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Tackling climate change

We’re playing our part in keeping global warming below 1.5°C, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from operations and new buildings in line with Science Based carbon targets to be net zero carbon by 2030.

Tackling climate change

We’re playing our part in keeping global warming below 1.5°C, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from operations and new buildings in line with Science Based carbon targets to be net zero carbon by 2030.

  • Investing £10m every year to make our buildings more energy efficient
  • Buying 100% certified renewable electricity in line with RE100 and working towards zero gas use
  • Moving to electric vehicles
  • Reducing the carbon footprint of constructing new buildings
  • Managing and mitigating climate related risks in line with TCFD

Both our operations and developments by 2030

Net zero carbon

Our Net zero carbon pathway, published in December 2021, explains how we plan to improve operational performance in our existing estate and turn our vision for net zero carbon new developments into a reality.

Water trials

Addressing climate risks

Climate change poses a serious threat and as a TCFD supporter we disclose the details of the most significant climate related risks for our business. Water stress is one such long-term issue, so we have been trialling ways to reduce water use in our existing buildings.

Unite Students - 4 C's

Our vision for net zero carbon buildings: The 4 C's

Our current projects in development are incorporating aspects which reduce both embodied carbon and operational energy. You can view our vision for net zero carbon building (the 4 C's) below.

Unite Students - Wind Farm

Corporate power purchase agreement: Strengthening our commitment to renewable energy

Since 2017, all electicity bought under our group supply contract with Npower (around 73% of the total electricity consumption across our buildings) comes from renewable sources and is backed by REGOs (Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin Certificates) meaning it is zero carbon. However, to support our net-zero carbon ambitions we will need to go further, and buy energy in ways that directly support the creation of the new renewable energy generation – a feature known as signing a five-megawatt “additionality”.