ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL
OUR COMMITMENTS
Purpose
Climate action routemap
Measuring progress OUR PRACTICE
What we did in 2023
What we measure
What we advocate
OUR PROJECTS
Old into new
A drive to decarbonise
Project spotlights OUR PEOPLE
Supporting our workforce
Supporting project communities
451 days of social value EXTRAS
Full Operational Carbon Footprint Report
Offset certificates and information
This report incorporates our 17th annual operational carbon footprint assessment. It spotlights the positive progress we have made against our own objectives, including a 75% reduction in our footprint since our first report in 2007. Yet it also highlights how much we still have to do and how much more we can achieve.
2023 saw the hottest global temperatures ever recorded. Every day, this should inform the decisions we make. As highly qualified and highly skilled professionals working tirelessly to shape the next generation of our built environment, we have a responsibility to embody the changes needed, driving climate-positive design to compensate for lacklustre governance and accountability.
2023 also saw the relaunch of Purcell’s Collective Ambition, reaffirming our commitment to be a force for good, and with a renewed focus on evolving our reputation as a world-leading practice in the adaptive re-use and retrofit of existing buildings.
For this evolution to be successful, Purcell must live the values of employee ownership culture, cultivating a universal mindset focused on sustainable and ethical decision-making, transparency, autonomy, and putting the needs of the planet at the top of our ambitions.
Internally, we have committed to achieving B Corp Certification by 2026, and we must reflect this externally –being bolder in pressing our clients to consider the longer term considerations and repercussions of their ambitions, so that next year’s report can meaningfully build upon the remarkable progress that we are proud to report this year.
In 2023, Purcell continued to make great strides in reducing the emissions associated with our operations, developing a better understanding of our projects, advocating for faster change within the wider industry and demonstrating our commitment to continual improvement.
2023 has seen a significant decrease in our operational carbon footprint, against a backdrop of continued business growth. Whilst staff numbers increased by 8%, our operations footprint (per FTE) was down by 15%. Business travel emissions were reduced by over 20% through an overall reduction in business miles (especially air travel) and a continued post-pandemic move towards using public transport in preference to private cars. Energy emissions were reduced by over 10% as the benefits of planned office improvements were realised.
Across our projects, we continued to see an increase in ambition amongst our clients, with a definite drive towards decarbonisation as organisations work to meet net zero targets. Equally, the demolition debate spotlighting the environmental benefits of reuse put Purcell’s expertise front and centre.
Our overall operational carbon footprint (per FTE) was reduced by 15%, and business travel emissions by 20%.
We continued to help our clients on their own decarbonisation journeys, even in the most challenging settings.
We completed our second Climate Literacy Survey, continuing to monitor and track our collective knowledge.
We were shortlisted for the AJ100 Sustainability Champion of the Year Award
We developed an opensource Heritage Building Retrofit Toolkit in collaboration with the City of London.
We advocated for faster change hosting events to raise awareness.
We built up our understanding of the impacts of our projects, and developed our Beyond Net Zero Toolkit.
We got our first Passivhaus Accredited Designers, as part of a drive to build our inhouse expertise across the practice.
We logged over 450 days of social value activities, from heritage skills development to charity quiz nights.
We recognise that we are operating in a climate emergency. Without a thriving planet, we will not have functioning business.
Purcell is an organisation that can demonstrably balance purpose and profit. We continue to be a practice that drives our business as a force for good amongst the places and communities we work. We have a responsibility to influence the built environment and to make a positive contribution to society.
Our Collective Ambition was updated in 2023, setting out the next phase in our evolutionary journey. It reaffirms our commitment to embrace sustainability in its many forms, engaging with clients and communities to design influential projects which creatively confront challenges of social and environmental responsibility.
In 2020, Purcell committed to the declarations set out by Architects Declare and Heritage Declares. At the same time, we became signatories of the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge and have been working hard towards meeting these commitments since. Sustainability is often prioritised in our designs and engaging meaningfully with communities can create inclusive and equitable architecture. We aspire to be renowned as global leaders in enabling positive social change through our projects and practice, and advocate for regenerative principles.
This report reflects on our 17th annual carbon footprint assessment. We continuously strive to improve our ways of working and assessing our impact. We are already part of a community of businesses that are leaders in the global environmental movement. We have begun our journey towards B-Corp Accreditation to demonstrate these aspirations and collectively acknowledge the positive impacts Purcell are already making.
