The Centre for Sustainability Accounting has undertaken a number of projects on behalf of clients from the private and public sector since 2007. The following list is sorted by completion date in descending order.
|
DEFRA project on Central Government Carbon Footprint (October 2010)
CenSA was commissioned by DEFRA to calculate the most complete and detailed analysis to date of the total carbon footprint of UK Government. CenSA’s scope 3 model was used to understand the complete supply chain impacts of all goods and services purchased by UK Central Government. For the first time a detailed greenhouse gas footprint analysis is presented for a 19-year time series (1990 to 2008). The report covers scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions of the six major greenhouse gases as outlined in the GHG Protocol. The analysis used a 'multi-regional input output model' (MRIO) that provides a boundary-free system to understand the embedded greenhouse gas emissions of every item procured by Central Government. The results clearly demonstrate the need to include Scope 3 (supply chain) emissions in a carbon footprint assessment. > view the DEFRA project website. > download report
|
|
NHS London - Barts & the Royal London NHS Trust (January 2010)
CenSA partner ARUP have undertaken a full consumption-based footprint and intervention study as part of a regional London NHS carbon footprint research project. The first Trust-level study was carried out with Barts and the London NHS Trust (BLT). The aim was to use, develop and test a Trust-level footprint methodology based on the one used to calculate the national and regional footprints, thus ensuring data is fully comparable between national, regional and Trust levels. The study showed that the overall emissions for BLT equate to 4.5% of all NHS London Trusts emissions, 0.9% of NHS England emissions and 21.5 tonnes of CO2 per BLT staff member. This study was also the first time that interventions were linked to estimated costs and carbon savings, following hot-spots from the CF analysis undertaken with CenSA's TBL tool. > download summary document
|
|
WWF-UK, Panda House (September 2009)
A comprehensive Triple Bottom Line analysis of all operations of WWF-UK's headquarters in Godalming (Panda House) for the financial year 2007/08 was carried out by CenSA, using our Triple Bottom Line software tool. The analysis includes a quantification of Panda House's annual Ecological Footprint, carbon footprint, climate footprint and other economic, social and environmental indicators. In total, 30 indicators were analysed including a large number of air pollutants. > download report
|
|
Northern Rail (July 2009)
The largest train operating company in the UK, Northern Rail, has worked with the Centre for Sustainable Accounting in York to measure its carbon footprint. The analysis includes the total carbon emissions from both Northern Rail's direct emissions (such as running trains) and indirect emissions. Indirect emissions are those from the company's supply chains and include emissions embodied in all the goods and services purchased by Northern Rail. 2008 was the base year and starting point of the calculations for which our Triple Bottom Line software tool was used. Gutteridge, Haskins & Davey Ltd (GHD) were involved as project advisers, contributing their expertise on the railway sector. For more information see the Northern Rail website. > download report
|
|
Stockton Borough Council Carbon Footprint (January 2009)
Stockton Borough Council, an active member of the Tees Valley Climate Change Partnership, has commissioned a comprehensive carbon footprint study to ARUP consultants in Newcastle and to CenSA. The report revealed that the council emitted 48 kilotonnes of CO2 during the financial year 2007-2008 - equivalent to 148g of CO2 per pound spent by the council, or seven tonnes per employee. 29% of the total figure came from direct emissions such as heating buildings and running transport, with the remaining 71% made up from the procuring of goods and services. One of the surprises of the analysis was that carbon emissions embodied in 'furniture and miscellaneous manufactured goods' made up 12% of the total. As one of just a handful of local authorities in the UK to carry out such a study, Stockton Borough Council has become the first in the north of England to make the results and recommendations public. > download report
|
|
Highlands & Islands Enterprise (January 2009)
CenSA undertook two consecutive analyses of the carbon footprint and climate footprint of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Internal activities and external regional investment activities were distinguished by assessing expenditure as well as on-site emissions for the financial years 2006/07 and 2007/08. The biggest contribution to HIE's internal carbon footprint comes from business travel. Emissions from flights have decreased from the previous year, but business travel by car has increased at the same time. The combined footprint of all greenhouse gases triggered by HIE's regional investment activities is almost nine times higher than HIE's internal footprint and can mainly be attributed to miscellaneous manufacturing, fishing and agriculture. The results will help HIE to set up a Climate Change Action Plan. Archie Prentice, Sustainability and Environment Manager at HIE, said the reports provided a comprehensive review of how Highlands and Islands Enterprise generated emissions: "Identifying the footprint generated by how we run the organisation, as well as the footprint of how we engage with customers is a pioneering approach that lets us see where to improve emissions performance of our operations and products".
