Property firm commits to 100% renewable electricity buildings

Property firm Knight Frank, has committed to buying only 100% renewable electricity for all the buildings it manages – including a portfolio of properties across the North West.

Schemes already benefiting include One New Bailey, Zenith Building, The Albert Estate and Boulton House in Manchester, The Exchange in Chester and One Cathedral Square in Blackburn.

Nationally Knight Frank has entered into a contract with Total Gas and Power to purchase only 100% renewable power for its properties under management through until 2021.

Over the term of the contract Knight Frank’s properties will use over 360,000,000 KWH (or 360 GWH) of power at a cost of over £75M.

The commitment to providing 100% renewable power will lead to a reduction of more than 100,000 tonnes CO2e by 2021, the equivalent to taking nearly 17,000 cars off the road over the course of the contract.

Elaine McClean, partner and head of property asset management in Manchester said: “The buildings that have switched so far amount to around 500,000 sq ft of space and we will be offering this benefit to all our clients across the region as their current energy provider contracts come to an end.

“Buying our power from renewable sources is a visible and meaningful commitment to responsible property asset management and supports other initiatives to use energy and resources more responsibly.

“This partnership is wholly supported by our clients and occupiers and helps them in their own commitment to creating more sustainable developments in the future or making the choice of where to locate.

“This is a big conversation for the commercial property sector in the UK as it looks to address its impact on carbon emissions and is a clear example of Knight Frank leading the way.”