Developing a clear methodology through which we will report and deliver on our commitments.
Monitoring, measuring and reporting on our activities is cruicial to ensuring continuous improvement. We have defined a series of indicators to help us track our progress. These are aligned with our Collective Ambition.
This framework is not static. In a dynamic and ever-evolving environment we must be adaptive to new advances in technology, market trends and conditions. Indicators and targets will be adjusted to maintain our sustainable ambition and business objectives.
We have recorded exceptional progress in 2023, with both our operations footprint and business travel footprint already below 2030 targets. We will continue to monitor this and capture this progress as we look to refine our targets next year.
When considering impact, it is important that we consider the collective footprint of our work in context with our organisation and the personal decisions of our colleagues. Whilst we do not have complete control over the emissions outside of our organisation, we are in a position to support our colleagues to help inform decisions on project design work.
* Climate literacy assessed via annual climate literacy survey. This is based on a self assessment of individual confidence against set topics taken from RIBA Climate Literacy Knowledge Schedule.
in research and development activities to further sustainability goals
of turnover invested in R&D relating to sustainability strategy to be defined to inform future targets
OUR OPERATIONAL FOOTPRINT* was down 19% from 2022 and down by 75% since 2007
Business miles travelled per person was DOWN 21% from 2022
mainly due to reductions in both air and car travel (45% and 23% respectively).
THIS IS WELL BELOW OUR 3,000 MILE PER FTE TARGET
* Includes Scope 1, 2 and 3 within Purcell’s direct control
OVERALL CARBON FOOTPRINT
Operation footprint plus additional Scope 3
Purcell staff commuted
111,600 MILES on foot or by bike in 2023
In 2023, we tracked the emissions from stays for the first time and included this in our Operational Footprint (4.9 tCO2e).
Although not a significant proportion of our footprint, this is another activity that we can proactively manage.
Good overall energy management was enhanced by the York studio relocation and the Canterbury boiler replacement
We continue to expand our understanding of our business impact, and work to embed sustainable and ethical practices throughout our supply chain.
We recognise that, as architects, our business operations are likely to be dwarfed by the climate impacts of our projects. Despite this imbalance it’s important to understand that our business impacts are within our direct control. Having them sufficiently understood will make it easier to advocate for change with our clients and contractors, who are directly responsible for the project impacts.
Purcell has been calculating the carbon emissions associated with our business operations since 2007. Since 2020, we have been offsetting all calculated emissions. We have ambitious targets to half these emissions (from our 2019 total) by 2030, and we are well on our way to achieving this goal through significant reductions to our business travel, energy and paper use. We have policies and procedures to ensure the continued reduction in
emissions relating to the delivery of our services, the operational running of our studios, the resourcing of projects locally to cut down on travel emissions, and agile working policies. We have also developed a systematic approach to environmental management as part of our integrated management system, and as such, are ISO 14001 accredited.
In 2022, we dramatically increased our understanding of our Scope 3 emissions, incorporating staff commuting, home working and ‘well to tank’ emissions, and in 2023 we included hotel stay emissions. Whilst this is a complex process, and Purcell has a lesser degree of control on these emissions than our Scope 1 and 2, the end goal of measuring and tracking them is to shape business decisions that mitigate the effects of climate change. We can then focus efforts where they will have the greatest impact.
Raising awareness and advocating for faster change.
Throughout 2023 we continued to advocate for positive change across all regions.
Building on our expertise of facilitating sensitive change in the historic built environment, we were at the forefront of discussions around heritage retrofit and adaptive reuse.
We logged 297 hours of climate advocacy, including donating time to organisations like LETI and UKGBC, hosting panel discussions on heritage retrofit and building reuse, writing published articles advocating climate literacy and circular economy.
Here are a few of the things we did:
We continued to extend, reorganise and repurpose existing buildings.
As architects and conservation specialists, we focus on preserving and prolonging the life of our built heritage.
By refurbishing, extending and adapting our existing buildings, we not only ensure their long-term enjoyment, accessibility, and functionality for future generations, we are protecting our natural resources by making use of what we have.
At the same time, we help facilitate the essential changes needed to prepare these buildings for the future, designing out carbon emissions, and designing in climate resilience. Some of the examples we celebrated in 2023 are shown here.
