Using a three-pronged approach to reducing carbon emissions and cutting energy use across all of its buildings, multinational banking group Citi exceeded its annual target for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in 2013, saving over 10,000 tonnes of CO2.
Recognised by Bloomberg in 2013 as the World's Greenest Bank, Citi's targets are accordingly ambitious. The company aims to achieve a 25% absolute cut in CO2 and a 20% absolute reduction in energy use by 2015 against a 2005 baseline.
Citi allocates annual targets to each of its four global regions. The 2013 target for its 600-plus buildings in 50 EMEA countries was a 5.6% reduction. Citi exceeded this target by achieving a 7.3% cut in emissions, subject to external audit, and reduced its energy use by 25.08GWh.
Citi approaches carbon and energy reductions in three ways: operational efficiencies that cost little to nothing, new technology and equipment upgrades, and encouraging employees to support its goals.
Examples of operational savings in the UK include turning off UPS power supply units in the data centre and a modified chiller system that uses the external air temperature to cool the building. On the new technology and upgraded equipment front, the company upgraded hot water heaters in Canary Wharf washrooms with air source heat pumps, which work by absorbing the heat generated by employees and IT equipment.
Electric car charging points and video conferencing facilities on individual computers to reduce the need to travel are just two of the ideas Citi introduced to get employees involved. They also organised a workplace Expo event where over 1,400 employees took the chance to learn more about Citi's projects, and how they can help.
Lorna Thorpe is part of the wordworks network
The Guardian Sustainable Business Sustainability Case Studies contain articles on all the initiatives that met the criteria for the GSB Awards.
