green energy,
reduction of water consumption and waste recycling, but performance
on energy consumption and carbon emissions has been very disappointing.
The trend has continued in the wrong direction, because of increased
occupancy of the Estate, IT use and cooling loads.
5. The 2009-10 Parliamentary environmental
targets will continue to draw on the SOGE targets but will focus
on short term performance improvements in place of the longer
term targets previously set. Independent verification of baseline
data and an assessment of environmental opportunities and demands
will be carried out in this financial year, which will enable
longer term, strategic targets—demanding but realistic—to
be set for 2010-11 and beyond.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
6. We recognise that the House's operations
have significant environmental impact, and that Members, the public
and our own staff expect Parliament to take the lead in addressing
climate change. We have begun to make significant changes in the
way in which we manage environmental issues.
7. Our 2009-10 Corporate Business Plan,
approved by the House of Commons Commission, states that it is
one of our principal goals to increase and demonstrate the environmental
sustainability of services delivered. A new post of Head of Fire
Safety & Environment has been created in the Parliamentary
Estates Directorate and the postholder, a Chartered Environmentalist,
started on 31 December 2008. She is responsible to the Parliamentary
Director of Estates for establishing the environmental policies,
strategy and standards across both Houses.
8. In March/April 2009 an environmental
action plan, aligned with the requirements BS EN ISO 14001[9]
and the Sustainable Development Commission's "Driving Change—Sustainable
Development Action Plans" guidance and the recommendations
of an internal audit of environmental management, was endorsed
by the Management Boards of both Houses.
9. The action plan identifies the steps
required to develop the environmental framework necessary to turn
around Parliamentary environmental performance. It is divided
into ten areas of focus, shown below, with the overall aim of
providing the tools, support, system, motivation and guidance
to deliver continuous improvement of individual, departmental
and Estate environmental performance.
10. The Management Boards of both Houses
have endorsed the development of a joint environmental policy
statement and a Parliamentary environmental strategy, which it
is hoped to present to the House of Commons Commission before
the end of the year. As part of the development process, a number
of cross-departmental environmental impact and opportunity workshops
will be held, drawing on the expertise and enthusiasm of staff
across the Services of the two Houses. Workshops will also be
offered to Members and their staff, as it is recognised that they
too have a very important part to play in the success of greening
Parliament.
ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE
AND REPORTING
11. Historically, Parliamentary environmental
targets have drawn on the SOGE targets. Performance against the
2008-09 targets is shown in Annex A. Performance to date
has been mixed, with energy consumption and carbon emissions going
in the wrong direction. The increased consumption of energy and
associated increase in carbon emissions is attributed to increased
occupancy, IT use and cooling loads.
12. The energy consumption and carbon emissions
targets have not been consistently supported by improvement plans
to make annual progress and have not been aligned with energy
demands and trajectories. Additionally green behaviour across
the Estate has not been consistently supported. The Management
Board recognises that this performance does not reflect good practice
and that this area requires progress as a matter of priority.
13. Parliamentary electricity is sourced
through a green energy tariff. While this positively drives the
renewable energy market and demonstrates leadership in green procurement,
the extent to which it contributes to reducing carbon emissions
is unconfirmed; the average carbon emissions factor for the national
grid has therefore been used to calculate Parliament's carbon
emissions.
14. Good progress has been achieved in the
following areas:
— Energy monitoring—Remote meters
have been installed across the Estate allowing real time data
to be collated and utilised.
— Lighting—Energy efficient lighting
is in place across the Estate. There are few incandescent lamps
in occupied areas and a programme for full replacement is underway.
— Display energy certificates (DECs)—DECs
have been obtained for each building on the Estate, although the
ratings indicate that significant work is required to improve
performance.
— Bore hole water—The comfort cooling
needs for Portcullis House are powered by borehole water and toilet
flushing in the building is provided by secondary use of the bore
hole water. Options to increase secondary use of the water across
the Estate are currently under review.
— Waste disposal—General waste streams
are diverted from landfill through disposal to facilities in the
London area obtaining energy from waste.
— Procurement of food—All invitations
to tender include sustainability criteria.
15. The Parliamentary Information and Communications
Technology department are planning to initiate the virtualisation
of servers and upgrade of the operating system in 2009-10, which
should result in a reduction in future energy demand.
16. Parliament's 2009-10 environmental
targets continue to draw on the SOGE targets but focus on short
term performance improvements rather than the longer term targets
previously set. Independent verification of baseline data and
an assessment of environmental opportunities and demands will
be carried out in this financial year, so that longer term, strategic
targets—demanding yet realistic—can be set for 2010-11 and
beyond.
17. In developing the 2009-10 targets
advice was sought from the Sustainable Development Commission
and Office of Government Commerce. The targets are shown in Annex
B.
18. It is recognised that Parliament's 2009-10 environmental
targets do not directly address the following 2006 SOGE targets:
— Carbon emissions from road transport—we
are committed to initiating a green travel plan in 2009-10.
— Condition of Sites of Special Scientific
Interest—this target is not applicable to Parliament.
— Carbon neutrality—we will seek
to reduce carbon emissions rather than rely on off-setting, although
the House does currently pay a carbon compensation for air travel.
In 2009-10 however, the cost of off-setting carbon emissions
will be identified to influence future environmental investment.