This collaboration with Jamie Fobert Architects increased the public space of the gallery by a fifth, without significant environmental impact. The whole life embodied carbon emissions for the completed project was less than half the RIBA targets for 2030.
This lightweight vertical extension utlisied the latent capacity of the existing library structure, drastically reducing the overall impact of the new construction, whist increasing the capacity and usability of the library significantly.
The careful upgrade and extension of the museum creates the UK’s first permanent gallery showcasing South Asian culture. The reuse of the existing building, coupled with CLT floor construction enabled a saving of around 300kg of embodied carbon per square metre in the new structure alone.
A collaborative project with NBBJ sees the transformation of two existing buildings for the University of Oxford. The retention and reuse of the existing structures is fundamental to the sustainability brief, as is the achievement of Enerphit certification, which will ensure best practice energy efficiency far exceeding building regulations, complemented by air source heat pumps and solar panels.
This extension and refurbishment project prioritises a ‘fabric first’ approach to meet AECB standards, using sustainable materials sourced locally. Superstructure of CrossLaminated Timber and Glulam reduces embodied carbon and on site renewables reduce operational carbon, ensuring optimal energy efficiency.
Helping clients towards a zero carbon future.
With an increased focus on addressing greenhouse gas emissions relating to building operations, many clients have ambitious targets for reducing their Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
As a result, we saw an increase in projects driven by the decarbonisation agenda. Working at a range of scales, from high-level strategies incorporated into Conservation Area Management Plans, to detailed studies of fabric upgrades, we helped clients navigate the complex and sometimes competing requirements of balancing energy efficiency with heritage significance.
Some examples of projects driven by carbon reduction are shown here, with two projects spotlighted on the following pages.
This Grade II* listed school suffers from severe heat loss in winter and overheating in summer. To help meet net zero aspirations and improve user comfort, we have been exploring ways to improve environmental performance and ensure the continued use of this important asset.
LIBRARY AND ARCHIVE NET ZERO STUDY
We helped an internationally renowned collection establish a route to achieving their 2030 net zero ambitions, comparing the impact to the collection and users, of retrofitting the existing buildings vs. moving to a new net zero premises.
Originally an industrial workshop before being repurposed as a dormitory. Its latest transformation will provide multifunction spaces, and a programme of heritage interpretation. Proposals aim to enhance the thermal performance by new secondary glazing, roof insulation and a new energy-efficient MEP system.
The Grade II listed, former town hall is being transformed into a new museum and cultural arts centre. This project includes the decarbonisation of the existing 1889 hall, through appropriate fabric improvements and the installation of air source heat pumps at roof level.
Stakeholder consultation, spatial audits and user workshops have shaped a strategy to eliminate the use of fossil fuels. This combines strategic fabric upgrades, a design-led review of managing visitor flows, and the integration of low and zero carbon technologies.
SALFORD CATHEDRAL
As part of a major refurb project, we are helping the Cathedral become the greenest in England. With the introduction of roof insulation, secondary glazing, underfloor heating and a ground source heat pump.
Heritage Building Retrofit Toolkit
In collaboration with the City of London Corporation, Purcell has developed a Heritage Building Retrofit Toolkit. This openaccess, digital toolkit provides a nine-step methodology aimed at empowering building owners to initiate the adaptations necessary to reduce carbon emissions and build climate resilience in their heritage buildings.
The City of London is home to more than 600 listed buildings. With the climate emergency representing the single greatest challenge facing our generation, bold and ambitious action is needed to unlock the potential in our built heritage; reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting them to the extreme impacts of a changing climate.
The purpose of the toolkit is to provide clear and actionable guidance for owners, occupiers and caretakers of historic and listed buildings. It will help them take steps to reduce carbon and build climate resilience in their heritage buildings.
Whilst the diversity of the built heritage within the ‘Square Mile’ is a considerable challenge (there is no one-sizefits-all solution), the toolkit aims to provide a common methodology. Framed around eight core building types (or typologies), it aims to facilitate a better understanding of heritage retrofit, drawing comparisons across similar buildings, and developing an adaptable and considerate approach. By collating and signposting best practice principles and examples across these typologies, the toolkit provides a resource that allows building owners to confidently start the process of responsible retrofit, build a business case and deliver necessary adaptations.
