Howard de Walden
A portfolio sample net zero audit programme to help Howard de Walden prepare to meet their net zero targets by 2040.
Howard de Walden owns and manages 95 acres of mixed-use property assets across Marylebone, central London. The portfolio spans healthcare, residential, retail and leisure and education.
What did the client need?
Howard de Walden was looking for a consultant service that could help them deliver net zero carbon assessments for 13 commercial buildings. They are committed to being a net zero carbon business by 2040, and had set a challenging science-based target of a minimum of a 50% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, with further reductions of >95% across scope 3 emissions by 2040.
Decarbonising their managed properties and aligning them to the anticipated standards for net zero carbon buildings was central to their decarbonisation strategy, so they needed a skilled and collaborative partner to help them plan for net zero carbon emissions and avoid property obsolescence.
How did Verco support the client?
Verco provided in-depth analysis of the existing assets, produced digital energy models, and compared multiple energy saving opportunities. This information was outlined in an audit report that explained what the potential opportunities for each asset were, how they could be achieved, what it might cost, and what savings were available for each improvement.
What were the results and opportunities?
The UKGBC and CRREM 2040 targets were shown to be achievable. They were already met in 40% of the audited assets. The rest of the assets that were not able to fully meet the targets were still able to make significant improvements to their performance.
Some reasons as to why assets could not achieve targets were:
Planning of overall building servicing strategy required to replace multiple tenant installation.
Some assets had physical and existing fabric constraints which would need further financial and operational consideration.
Some assets were listed buildings, meaning thorough review and planning would be required to ensure that the asset was refurbished following correct processes to protect the significance of the building.
The team at Howard de Walden are now well-equipped to work towards total degasification of all assets, and significant reductions in volume and GWP of refrigerants.
A potential total EUI reduction of 81 kWh/m2/yr across all assets was achieved.
Verco recommended enhancing submetering and monitoring in all assets to allow for continuous improvement in the future.
Verco is now working with Howard de Walden on an occupier data collection project. The aim is to track and monitor trends in occupier energy consumption.
We were right to appoint Verco, given their established expertise in auditing heritage assets and developing strategies to support our objective to achieve net zero carbon by 2040. A project of this scale and complexity naturally presented challenges, but Verco kept us informed and provided practical solutions when needed. They worked collaboratively with our property teams, fostering professional development throughout the programme – it was more than just a series of audits, rather a shared journey of learning and discovery. The insights gained from this collaboration will be invaluable for our wider estate. We’re keen to continue our professional partnership with Verco and explore opportunities that support our net zero carbon roadmap.