FOCUS ENERGY MANAGEMENT
CLAUSE FOR CELEBRATION Saul Huxley, Organic Development Director at grounds maintenance and landscape creation specialists,
idverde eplains hoZ FarbonneXtral FlaXses Fan benefi t the environment
With greater pressures on Councils, retail
parks and business spaces to create more
sustainable, climate-friendly gains, there has
been a growth in what is known as carbon-neutral
contracts. But in practical terms what are these
types of contracts and how do they impact the
traditionally carbon-intensive world of FM?
In basic terms, these types of contracts place
the emphasis on the supplier to achieve the
specifications of a contract – from grounds
maintenance, through to building works – whilst
reducing CO§ emissions and compensating for any
unavoidable CO§ that is produced. That can mean a
supplier has to first invest in, for example, electrical
machinery or utilise solar power; potentially then
o‡ setting any remaining unavoidable CO§ emissions
with certified Carbon Credits that are used against
verified projects which remove, reduce or prevent
carbon emissions.
Carbon-neutral contracts can vary significantly in
terms of size, which also has a profound impact on
the results. If you employed two people to maintain
a single courtyard on a small boulevard of shops
without carbon impacts, this is easy to achieve as the
scale is so small. In contrast, idverde was recently
awarded a contract by Warwick District Council,
which will see the authority’s street cleansing and
ground maintenance work become carbon neutral
by 2025. This covers 28 sq. km of public spaces and
parks – representing one of the largest contracts of
its type within the UK.
CREATING CLAUSES
Contracts within the public procurement realm have
for a long time contained components that exceed
the direct work itself, for example, creating clauses
around community investments or the revitalisation
34 APRIL 2021
of public spaces, which in many ways paved the ways
for carbon-neutral clauses. Recent strategies focused
on CSR and longer-term sustainable outcomes have
created a new operating environment for many
businesses. Many organisations, both public and
private, have, of course, adopted green policies
that make quick and easy gains such as switching
to a renewable energy contract, investing in less
energy-intensive lighting, better recycling policies,
new insulation methods etc. However, once we go
beyond the easy wins, new climate-friendly gains
can be harder to find.
To achieve these next stage carbon reductions,
frequently an organisation will have to look beyond
its own ‘hands-on’ operations. As if sitting at the
centre of a wheel, surrounded by interlinked spokes,
organisations can (particularly during procurement
phases) directly influence stakeholders and create
impactful climate-friendly outcomes with suppliers,
such as with carbon-neutral contracts.
MEASUREMENT
How do you measure the results of these contracts,
to ensure environmental targets are actually hit? In
the UK, The Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Corporate
Standard provides a framework and methodologies
for calculating emissions for both government
agencies and companies. idverde uses this standard
to calculate a contract’s carbon footprint and
reports its emissions as part of the Government’s
Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting scheme
(SECR). This process provides independent thirdparty
validation of the results, giving confidence that
the measurements are accurate and complete.
MUTUAL BENEFITS
The carbon reductions achieved by these types of
contracts can be very significant. By way of example,
idverde expects carbon reductions for Warwick
District Council to be in the region of 160 tonnes each
year – and that does not include further reductions
throughout the supply chain.
For the contractor, who would normally be taking
on much of the heavy liš ing, contracts would
typically be longer and achieve a secured income to
o‡ set against investment in electrification and zeroemission
assets.
HOW CAN CARBON NEUTRALITY BE ACHIEVED?
In the grounds maintenance sector, the rise of new
battery-powered equipment - from manufacturers
like Stihl, Husqvarna, Mean Green, Pellenc and
Bosch - allows for public and green spaces to be
managed without traditional petrol motors. We
are also utilising technology to produce results
based on need rather than frequency and rotas.
The technology to take this leap forward is, in many
cases, already here, it is just not widely adopted.
We can use low emission vehicles, GPS mapping,
drone site inspections, robotic mowers, laser
cutting, alternative weed control and AI that o‡ er
preventative actions based on footfall and actual
requirements – all of which play a part in carbon
reductions.
For example, we have been using, with great
success, battery-powered robotic mowers in closed
London parks for some time. Quietly, e‡ iciently
going about our work as residents sleep. It is these
small steps that help achieve carbon reductions.
How quickly will these technologies become
commonplace? Change normally comes in small
doses and requires innovation and bravery on the
partners involved. It is worth remembering that
currently, the cost of a tradition diesel ride-on mower
is around £18k, while an electric version can be as
much as £60k. This is why long-term partnerships,
via carbon-neutral contracts, can be so beneficial to
all, allowing investment with the security of a longterm
contract.
THE FUTURE
As a land-based industry, so much of our impact
on local and global environments is entwined
with the power of our equipment. By placing
carbon neutrality at its core, businesses can create
partnerships that provide mutual benefits but also
that benefit the community and the environment.
We would expect to see the continued expansion
of carbon-neutral contracts beyond our own sector
and by expanding these changes to all sectors, the
ripples of combining business and sustainability
would be far-reaching.