The toolkit was informed by extensive engagement with City of London stakeholders, including a series of inperson and online events, interviews and targeted surveys.
Purcell was appointed as conservation architect and heritage consultant for the refurbishment of the southwest corner of Second Court buildings at St John’s College, Cambridge. Delivered in collaboration with MCW Architects (who led the design of the new side extension) the project has established Second Court as the social centre of the college with a new community space, bar and café.
The completed scheme champions a ‘whole building’ approach. Careful analysis of the existing structure was undertaken following thorough investigations into building condition and heritage significance. The baseline performance of the existing fabric was assessed through insitu u-value calculations, thermal imaging, airtightness testing, and environmental monitoring during the early design stages, with careful opening-up work to established material build-ups.
A detailed fabric enhancements study reviewed options and assessed the anticipated performance of various floor, wall, ceiling and window upgrades, reviewing each against the impact on the historical significance.
The resultant energy efficiency measures included thermally enhanced glazing, the introduction of breathable woodfibre insulation installed internally to the masonry walls, and the existing modern concrete slab replaced with an insulated breathable limecrete slab.
The project expertly retains the historic character and heritage value by concentrating the greatest change from sustainability enhancements to areas of lower significance, whilst also ensuring adjacent areas of high significance were not detrimentally affected.
Providing for a safe, fair, secure, diverse and well workforce.
As an employee-owned company, we put our staff at the centre of all key decision making. We are committed to creating a culture where differences are valued, and everyone feels included.
We are dedicated to supporting a change in attitude and understanding towards physical and mental health. Initiatives include the ‘Purcell Pals’, a network of champions across our practice, who support and encourage good mental health, wellbeing, and physical health within the workplace and on our projects.
In line with Purcell’s collaborative, inclusive and positive values, and following our transition to employee ownership, we are proud of our accreditation as a Real Living Wage Employer.
We have allowed the rich knowledge of our employees to define the progression of our practice, which now represents 24 nationalities, speaking 18 different languages, and from a broad spectrum of socio-economic backgrounds.
Through mental health awareness, supporting physical health, mental health first aid training, & menopause in the workplace awareness sessions.
This was the average across all staff (including non-technical) and was coupled with an investment of £145,073 on CPD and training for our staff, attending seminars, lectures and courses to help upskill our workforce and ensure we are continuously learning and refreshing our skills.
We are committed to a reconciled Australia, for the benefit of all Australians. We are presently engaged in the development of a Reconciliation Action Plan which will reinforce this commitment and our existing actions towards reconciliation.
These in-house initatives are intended to share knowledge and ideas, upskilling staff from all parts of the business, in conservation, sustainability and design.
Including staff now qualified as Passivhaus Accredited Designers, and Level 3 Energy Efficiency in Traditional and Historic Buildings.
Meeting the needs and priorities of local and stakeholder communities.
We know the greatest impact we have is through the projects we are involved in. We corroboratively apply our expertise and contextual understanding of the continuing history of places to deliver a sustainable legacy for every building we work on. This means reaching beyond the boundaries of the site to serve the surrounding communities and our broader supply chain.
We took students from Salford Univeristy to visit Salford Cathedral, as part of their module Recreating the City, to learn about conservation, repair, and restoration.
We supported four apprentices at various points throughout the year, working specifically on Our Town Hall project.
We facilitated workshops focused on heritage, health and wellbeing - including a heritage webinar for nurses, a heritage article featured in Hospital Magazine for staff and patients, and providing prizes for the charity auction, and engagement sessions with patients and hospital staff.
We carried out pro-bono voluntary work to engage with local audiences. Helping to build ownership of the heritage building and developing creative skills in art and architecture amongst young, diverse and under-presented groups in LB Newham.
We hosted an event aimed at students aged 15-18 from diverse, underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds. We provided a breadth of work experience activities from experts in the construction industry in and around Bristol. This was aimed at increasing diversity in the profession and giving opportunity to those who would not normally have equitable access.
We logged 12.5 hours per FTE of social value activities in 2023
In 2023 we set up our Social Value Steering Group. Aided by a network of Social Value Champions, we have been recording our broader impact across our work.
We are still refining this process and developing our strategy in this fast-evolving field. However, we are proud of the strides we have taken to exert our influence through our architectural and design work, to contribute positively to the environment and communities within which we work, and to promote ourselves as thought leaders in the social and environmental conscience.
