's Carbon Statement 2024
Otterlo
Otterlo is committed to reducing its environmental impact through its business operations and building projects. This Carbon Footprint Statement is central to Otterlo’s philosophy and objectives.
We are on a journey towards net zero, recognizing that each business decision and project strategy must strive to maximize carbon reductions. Each project serves as a test bed for innovation, helping Otterlo and its partners accelerate towards net zero.
Otterlo’s Operational Carbon Footprint
Otterlo has joined the Race to Zero challenge via the SME Climate Hub, aiming to halve its GHG emissions per capita by 2030 compared to 2019, offset remaining emissions annually, achieve net zero before 2050, and disclose progress yearly.
Using 2021 UK Government GHG Conversion Factors, Otterlo’s 2024 carbon footprint is estimated at 0.85 tonnes CO2e/person, or 0.7 tonnes CO2e/person with renewable energy. This represents a 63% improvement from 2019.
Otterlo uses 100% renewable electricity from solar (11%), wind (88%), and hydro (1%). Additionally, 3% of gas consumed comes from renewable sources like crops (79%), food and farm waste (18%), and vegetable peelings and cereal straw (4%).
Gas consumption is currently the largest carbon emission contributor. All non-renewable gas used in 2023 has been offset by schemes verified by the Verified Carbon Standard and the UNFCCC's Clean Development Mechanism.
Otterlo’s Legacy Carbon Footprint
Buildings account for 49% of annual carbon emissions in the UK. Over the next 40 years, new construction will add the equivalent of Paris to the planet every week. Thus, Otterlo focuses on reducing both operational and embodied carbon in new buildings.
110,576,923m
2
230,000,000,000
(40 x 52)
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‘Here in the UK, 49% of annual carbon emissions are attributable to buildings. Over the next 40 years, the world is expected to build 230 billion square metres of new construction – adding the equivalent of Paris to the planet every single week – so we must act now to meet the challenge of building net zero developments.'
UN Global Status Report 2017
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110,576,923sqm week
Buildings account for 49% of annual carbon emissions in the UK. Over the next 40 years, new construction will add the equivalent of Paris to the planet every week. Thus, Otterlo focuses on reducing both operational and embodied carbon in new buildings.
Otterlo's buildings use passive design, mechanical ventilation, and natural cooling to lower energy demands. High-efficiency communal air source heat pumps, replacing gas boilers, run on low temperatures with localized heat boosts. This technology benefits from on-site photovoltaics and will over time capitalise on escalation of decarbonizing the National Grid.
Otterlo's buildings use passive design, mechanical ventilation, and natural cooling to lower energy demands. High-efficiency communal air source heat pumps, replacing gas boilers, run on low temperatures with localized heat boosts. This technology benefits from on-site photovoltaics and will over time capitalise on escalation of decarbonizing the National Grid.
As the National Grid decarbonizes, operational energy emissions, now 46% of a building's Whole Life Carbon emissions, will reduce to 22% by 2050. Otterlo is addressing embodied carbon—generated by demolition, construction, and eventual disassembly—by monitoring data to make more impactful decisions from the very early stages of design.
Embodied Carbon Monitoring
Otterlo has implemented embodied carbon data monitoring in current projects, enhancing understanding of construction supply chains. Early-stage decision-making yields the most significant carbon reduction effects.
Building life cycle from EN 15978:2011 - adapted by Otterlo 2022
We adopt methodologies and datasets for embodied and whole life carbon analysis per RICS Professional Statement WLC, reporting across life cycle stages of EN 15978. Transparency and monitoring are integral to Otterlo's operations, with project teams experienced in applying embodied carbon data monitoring.
Upfront embodied carbon results from product and construction stages: A1 to A5 of EN 15978
Otterlo’s efforts to date, place Otterlo’s buildings, by some margin within the GLA's benchmark for embodied carbon. The ongoing interrogation is educating and focusing our attention on the next big wins to be tackled.
The big carbon reduction focus
Reinforced concrete, heavily used in Otterlo's buildings, significantly contribute to embodied carbon. Although cement is only 14% of a typical concrete mix, and steel reinforcement 4%, these materials contribute more than 90% of the embodied carbon of concrete. Otterlo at this time is targeting using over 60% Portland Cement replacement and nearly all recycled steel. Additionally, minimizing slab depths and optimising structural grids reduce the volumes of this still carbon heavy material.
Otterlo is evolving its approach to building design and delivery, aiming to understand the entire supply chain more comprehensively. We focus on the superstructure—the frame and facade—which contribute 56% of upfront embodied carbon and 37% of whole life carbon.
Currently, we are exploring a hybrid use of CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) and steel for frames, replacing concrete in lift and stair cores, alongside factory-made panel facade systems and modular bathrooms.
We are also monitoring the feasibility of using carbon-neutral and carbon-negative Portland Cement and other low/no carbon key materials. Brimstone in the US and University of Cambridge and Seratech in the UK, hold patents for processes for manufacturing carbon-negative Portland Cement. Low Carbon Materials, nominated for 2022 Earthshot Prize, manufactures carbon negative aggregates. Notably, Brimstone received $189 million from the Federal Investment Fund in 2024 build a commercial cement plant at scale.
Watch this space for further updates...
