Carbon reduction plan

In the spring of 2019, Anna Freud moved to a new purpose-built Centre of Excellence near Kings Cross. The building has been built in line with BREEAM standards and is achieving an Excellent rating. By using high-performance materials, energy-efficient systems and sustainable power generation our carbon emissions were expected to be 41% less than similar buildings.  

Features that support a carbon-neutral building include: 

• water consumption reduction through rainwater harvesting for flushing toilets, aerator filters, toilet and sink sensors, and trickle-fed urinal cisterns;

   

• green roofs and tanks to reduce rainwater to less than 50%, reducing the impact on the local drainage system;

   

• smart energy systems, which return energy to the grid, including solar panels

  and hot water heated by a CHP;

• high levels of natural light to minimise the waste and cost of artificial light, which is provided via a highly-efficient LED system;

   

• controls on heat and light, including internal lighting with sensors, external lighting on timers, air handling units with heat reclamation (designed to save 75% in heating energy), and a natural ventilation system and automatic windows to manage room temperature

   during summer months. 

Additional measures we take to reduce our carbon emissions from our buildings include: 

• metered energy, monitored annually, provided by a green supplier;

   

• signage and stickers to explain sustainability features, reminders to turn off electrical appliances and turn down radiators in rooms not centrally controlled;

   

• roof garden with wildflowers and vegetable plots, encouraging bee and insect populations. 

The Anna Freud Centre also has a Northern Hub in Manchester. Huckletree Manchester is our landlord for the Northern Hub. Huckletree is in the process of applying for BREEAM accreditation. 

To reduce emissions from business travel and employee commuting we:

• promote the reduced reliance on cars in preference for cleaner and more efficient modes of transport;

   

• offer a Cycle Scheme, secure bicycle storage at our business addresses, and rail season ticket loan scheme for staff;

   

• provide video conference facilities to support remote working and remote delivery of teaching, training, and some services;

   

• minimise travel budgets on projects to encourage only necessary travel;

   

• invest in our digital infrastructure, skills, and capacity to deliver remote support and solutions.

To reduce emissions from waste we:

• operate an effective waste management programme, in accordance with WEEE (Waste, Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recycling) Regulations 2013, reducing waste to its lowest practical level;

• provide recycling points in every office and communal space, including food waste, and regular recycling collections by First Mile;

• display signage to encourage ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ attitude;

• minimise waste on packaging for bought-in goods.

We operate paper-light working, including using:

• print settings that require manual release of jobs;

• printers that automatically set to print double-sided and greyscale;

• a printing cost and allocation system that helps staff consider and reconsider if printing is necessary;

• TV screens in meeting rooms that negate the need for hardcopy papers;

• natural resources responsibly, and FSC-certified paper stock.

The Anna Freud Centre does not routinely transport or distribute goods to service users, customers, or stakeholders. 

We recognise that we cannot rely on systems to deliver on our carbon reduction ambitions. The Anna Freud Centre also operates the following ways of working initiatives.

• A Sustainability Policy, overseen by the Chief Financial Officer.

• A Green Group representing all charity departments to champion green-working practices, initiatives and ideas.

• Regular updates in our staff newsletter about green working, our sustainability policy, and this carbon reduction plan.

• Environmental impact assessments to systematically evaluate all operations and activities against environmental criteria.

To reduce our emissions, we are also:

• developing ethical purchasing and procurement guidelines;

• creating minimum environmental standards for suppliers, partners and collaborators;

• implementing a continuous improvement methodology to improve the environmental management system;

• reporting to the Senior Management Team on environmental challenges and achievements, including showing carbon emissions in the target areas for reduction.