Including mentoring, career advice, work placements, site tours and practical training opportunities.
Including donations to CRASH Christmas appeal, The Red Cross and Disaster Emergency Committee for earthquakes in Morocco, Turkey and Syria. A cash donation to UK Architects Declare, and £4,949 raised by members of the Oxford team for Sobell House Hospice charity. We also donated money to local charities in Hong Kong and Australia.
Including donating time and expertise to heritage groups like Enfield Society Heritage and Conservation Group, Chiswick House and Gardens Trust, and the Diocese of Chelmsford Advisory Committee. As well as working with climate action groups like ACAN and LETI to upskill the built environment sector.
12 work experience placements for under 18s
4 apprentices hosted throughout the year
5 work experience placements for under 25s
2023 has seen a significant decrease in our total footprint, against a background of continued business growth. Whilst staff numbers increased by 8%, our total footprint per FTE was down by 15%. Business travel emissions were reduced by over 20% through an overall reduction in business miles (especially air travel) and a post-pandemic move towards using public transport in preference to private cars. Energy emissions were reduced by over 10% as the benefits of planned office improvements were realised.
Target Operations Footprint
• The Carbon Governance Strategy set a target for average energy use of 160 kWh/m2 When this target was set at the beginning 2020 the average level was 181.5 kWh/m2. Since then, the average across all years has been 147.7 kWh/m2 and the target has been consistently achieved.
• Energy efficient studio relocations: Bristol, Cambridge, London, Norwich, Oxford & York
• York studio relocated end of 2022. The new location is all-electric with the highest EPC rating of the UK studios. Energy emissions for York in 2023 were reduced by over 60% of the 2022 level
• Upgraded heating systems. New boiler in Canterbury in late 2022. 2023 saving = 0.7 tCO2e pa
• Migrated from office to cloud-based servers
• Energy efficiency awareness raising across all studios
• Overall reduction in energy use per m2 of 49% since 2007
• Reduction in private car use from 64% to 31% (was lower pre-pandemic & is reducing).
• Reduced average business miles per FTE from around 4,000 to 2,000 pa
• Investment in video conferencing and remote working technology
• Emphasis on minimising non-essential travel (especially for internal meetings)
• Hotel Stays – Measured for first time in 2023, emissions = 4.9 tCO2eq
• Paper use – down 96% through electronic document management & employee commitment
• Waste - <1% of footprint.
• Water use previously monitored (<1%) but only data from 3 offices available
• Energy & Travel WTT emissions are included in Energy/Travel (above)
The following Scope 3 items have been evaluated but are not included within the Operations Footprint. These are primarily controlled by the lifestyle demands and decisions of our staff.
• Originally measured from 2007 to 2012. Staff survey re-commenced from 2022.
• Average commute per FTE -31% on 2012
• Commuting distance & emission are both down on 2022
• Compared with 2012, the use of private cars for commuting has decreased by 17% & walk/bike is +5%
• Data from 2023 commuting survey was used to estimate average homeworking time (0.9 days)
• UK Government emissions factors included Homeworking as a category for the first time in 2022
• 2023 estimate homeworking emissions = 28.0 tCO2e (+47% on 2022)
• Norwich studio relocated end of 2022. The new location has an EPC rating of “C” (compared with “E” in the old location) but level of heating energy usage is unchanged. Review heating system usage to determine whether savings are feasible
• Review energy efficiency potential with landlords or assess relocation options, as leases allow
• Achieve the target of a minimum EPC standard of C for all UK studios by 2030
• Monitor the revised target of 3,000 miles per FTE, and consider any future reduction as appropriate
• Encourage/incentivise use of EVs for business travel
• Continued commitment to reducing paper use
• Work with landlords to get water meters installed in studios
• Review options for measuring other Scope 3 components: Other Goods & Services, Data Storage, Investments. NB. Estimation of Data Storage emissions has been considered as part of this report. There is insufficient data on which to base an estimate
The following Scope 3 items have been evaluated but are not included within the Operations Footprint. These are primarily controlled by the lifestyle demands and decisions of our staff.
COMMUTING
COMMUTING
• Review options for incentivising efficient methods of commuting
• Work with landlords to have end-of-trip facilities installed in all studios
• Communicate commuting findings and promote awareness
HOMEWORKING
HOMEWORKING
• Continue to monitor for trends
• Total energy use was down by 8.4% from 2022 and is 48% below our benchmark year.
