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Neutral Carbon Zone works with SMEs through to large global corporations, spanning many industries and sectors around the world, to effectively support their carbon reduction goals.

This article outlines how they have helped UK-based Arden Estate Agents become a certified carbon neutral business.

Overview of Arden Estate Agency

Arden Estates is an Independent Estate Agency owned by Jon Whitehead and James Cope. Founded in 2010, Arden has grown into an established, award-winning business with a fabulous track record in Sales & Lettings. They now have 7 offices, with a team of 48, offering property valuations, sales and home staging.

Arden engaged NCZ to start their net zero journey. This process provided understanding of where emissions originate from and where costs can be reduced. This also established a targeted approach to decarbonisation to ensure maximum success.

Phase 1 – Establishing the Baseline

Establishing the baseline

(ISO 14064 organisational carbon footprint report)

NCZ Silver Certification. Establish complete carbon footprint for the business to drive reductions and cost savings.

Phase 2 – Initial Assessment and Solutions (Quick Wins)

Using the reported baseline of emissions, we were able to immediately assess and recommend solutions to implement that would significantly reduce carbon emissions and costs, including:

• The use of optimal travel routing, driver behaviour training and limiting unnecessary business travel wherever possible and appropriate.
• Efficiencies with employee commuting; encourage less emissions intensive modes of transport, including hybrid or electric vehicles, public transport where available, undertake active commuting if feasible and distances allow, and adopting car-sharing initiatives to reduce single-person vehicle use.
• Switching to renewable energy tariffs to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and increase awareness initiatives to reduce energy consumption within the premises.
• Supply-chain procurement assessment to investigate the potential for buying and/ or delivery profile efficiencies.

Phase 3 – Carbon Reduction Strategy

Carbon reduction strategy

(the mid-term targets)

Once Phase 2 is complete we use the baseline footprint to map out a tailored strategy to reduce the business’s carbon emissions on its journey to net zero. Throughout this process NCZ guides and facilitates the relevant expertise required from our approved supply partners directory to ensure the lowest impact of products/ services.

MARCH ’23 – FIRST CARBON NEUTRAL ESTATE AGENT! Arden Estates were proud to announce that they achieved NCZ Silver Certification, signifying that all scope 1, 2 and 3 organisational emissions have been independently assessed and reported on. In addition, using this carbon footprint baseline, a targeted approach to carbon reduction was established. Furthermore, all currently unavoidable emissions have been officially and verifiably offset through a certified offset programme, establishing Arden Estates as a certified carbon neutral business.

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Take your first step to understanding the carbon footprint of your business. Contact Adam Hoult [email protected] at Neutral Carbon Zone to find out more.