GRESB

The Global ESG Benchmark for Real Assets

Case Study: Launch of the Speak up Campaign

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This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Infrastructure Assessment.

Purpose of the project

Recognising that there was a need to increase the number of interactions from staff on matters affecting them and as a result of there being no reports through the whistle-blowing line, the company launched its speak up campaign.

Here at Southern Water we want to be open and transparent with you, so that you feel you can be open with us too. With your help we’ll foster a culture where we look after the safety and wellbeing of each other and our customers.

Approach

The company engaged an external provider to provide both the help line and advice on implementation.

Implementation

A video was created and a campaign launced that was provided face to face to every member of staff. Thre are speak up cards for every member of staff and literature and posters at every site. It is a very visible campaign, including on the intranet site.

Results

Increase in reports and staff feeling confident in coming forward with their reports. Keeping the campaign fresh and ensuring that staff trust that the policy and process is credible.

This case study was submitted by Southern Water Services Limited.

Case Study: Wellington Place Wellbeing and Community Initiatives

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This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment.
 “The ability to attract and retain great people and have them feeling their best is a vital ingredient to long term success of places and business”

Purpose of the project

People are fundamental to the sustainability of any location and the businesses that are based there. The ability to attract and retain great people and have them feeling their best is a vital ingredient to long-term success.

Approach

The past eight years, Wellington Place has strived to bring together both the business and local community to create meaningful and long-lasting connections. The mixed-use sustainable development at Wellington Place is built around the people it is designed to serve. With its inspiring built and open spaces, well-managed and thought-provoking environment, occupiers and their employees enjoy a host of great activities and facilities focusing on community and wellbeing.

Implementation

By working with local charities and companies in organising and hosting diverse events the whole community can enjoy, Wellington Place is a force for good and an exemplar citizen in Leeds. The ongoing initiatives and events together with the biodiverse public spaces directly benefits the community and the companies on site by helping them to attract and retain a healthy happy workforce and thereby assisting in the creation of a sustainable local economy. Wellington Place is about more than just bricks and mortar (although it builds, refurbishes and offers modern sustainable properties). It’s about people and having a connection to the community it serves.

Results

The results are from occupier testimonials.

Tim Halstead, Managing Partner Shulmans Solicitors: “Wellington Place was a very strong choice from day one, primarily for its location; it’s very central, it’s in the heart of the new business district of Leeds, close to the station, great public transport links – just a great central place to be. What we’ve got at Wellington Place is being part of a community; there’s a café on the ground floor of our building for example, there’re exercise classes for those who want them, even a five-a-side football pitch, but also a good sense of space and a real sense of place.”

Richard Flint, Managing Director Sky Betting and Gaming: “We’ve managed to create a great atmosphere here and a great culture and part of that is the ability to recruit the sort of people that we’re looking for from the Leeds area and part if it is also the environment here at Wellington Place.”

 

This case study was submitted by Hermes Fund Managers.

Case Study: Milton Park Community & Customer Engagement

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This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment.

 

Purpose of the project

People are fundamental to the sustainability of any location and the businesses that are based there. The ability to attract and retain great people and have them feeling their best is a vital ingredient to long term success.

“The ability to attract and retain great people and have them feeling their best is a vital ingredient to long term success of businesses and place making.”

Approach

Milton Park is all about people, whether that is people working on Milton Park or living close-by. The MEPC team value their relationships with all of these individuals and strive to ensure their experience of Milton Park is a good one.

Implementation

A number of initiatives are carried out and hosted throughout the year, these include: green travel days, a green travel campaign, monthly networking, social and educational events. Annual Summer & Christmas parties are very popular. As well as community engagement onsite, offsite community engagement is important. MEPC hosts a local liaison committee with members from local parish councils, the purpose of the committee is to inform local residents of Milton Park developments. Charitable support is also given to all parishes: Milton Utd sponsorship, donating raffle prizes, sponsorship of village fetes and the promotion of village events. As well as local and smaller charities, MEPC host events to raise money for nationwide charities such as MacMillan, Stand Up 2 Cancer, Red Nose Day and Sport Relief. Milton Park is home to an Oxfordshire based charity – MS Therapy Centre, MEPC offer the centre free accommodation.