• Emissions from energy use were down by 4%. The lower level of decrease compared with energy use is due to the emission factors increasing on the prior year and an increased proportion of electric in our energy mix from the York relocation.
• The York studio has moved from the EPC E-rated St. Marygate location to its new B-rated location and total energy is use is down by 71% compared with the old location.
• The Carbon Governance Strategy target for energy emissions in 2023 is 341 kgCO2eq/FTE. The actual value was 272 kgCO2eq/FTE (-20%). Our target is for zero energy emissions by 2040.
• An error in the processing of the heating energy data for Norwich was identified, covering 2021 & 2022. Correcting this has resulted in a combined increase in emissions for those years of 3.7 tCO2eq. The energy efficiency of the new studio is not showing any significant improvement from the Colegate building.
• As lease renewals approach for all studios, we will consider the options for energy efficiency improvements at each location, both in terms of improvements at the existing studio or from relocation (along with the non-carbon criteria of location, suitability, etc.).
• It is our target to have all studios located in buildings that are at least C-rated for EPC by 2030. We will look to accelerate this change where possible and will expect our landlords to be compliant with any future changes in the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards regulations.
• Energy use data is not available for the Asia-Pacific studios (all serviced offices) but estimates are included in the footprint using the average energy use statistics from the UK and the relevant Asia-Pacific emission factors.
Energy Use and Emissions Factored for area | *=estimated data | +=carried forward
• Business miles reduced by 21% in 2023, whilst our turnover increased by almost 5%.
• There were significant reductions in both air and car travel (45% & 23%, respectively).
• The total no. of trips in 2023 was down by 4%, and the average trip distance was down by 17%.
• On a per FTE basis, the miles travelled was down 19% on last year.
• Total emissions from business travel reduced by 21%.
• The miles travelled by all Regions was well below our new target of 3,000 miles per FTE.
• The 23% reduction in car mileage means that we are nearly back to our target of 30% overall mileage in private cars; although we are still above the level that was being achieved pre-pandemic.
• Total paper use was up by 10% in 2023. The increase on a per FTE basis was 3%. Although small, this was the first increase in paper use per FTE since 2012.
• Emissions from paper use are 0.47 tCO2e (0.2% of Gross Footprint).
• The reduction in paper use since 2007 is 96%.
• The emissions from hotel stays were tracked for the first time in 2023. There were 471 nights claimed in the year, which equates to 4.9 tCO2eq (2.5% of Gross Footprint).
• Measured emissions from waste were negligible. The only numerical data available was for WEEE and there was only 120kg disposed of in 2023 (0.003 tCO2eq). No data was available for the volume of paper sent for recycling.
• Water use has not been measured in 2023 as only four studios have water meters fitted. Historical data has shown Purcell’s water use to be low and not of significance to the total footprint.
• Commentary on the Scope 3 WTT emissions is covered by the Energy & Business Travel sections above.
Paper Use Emissions/Target
Paper Use - Sheets per FTE
• For the staff commuting survey in 2023 there were 193 responses.
• Staff commuting mileage in 2023 is estimated to be around 930,000 miles pa. This is an average of about 3,500 miles pa for every employee; equivalent to a 15mile daily round trip.
• The above figures are significant reductions on the 2022 values (1.5 million miles pa & 35 miles/day). The data has been carefully reviewed to verify if this reduction is anomalous, but no clear errors were found. It is thought possible that some confusion existed over the initial survey format, leading to some incorrect submissions.
• The estimated emissions from commuting are 103 tCO2e , or 0.39 tCO2e per FTE. NB. These totals are not included in the Operations Footprint total.
• Commuting by car was reduced from 31% of miles to 28%, but there was some movement from small car to medium cars and the proportion of mileage in electric/ hybrid cars was down.
• Analysis of the number of days that people commute into the office indicates an average of 0.9 days per week homeworking. This gives an estimate of 26 tCO2e emissions from home working. NB. This total is not included in the Operations Footprint total.
Heating Energy & Temperature
The overall energy performance for the East region looks consistent but this is masking the anomaly over the Norwich studio energy efficiency (see below).
There is no heating data for London, so that chart is for Canterbury only. All trends are broadly in line with the controlling indicators.
