Client: Katherine Low Settlement
Type of Project: Eco-Audit
Location: 108 Battersea High Street, London
Scope of Project: Eco-audit
Sustain Quality were instructed to carry out an Eco-Audit for Katherine Low Settlement, located at 108 Battersea High Street, SQ11 3HP, with the aim of outlining their current practices and building state and recommending actions to improve their environmental performance.
Opportunities for improvement were identified and grouped in themes which were as follows: Environmental and Procurement policy, Energy, Waste, Water, Health and Wellbeing, and Transport.
Following the actions recommended, Katherine Low Settlement installed NEST thermostats on the radiators which allowed more control over temperature and increased their energy efficiency. In addition, they replaced kitchen appliances whilst taking their efficiency into consideration, made efforts to reduce waste through purchasing items with less packaging, installed additional waste recycling bins, implemented a bicycle scheme for employees, ensured there is a safe space to place bicycles, and facilitated an Environmental Awareness Presentation for their staff.
These implementations allowed Katherine Low Settlement to make significant reductions in their carbon emissions and increased engagement with their internal and external stakeholders.
Tools for Implementation
An Eco-Audit was conducted to measure, analyse, and report this organisation’s environmental impact and outline their social impacts. These impacts were then structured thematically in an Eco-Audit Report as outlined above. Within these themes recommendations to reduce these impacts were provided.
We are passionate about a whole-rounded approach and so following the Eco-Audit, we carried out additional supporting activities. Among them is a Carbon Emissions Report, which accounted for Scope 1 (gas usage), Scope 2 (electricity usage), and Scope 3 (water, wastewater and waste to landfill). We carried out the Environmental Awareness Presentation as discussed above, and we provided Support with Communications to help highlight the organisation’s sustainability ambitions and progress.
Challenges for Task
We encountered challenges in collecting data from the organisation, as some information was not available.
Solutions to Task
We made estimations and investigated and utilised additional calculation methods to ensure the most accurate result with the data available.
Key Project Achievements
By implementing the recommendations provided by Sustain Quality, Katherine Low Settlement made a significant reduction in their carbon emissions in 2023 compared to the 2022 baseline we set for them, based on the data they provided us with.
The most significant reduction was in the carbon emissions from gas usage (Scope 1) with the implementation of NEST thermostats, allowing for more control and increasing energy efficiency.
Their water consumption was reduced due to the implementation of a rainwater harvesting system and monitoring of water usage.
There was an addition of waste bins throughout the facilities for recycling, and the café is encouraging the use of non-disposable dishes and cutlery in addition to purchasing items with less packaging, consequently reducing waste production.
Although fleet travel, waste for recycling and staff commute have not been quantified in 2022, Katherine Low Settlement achieved a 49.5% reduction in carbon emissions in 2023 compared to the 2022 baseline.
Benefits for Clients
The Eco-Audit identified both positive and negative environmental and social impacts and suggested tailored recommendations for improvement. This would provide our clients with the opportunity to make significant reductions in resource consumption, carbon emissions and costs.
Location
108 Battersea High Street, London