19. We will undertake environmental benchmarking
and shared learning in 2009-10, and contact has already been made
with the U.S. House of Representatives' "Green the Capitol
Programme". However it is recognised that the particular
nature of Parliament's operations and buildings, including World
Heritage site status and listed building status of 60% of buildings,
limit the scope for direct comparisons.
20. In line with the House of Commons Corporate
Business Plan environmental performance data will be reported
monthly to the Management Board. Additionally, in line with the
requirements of BS EN ISO 14001, an annual environmental management
review will be conducted and documented from 2009-10, supported
by independently validated performance data.
30 April 2009
Annex A
2008-09 PARLIAMENTARY ENVIRONMENTAL
PERFORMANCE
Target |
Performance | Commentary
|
| To reduce energy consumption per m2 by 15% by 2010-11, relative to 1999-2000
| 11% increase | In 2008-09 energy consumption for the Parliamentary Estate was 362 kWh/m2. When weather corrected, consumption for 2008-09 was 5% higher than the 1999-2000 base year figure.
The increased consumption of energy is attributed to increased occupancy, IT use and cooling loads.
The Parliamentary Information and Communications Technology department are planning to initiate the virtualisation of servers and upgrade of the operating system in 2009-10 which should result in a reduction in future energy demand.
Additionally independent verification of baseline data and an assessment of environmental opportunities and demands in 2009-10 will provide confidence in base year data and identify further opportunities to reduce consumption.
|
| To source at least 10% of electricity from renewable sources
| 99% of electricity sourced from renewable sources
| The Estate sources renewable energy via a green energy tariff.
Whilst this positively drives the renewable energy market and demonstrates leadership in green procurement the extent to which it contributes to reducing carbon emissions is unconfirmed; therefore the average carbon emissions factor for the national grid has been used to calculate Parliament's carbon emissions.
An energy and utility improvement plan identifying options for renewable energy and combined heat and power generation and reducing energy and utilities consumption will be developed in 2009-10.
Additionally the Parliamentary Estates Directorate has commissioned a feasibility study into the incorporation of borehole water cooling and CHP/tri-generation in the mechanical and electrical refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster.
|
| To reduce carbon emissions, from fuel and electricity used in buildings, by 12.5% by 2010-11, relative to 1999-2000
| 42% increase | Carbon dioxide emissions from energy use increased by 42% between 1999-2000 and 2008-09. Over the same period the area of the Estate increased by 23%, so the increase in carbon emissions per m2 has increased by 16%. (Although electricity supplied to the Estate is from renewable sources via a green energy tariff, in line with protocol, this target uses the average carbon emission factor for the national grid).
The increase in carbon dioxide emissions is attributed to an increase in energy consumption, due to increased occupancy, area of the Estate, IT use and cooling loads.
Since 1999-2000 Parliament's energy mix has changed with a significant increase in electricity consumption over gas consumption. As electricity generation has a higher carbon factor this has amplified the effect of increased energy consumption on Parliament's carbon emissions.
Efforts to upgrade IT systems, validate baseline data and identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption are expected to result in reduced carbon emissions going forwards.
|
| To reduce water consumption by 12% by 2010-11, relative to 1999-2000
| 13% decrease | The amount of water used in 2008-09 was 0.9 m3/m2 of estate area, 13% lower than the base year figure.
Significant reductions in water consumption were achieved through improvements to the Palace of Westminster cooling towers.
Additionally independent verification of baseline data and an assessment of environmental opportunities and demands in 2009-10 will provide confidence in base year data and identify further opportunities to reduce consumption.
|
| To recycle 49% of waste in 2008-09 | 50% recycled
| A recycling rate of 50% was achieved in 2008-09, against a target of 49%.
In addition the remaining general waste streams are diverted from landfill through disposal to facilities in the London area obtaining energy from waste.
|
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Annex B
2009-10 PARLIAMENTARY ENVIRONMENTAL TARGETS
Environmental strategy:
— To deliver the action plan for Greening Parliament.
Carbon, energy and utilities:
— To reduce Parliament's carbon footprint from energy
and utility consumption relative to 2008-09.[10]
— To develop an energy and utility improvement plan
identifying options for renewable energy and combined heat and
power generation and reducing energy and utilities consumption.
— To review and challenge Parliament's display energy
certificates with the aim of improving 2009 energy ratings.
— To reduce water consumption by 2%, relative to 2008-09.[11]
Waste:
— To develop a waste improvement plan identifying options
to reduce waste generation and improve recycling rates.
— To recycle 50% of waste generated by volume.
Procurement and projects:
— To ensure all major Parliamentary Estates projects
specify environmental requirements.
— To achieve BREEAM[12]
"Excellent" rating for new builds and major refurbishments
and "Very Good" rating for major refurbishments of heritage/listed
buildings.
Climate change adaptation:
— To identify the threats and opportunities of climate
change on Parliament's activities and services.
A separate target has not been set for electricity and gas consumption
although these will be monitored as indices in absolute terms
as well as weather corrected, per m2 and per capita in order
to identify and explain trends.
9
BS EN ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems-Requirements
with guidance for use Back
10
A specific target has yet to be set as we need to validate baseline
data and profile demand and efficiency opportunities. It is recognised
that at current levels a 3% reduction per annum would be required
on a pro rata basis in order to address the UK's target of an
80% reduction in carbon emissions against a 1990 baseline
by 2050. Back
11
This target is based on the pro rata requirement to meet the SOGE
target of 25% by 2020 against a 2004-05 baseline Back
12
BREEAM-Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment
Method Back
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