41061 Unite AR22 HI-RES WEB-READY - Flipbook - Page 61
STRATEGIC REPORT
GOVERNANCE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
OTHER INFORMATION
SUSTAINABILITY DATA REPORTING
INCLUDING SECR AND EPRA SBPR
Energy and carbon reporting
2022 saw a return to near normal levels and patterns of
occupancy following the disruption caused by the Covid-19
pandemic and lockdowns over 2020 and 2021. This brought
a corresponding increase in demand for energy and water in
our buildings. This drove absolute total energy consumption
up by 0.3% vs 2021, which combined with the impacts of
disposals and openings saw a 1.9% increase in energy
intensity on a floor area basis. A small reduction in gas use
was achieved due to deployment of air source heat pumps
in the year, which also contributed partly to the increase in
electricity use. Compared to our 2019 base year, however,
both absolute energy consumption and energy consumption
per bed were lower, by 6.5% and 5.4% respectively.
As part of our ongoing commitment to reduce energy
consumption in line with our net zero carbon target, and
building on the £3 million we invested in 2021 on energy and
water efficiency, 2022 saw us invest a further c.£13 million
on measures including air source heat pump retrofits,
networked heating controls, building management system
improvements and building fabric improvements as part of
major renovations. These measures are expected to deliver a
c.5% reduction in our future energy consumption.
Absolute utilities consumption
We remain on track to meet our SBTi validated 2030 green
house gas target of a 56% reduction in combined Scope
1 and 2 (market-based) emissions. Our 2022 Scope 1 and
2 (location-based) emissions fell driven by reductions in
grid carbon intensity, while Scope 1 and 2 (market-based)
emissions rose slightly due to increased district heat use.
All Scope 1 and 2 emissions arise in the UK.
Scope 3 emissions increased by 50% compared to 2021. This
is due to completion of two new builds in 2022 (compared
to none in 2021) which contributed to Scope 3 Category 2
emissions (“capital goods”), and the disposal of six buildings
during 2022 that were previously built by Unite and so
contribute to our Scope 3 Category 11 emissions (“use of
sold products”) compared to none in 2021.
Utilities consumption per bed
3,500.0
250,000,000
3,000.0
200,000,000
kWh/bed/yr
kWh/bed/yr
2,500.0
150,000,000
100,000,000
2,000.0
1,500.0
1,000.0
50,000,000
500.0
0
0
2019
base year
2020
2021
2022
2019
base year
2020
Absolute gas consumption
Gas consumption per bed
Absolute energy consumption
Electricity consumption per bed
Absolute district heat consumption
District heat consumption per bed
2021
2022
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