Electrical Power & FTE
Overall energy use reduced strongly in 2023 following the York studio relocation and the first full year of data following the boiler replacement in Canterbury. Energy use across all studios is well down on the benchmark year but the expected savings from the Norwich studio relocation are not being realised (see below).
NB. In the charts below, the FTE numbers are based on the number of staff who are based within the studios. This includes Group & Central staff who are based in the studios, but excludes staff based in the Manchester Town Hall and Palace of Westminster locations.
The York studio relocation, although a very positive change overall, has impacted the trends for the North Region. It is not possible to plot heating energy (gas) as York is all-electric and there is only estimated data available for Manchester. The primary indicator for the region is total energy use (per m2) and this illustrates the strong positive change from the York relocation.
Heating data is estimated and has not been updated since 2019 but is consistent with the HDD data. The staff growth in 2023 is reflected by a small increase in electrical power use (equipment & lighting).
No data has been received from the landlord’s agents for gas use since 2013. Electrical power usage is consistent with the FTE level.
The data appears to show good energy management performance.
2023 was the first full year after the studio’s boiler was replaced and the improved energy efficiency is shown by the data. Electrical power use is broadly consistent with the FTE level.
The small increase in heating energy in 2023 is not consistent with the HDD data but electrical power is consistent with the FTE level. NB. The high level of gas use in 2021 was caused by the heating controls being over-ridden.
No data is available on heating energy, but this is understood to be low due to the adiabatic nature of the studios heating/cooling system. Total energy use is consistent with staff numbers and is the lowest per m2 of all studios.
No data is available for the Manchester office. Estimated usage is included in the overall footprint but variations in energy efficiency cannot be identified from these estimates.
An error in the processing the gas data for the 2021 & 2022 was uncovered. This error significantly understated the usage level for those two years and has been corrected. This has identified an anomaly in the energy performance for the studio. The previous location was EPC rated as “E”, whilst the new studio is rated “C”. This should mean that the energy level needed to heat the new building is significantly less, but this is not supported by the energy data. The landlord is providing a full set of energy bills each year and the only estimate that is used in the analysis is the proportion of total usage that is relevant to Purcell’s occupancy (and is considered correct).
Energy usage in the Norwich studio should be reviewed during 2024 to determine if energy efficient practices are being applied.
Usage is consistent with, or better than, the controlling indicators
The York studio relocated at the end of 2022 and is now in an all-electric building. No data is available to assess heating/ power use separately. Total energy use is down due to the improved energy efficiency of the new location and is good in comparison to the strong rise in staff numbers.
No data is being received for the Asia-Pacific studios as these are sub-lets of desk space. Totals for these studios have been included in the footprint by using the average energy use per m2 for the UK studios and converting these using Australia/Hong Kong energy factors.
All plots: Business miles per FTE, excluding international flights. Travel by Group staff is excluded from each applicable studio and shown separately from 2013 onwards. Travel for Manchester Town Hall and Palace of Westminster are included with the Manchester and London studios, respectively. Travel for HCT staff is included with the studio/region where they are based.
This year we have continued to purchase offsets for the emissions we have calculated that are within our direct control. We have chosen to continue our support for a carefully selected range of projects from within the Americas region that have strong additional benefits beyond reducing carbon emissions. These include health benefits and reducing deforestation. All projects in this portfolio are certified to either the Verified Carbon Standard or the Gold Standard and include energy efficiency, reducing deforestation and clean drinking water projects. All certified credits follow the stringent requirements of the Quality Assurance Standard (QAS) for carbon offsetting.
We recognise that purchasing offsets can have positive impacts and generate much-needed investments which help reduce climate change, for example in nature climate solutions. However, we acknowledge the challenges with the voluntary carbon market and do not see this as a substitute for the stringent emissionreduction requirements that need to be achieved collectively. We remain committed to reducing the impact of our business as much as possible before offsetting.
John
This certificate acknowledges that Purcell Architecture Ltd (Purcell) offset
204 tonnes of carbon dioxide by supporting a Global Portfolio of Verified Carbon Reduction Projects
15 February 2024
Helping to combat climate change and sustain our environment for future generations
On behalf of Purcell ®
15 Bermondsey Square, London, SE1 3UN laura.baron@purcelluk.com www.purcelluk.com
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