Results

Milton Park customer retention rate has been over 93% for the last 10 years this shows that the social calendar, collaborative and educational events are beneficial to the staff of companies that reside at Milton Park. Residents in local parishes are appreciative of regular updates and contact with the MEPC team and are therefore mostly supportive towards new developments or commercial initiatives on the Park. Limitations to these solutions are that sometimes people are very expectant when it comes to updates, events, marketing support and the MEPC team’s time.

This case study was submitted by Hermes Fund Managers.

Case Study: Winning formula: Collaborative Asset Performance Programme at 2 Cavendish Square

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This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment.

“The next step in active property management: digging into the BMS and engaging with occupiers and technical teams to fine tune property management”

Purpose of the project

2 Cavendish Square compared poorly to other Hermes assets in the Better Building Partnership’s Real Estate Environmental Benchmark (REEB) despite numerous active management initiative and refurbishments over the last 5 years. In order to significantly reduce energy consumption on site, analysis at the component level was required.

Approach

Working with managing agents JLL, Carbon Credentials implemented our “Collaborative Asset Performance Programme” (CAPP) to improve the management of site plant and equipment with the goal of making energy and carbon savings. PP has a three stage process with Diagnostic, Implementation and Monitoring and Control phases.

Implementation

In the Diagnostic phase, a data capture device is installed and there is engagement with Facilities Management (FM) teams, Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) and BMS Engineers as well as building managers, owners and tenants. Most will have a role in improving the performance of the building in the Implementation phase. In the Monitoring and Control Phase, Carbon Credentials is ensuring that the savings are maintained and the site is monitored for fault detection, comfort management and wellbeing improvement. This monitoring has resulted faults being quickly detected and remedied in a fraction of the time.

Results

  • VERIFIED ENERGY SAVINGS: Programme drives 18% reduction in Natural Gas usage, verified through integrated M&V process.
  • ENGAGED STAKEHOLDERS: Technical stakeholders and site occupiers are engaged as part of the solution.
  • COMFORT AND WELLBEING: Data can be used to improve comfort and increase productivity of occupants on site.
This case study was submitted by Hermes Fund Manager.

Case Study: RLAM Energy Efficiency Programme (EEP)

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This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment.

We have formed a successful partnership with Capita identifying innovative ways of reducing consumption, we now need to continue this good work with further improvements. Kevin Bould, RLAM, June

[Read more…]

Case Study: Royal Victoria Place Energy Management

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This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment.

“There is always more we can do to improve a building energy performance, it is about the commitment of the managers, engagement with tenants, and seeking every little improvement.”

Purpose of the project

Royal Victoria Place is a key retail asset in the BTPS fund and was a gas guzzler on its acquisition in 2012. We set up to implement a stellar energy efficiency improvement programme.

Approach

RVP participated in Earth Hour and implemented the concept of the Christmas Shut down, or how little energy did the building really need?. From this, a question was raised: ‘why don’t we do this on a permanent basis?’ After 6 weeks in planning, reviewing night time procedures, engaging with tenants and staff, a programme was set in place.

Implementation

Since 2012 a number of efficiency measures were applied at the centre. From Christmas shutdown, LED deployment and active management, The latest in 2016, the shopping centre undertook a rewarding initiative involving the on-site staff to put the building to sleep every evening. To achieve this, it took both automation and engagement from all staff.

Results

The energy efficiency initiatives at the centre lead to a reduction since 2012 of 64% in absolute energy consumption. The advantages of this initiative benefits not only the environment but also all parties involved; the cleaning team no longer work throughout the night but instead in a concentrated time frame immediately after trade while not being out of pocket, the security team have additional tools to ensure the safety of the building, the maintenance teams have less call outs for plant that has not started outside of normal working hours, and the tenants see a saving on service charge while not seeing a drop in service.

Magnitude of benefits

50-60% Savings

This case study was submitted by Hermes Fund Management.

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