1

The science behind Science Based Target Setting

Almost 400 companies from across the world are now committed to setting evidence-based corporate carbon targets. The Science Based Target Initiative (SBTI) – a collaborative project between the CDP, UN, WRI and WWF - has recruited dozens of global giants from many economic sectors to the ‘Call To Action’, including Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble and Walmart (1). As investor interest in climate risk is increasing, the ability to demonstrate emissions reduction in line with the latest climate science is becoming the new ‘normal’. Read more

1

Strategies for Corporate Renewable Energy Procurement

Many companies are seeking to increase their use of renewable energy (RE). The aims are typically to reduce carbon emissions, hedge energy prices and respond to CSR drivers. High profile initiatives such as the RE100, a global collaborative initiative requiring businesses to commit to using 100% renewable electricity, are helping to accelerate the trend. Read more

1

Mayor’s Energy Efficiency Fund (MEEF): BIP.Verco is part of the team!

Yesterday, BIP.Verco attended the launch of the Mayor of London’s Energy Efficiency Fund. BIP.Verco is pleased to be part of the MEEF team, providing technical support and due diligence for the fund managers, Amber Infrastructure and its commercial lenders including Lloyds Bank, National Westminster Bank, Santander UK, Sumitomo Mitsui Corporation and Triodos Bank. Read more

1

ESOS: How to generate a net cost benefit

If your business is large and complex, you should be able to generate cost benefits from ESOS recommendations which exceed the cost of the compliance process itself. A compliance only route may seem like the cheapest option, but can actually be more costly than generating the energy saving benefits that should come out of this process. Read more

1

Volunteering in Brockholes

Our Chorley Office have been enjoying the sunshine and taking time out of the office to volunteer, for the second year running, in Brockholes in Preston. Read more

1

Get real- how the TCFD is helping to price climate risks and opportunities into business decision-making

The Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) was established in June 2015 to develop voluntary, consistent climate-related financial risk disclosures for companies, allowing them to provide investors, lenders, insurers, and other stakeholders with the right information to make financial decisions. Ultimately, it aims to drive the sustainability agenda from sustainability teams into boardrooms and finance teams. Read more

1

Can you go 'Plastic Free' for a week?

BIP.Verco’s attempt and how coffee nearly broke us!In light of World Environment Day and its particular focus on reducing single use plastic, we set ourselves the challenge to see how far we could go to cut out plastic completely. This is the account of BIP.Verco’s Wiltshire office. Read more

1

The trouble with Science Based Targets

Formally-approved Science Based Targets (SBTs) are a scheme of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a venture of the UN Global Compact, CDP, World Resources Institute and WWF. They have been gaining much attention and some traction amongst corporates and institutional investors; at the time of writing, 105 companies have in place targets formally approved by the SBTi. Read more

1

ESOS timings: Top tips to avoid the rush

We are now in Phase 2 of ESOS, with a deadline of 5th December 2019. Experience shows that many companies will leave it to the last minute to think about it, turning what should be an opportunity to increase business productivity into a compliance burden. Read more

1

Another great XEnergy event: The application of AI to develop ground-breaking new materials and overcoming barriers to energy re

This week, BIP.Verco attended the XEnergy event in London. There was a mind-blowing key note speech by Justin Hall-Tipping, on the application of artificial intelligence and big data, to achieve a step change in the development of new materials: creating a database of thousands of publications on material science. Artificial intelligence is used to draw on this and rapidly identify new molecular combinations. This can be used to produce new materials that address a broad range of technological challenges. Read more

1

Design for Performance is reaching out to industry stakeholders

The Design for Performance initiative led by BIP.Verco has featured in a couple of industry engagement events this month. First on 6th March at the annual EcoBuild show at the Excel in London Docklands, there was a seminar entitled Design for Performance - Securing Commercial Buildings. The session was chaired by Sarah Ratcliffe, Programme Director at the BBP, and the panellists were Robert Cohen, Technical Director, BIP.Verco, Abigail Dean, Head of Sustainability at TH Real Estate, Duncan Price, Director - Sustainability, Buro Happold and Andy Stanton, Infrastructure and Sustainability Manager, Transport for London. The seminar underlined the benefits of commercial office buildings which perform as intended: as well as meeting environmental objectives, these buildings can be more attractive to tenants who seek better working environments for their employees. Evidence from Australia shows that these buildings have lower voids, can charge rent premiums and secure higher financial returns for their developers and investors. Read more

1

Deep renovations with ALDREN aim to increase the value of commercial buildings across the EU

BIP.Verco is a partner in the ALliance for Deep RENovation (ALDREN) a 30 month Horizon 2020 project which started in November 2017. The purpose of ALDREN is to establish the business case for deep renovation. It is thereby intended to encourage investment and accelerate the movement towards a nearly zero energy non-residential building stock across the EU, as targeted by 2050 to meet Paris Agreement commitments. The project is co-ordinated by the Centre Scientifique et Technique du Batiment (CSTB) in France, with seven expert partners from around Europe. Read more