Property industry sees 10.8% increase in greenhouse gas emissions in the last decade

James Carter
Authored by James Carter
Posted: Monday, August 23, 2021 - 10:25

Research by the next-generation, virtual property viewings platform, U-See Homes, has revealed just how much work the property industry has to do in order to lower its impact on the environment.

Greenhouse gas emissions are falling

U-See analysed data on greenhouse gas emissions across each industry over the last decade and found that as a whole, there’s been a reduction of -16.9%.

The latest data shows that the property sector generated 980,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2019, the fifth-lowest of all sectors and considerably lower than the 88,395,000 generated by the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply unit sector - the worst offending of all sectors.

However, the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply unit sector has also seen the biggest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the last decade, down by a notable -47.4%. An additional 12 other sectors have also managed to reduce their impact on the environment in this time.

But not across the property sector

Unfortunately, seven sectors have seen an increase, the property sector being one of them.

Greenhouse gas emissions produced by the property sector have increased by 10.8% in the last 10 years, with just the accommodation and food services sector (11%), the construction sector (12.6%) and the activities of households as employers sector (14.7%) seeing a bigger increase.

What can be done?

So how can the property industry tackle its impact on the environment for the better?

Utilising technology is a good place to start and previous research by U-See Homes found that by replacing just the first initial viewing of a property with a guided virtual tour, estate agents could save 3,216 tons of C02 in a single year across the hundreds of thousands of property sales that take place.

Utilising a virtual platform could also bring greater benefit when it comes to the numerous property conferences and meetings held every year. Research by digital coaching platform, Ezra, recently found that holding just one conference of 1,000 people in a digital capacity could cut carbon emissions by nearly 95% - enough to power 17 homes for a whole year.

Of course, remote working can also play a part should the property sector stick with some form of it in life after the pandemic. Recent research by Vodafone highlighted how prior to the pandemic, the total carbon saving of an employee was just 272 kg, but as a result of remote working during the pandemic, this climbed to a huge 889 kg.

Simon Dempsey heads up marketing for U-See Homes and says

“Although the property sector may not be the worst offender in terms of its detrimental impact on the environment, it’s disappointing to see that there has been an increase in greenhouse gas emissions over the course of the last 10 years.

In this day and age, there is a wealth of information and technology available to us that could, and would, allow us to reduce our carbon footprint and so there’s really no excuse for failing to address this issue head-on.

As a result of COVID-19, we currently find ourselves at a fork in the road and there is a real opportunity to salvage something positive from the pandemic.

A lengthy stint of remote working has proven that great people utilising great technology can keep the world turning and incorporating this permanently within the industry could make a real difference to the planet.

Of course, some form of physical workplace and activity can never be replicated digitally but we would urge everyone within the sector to consider what sort of balance could work for them on an ongoing basis.”

Data sourced from the Office for National Statistics - Atmospheric emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions by industry - Mass of air emissions per annum in thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent

Industry

2009

2019

Change (%) - 2009 to 2019

Activities of households as employers

41

47

14.7%

Construction

12,279

13,827

12.6%

Accommodation and food services

3,240

3,596

11.0%

Real estate activities

885

980

10.8%

Administrative and support service activities

3,109

3,364

8.2%

Human health and social work activities

5,176

5,469

5.7%

Agriculture, forestry and fishing

46,030

48,586

5.6%

Other service activities

987

973

-1.4%

Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

16,623

16,056

-3.4%

Transport and storage

83,685

79,546

-4.9%

Professional, scientific and technical activities

1,981

1,861

-6.1%

Financial and insurance activities

278

260

-6.3%

Manufacturing

94,184

83,655

-11.2%

Arts, entertainment and recreation

1,195

1,050

-12.2%

Information and communication

980

844

-13.8%

Education

3,185

2,565

-19.5%

Mining and quarrying

27,056

21,786

-19.5%

Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities

36,408

26,211

-28.0%

Public administration and defence; compulsory social security

6,952

4,765

-31.5%

Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply

168,060

88,395

-47.4%

Total greenhouse gas emissions

663,614

551,523

-16.9%

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