Senate Group in 2022 – emissions in central government properties reduced by more than 90%
Senate Group, which is responsible for central government facilities, has published its 2022 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, which is a comprehensive overview of the Group’s unincorporated state enterprises Senate Properties and Defence Properties Finland in 2022.
The change in ways of working triggered by the corona pandemic, war in Europe and the ensuing global energy crisis also characterised Senate Group’s year in 2022. During the year under review, work at Senate focused on wide-ranging measures for preparedness, energy efficiency measures, promoting the shared use of facilities and long-term efforts to reach carbon neutrality by 2035. Social responsibility is the basis for everything we do in Senate Group. It is integrated into Senate’s business strategy and plans.
Summary of achievements in 2022
- Both unincorporated state enterprises reached emission reduction targets set for the strategy period regarding emissions during maintenance. Senate Properties and Defence Properties Finland have reduced direct emissions from operations and indirect emissions from purchased energy by 67% and 61% respectively compared to 2020 levels.
- Since 2012, we have reduced emissions during the use of central government properties by a total of 93%. The electricity in central government properties is produced from 100% renewable sources and renewable energy now accounts for 83% in heating. The year saw the completion of 20 new solar power plants.
- Towards the end of the year, we launched an energy saving programme. By the end of December, we had saved around 14,000 MW, which is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of around 1,800 one-bedroom flats. The programme continues.
- A plan to adapt to climate change in accordance with the Government Real Estate Strategy was completed. Safeguarding biodiversity and plans to increase and to preserve carbon sinks in forest areas were part of the responsibility agenda.
- We implemented an extensive programme of preparedness measures in both state unincorporated enterprises and continue with the programme.
- We agreed with our clients to implement a total of 261 space solution projects, which will deliver annual savings of more than €10 million in the facilities costs of our central government clients. Going forward, public administration will increasingly operate out of shared premises. Work was ongoing on some 20 shared work environments during the year under review.
- Investments in our clients’ facilities and work environments were at a record €483 million.
- Customer satisfaction of our clients is at a good level and has been rising, particularly with indoor air, for several years in succession now. We have allocated considerable resources to measures to ensure good indoor air conditions in our properties.
Senate Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility Report, which is also our Annual Report, has been published (in Finnish) at www.senaatti.fi/yhteiskuntavastuuraportti2022.
The report provides ample coverage of our operations in 2022 from the economic, social and environmental aspects. Senate’s 21st Corporate Social Responsibility Report has been prepared in accordance with GRI standards and the numerical data has been verified by a third party. We also report in accordance with the UN sustainable development goals (SDG), from which we have selected five main goals and nine targets for them.