> download report FY2006/07
> download report FY2007/08
|
|
NHS England (January 2009)
Ground breaking carbon footprinting research commissioned by the Sustainable Development Commission and the NHS Sustainable Development Unit has enabled the full consumption-based footprint to be calculated for the National Health Service in England for the first time. CenSA's role in this project - which undertook a complete supply chain carbon footprint of all NHS expenditure for the period of 1992 to 2004 - was to analyse where the key hotspots were along the supply chain. CenSA also undertook a specific analysis for the pharmaceutical and medical supply sectors. The first report, which examined historical emissions, was published in 2008. The second report, which projects future emissions, was published at the start of 2009. Together they form the evidence base for the NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy. The NHS in England has a carbon footprint of 18 million tonnes CO2 per year. This is composed of energy (22%), travel (18%) and procurement (60%). Despite an increase in efficiency, the NHS has increased its carbon footprint by 40% since 1990.
> download reports here
|
|
Waverley Borough Council (November 2008)
CenSA has undertaken a comprehensive Ecological Footprint study of Waverley Borough Council, including all the Council's operations in the financial year 2007/08. The total EF of Waverley Borough Council is calculated to be 2,853 global hectares (gha), of which 54% can be attributed to direct and indirect energy consumption. Under current supply, WBC’s main buildings receive their electricity from renewable energy sources reducing the EF from 131 gha to 13 gha. If all other buildings operated by WBC were also to switch to truly carbon free sources there would be a further large EF reduction of some 400 gha. The remaining 46% of the impact results from the consumption of all other goods and services. Such impacts are notoriously difficult to address and will require the implementation of a green procurement policy within WBC as well as collaboration with companies who supply such goods and services. > download report
|
|
Bedfordshire County Council (August 2008)
Bedfordshire County Council committed itself to undertaking an in-depth examination and analysis of its own carbon footprint to set an example for both the community and its public and private sector partners. CenSA together with CAG Consultants undertook the detailed carbon footprint analysis and prepared a draft Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan for the Council. > download summary document
|
|
Scottish Parliament (February 2008)
Using our Triple Bottom Line tool, the carbon footprint (CF) and Ecological Footprint (EF) of the Scottish Parliament in the three areas energy, paper and waste was calculated for the financial years 2005/06 and 2006/07, as well as for targets set until 2008/09. A novel Hybrid Life-Cycle-Analysis approach has been employed which is described in the Methodology section of the project report. Large reductions in both CF and EF through a switch to green electricity supply in 2005 could be documented. The Scottish Parliament is on track to achieve its targets for the years up to 2008/09. > download report
|
|
Hamson Partnership (November 2007)
This project explored one of the key issues related to climate change: achieving low greenhouse gas emissions in the housing sector. The comparative carbon footprint analysis of on-site construction and an off-site manufactured house provides an understanding of the carbon footprint from house building (the production of materials used in construction) and the direct energy requirements of housing. > download report
|
|
Scottish Agricultural College at the University of Edinburgh (August 2007)
The Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) commissioned four master dissertations investigating the Ecological Footprint of agricultural systems in Scotland and the internal operations of SAC itself. All studies used CenSA's Triple Bottom Line tool for their calculations. > download dissertation
|
|
Jordans Cereals (February 2007)
A complete carbon footprint analysis of Jordans Cereals was undertaken by CenSA, including all company operations, rather than just individual products within Jordans. Every item of expenditure has been taken into account for one financial year. This analysis, using our Triple Bottom Line tool, is an industry first and provides information that is subsequently to be used in a corporate climate change action plan. [> report to client confidential]
|
