London business giants and landlords call for clean energy collaboration

Canary Wharf Group (CWG), Landsec and RBS are among a coalition of big-name businesses to have joined forces with commercial landlords to accelerate the clean energy transition in tenanted buildings – less than a week after edie published an exclusive report on the issue.


London business giants and landlords call for clean energy collaboration

The Canary Wharf business district. Developer Canary Wharf Group

Convened by non-profit The Climate Group, the businesses – CWG, Derwent London, E.ON, Landsec, LeasePlan, Royal Haskoning DHV, RBS, Schroders, Signify UK&I and Vattenfall UK – have jointly signed a statement calling for commercial landlords and business tenants to lead by example on renewable energy, low-carbon transport and smart energy solutions.

The statement argues that, because business premises account for 40% of London’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, such moves would help the capitalbecome a beacon of climate action and clean growth”.

Specifically, it urges tenant companies to collaborate more closely with each other, and with their landlords, to ensure city-wide uptake of clean energy technologies and systems on the road to the UK’s 2050 net-zero target.

This call to action comes after the publication of an exclusive survey and report by edie, in association with Big Clean Switch and The Climate Group’s RE100 initiative, which found that four out of five businesses in rented properties are struggling to switch to clean energy.

Other key findings of the survey were that 83% of business renting sites found it challenging to switch to a renewable energy provider, while 80% had faced barriers the installation of on-site renewable energy systems, sub-metering and gaining access to energy data.

——– READ THE FULL LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT REPORT HERE ——–

 “It’s not always straightforward for corporate landlords and tenants to align their clean energy ambitions, whether LED lighting and renewable power or charge points for electric vehicles” The Climate Group’s chief executive Helen Clarkson said.

“I’m delighted to see our member companies taking the lead on this vital issue, and we need many more to follow suit. By working together, the private sector can accelerate a cleaner future for London.”

The call to action was welcomed by London’s Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy Shirley Rodrigues. Speaking at an event in London on Tuesday (2 July), she said: “As the Mayor leads London’s efforts to tackle the Climate Emergency, it is imperative that companies step up and play their part.

“The Mayor is introducing zero-carbon standards for all new developments in London, but we urgently need to make our existing building stock more energy efficient. We support this business call to action to landlords and tenants to come together to break down the barriers to achieving low carbon buildings.”

Earlier this week, JD Sport, The City of London Corporation, Apcoa Parking and Intu marked the start of London Climate Action Week by joining The Climate Group’s initiatives on renewable energy and electric transport – the RE100 and EV100.

Sarah George

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