Greengage has been commissioned by Ambient Support to calculate the carbon footprint, establish a baseline, set net-zero targets and propose a net zero strategy to help achieve their sustainability-related ambitions.
Ambient Support is a registered UK charity that provides care and support services for older people, people with a learning disability and people with mental health needs. They recognise their environmental responsibility and are committed to lowering their emissions and reaching net zero.
Greengage was commissioned by Ambient to calculate the carbon baseline and set a net zero target in alignment with the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi), as well as asset level energy use intensity (EUI) targets for around 120 buildings across the UK for four asset classes; care homes, offices, flats and homes. This was followed by a net zero strategy to identify actions to help Ambient achieve its net zero targets.
Carbon baselining
Following the analysis of Ambient emissions data spanning from FY 2019/20 to 2022/23, Greengage established FY 2022/2023 to be the most appropriate baseline year. All calculations were carried out in line with the GHG Protocol standards and guidelines for carbon reporting. Greengage worked with Ambient to understand their operations, establish the reporting boundary and for data collection and analysis. Any gaps in data were addressed using industry benchmarks and the baseline was established. Having visibility of the carbon footprints for four years facilitated the identification of high-impact areas to focus on for emissions reductions and decision-making support.
A comprehensive report detailing the carbon footprint findings, methodology, approach and key recommendations was provided, complemented by a workshop. The workshop enabled Greengage to delve into the findings of the carbon footprint assessment, emissions calculated, recommendations and the next steps to help stakeholders make informed decisions.
Target setting
An overall net zero target was set for Ambient in line with SBTi. Greengage then undertook a benchmarking exercise to set operational targets for their properties, following the best practice industry guidance. Where net zero targets were not available, indicative targets were provided, to be finalised on release of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (UKNZCBS) in 2024.
Net zero transition strategy
A list of recommendations was developed to help Ambient reach its net zero targets through a series of interviews with the management team to understand the asset operations and the functioning of the organisation. These interviews helped Greengage understand the complexities of the levels of control over different assets. They concentrated on crucial areas like governance, facilities management, building operations, energy procurement, transport, retrofit strategies, etc. This enabled Greengage to suggest a list of opportunities for reducing the Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. These were developed to maximise Ambient’s impact on emissions reductions. The measures were categorised by Scope and prioritised using various material parameters.
The proposed measures adhere to the net zero carbon hierarchy, prioritising the reduction of the energy demand to the target levels that the national grid can meet. Renewable energy can be used to meet the residual demand.
Testimonial
“Ambient acknowledges the significance of forging a sustainable future. Greengage has adeptly conducted a carbon baseline assessment and target-setting exercise. Their bespoke recommendations for the net zero strategy have been instrumental in charting our sustainability roadmap. We were thrilled to collaborate with Greengage in initiating our sustainability endeavour.”
Troy Henshall – Chief Executive, Amber Housing
