Campus Contern is the first office building complex in Luxembourg to be certified CO2 neutral. The label, awarded by an independent Belgian agency, is also validated by Vinçotte.
” From the very first developments of Campus Contern, it was clear to me that the buildings we were going to construct had to meet high ecological standards. Our offices are BREEAM (building environmental performance assessment method) ‘Excellent’ certified, which demonstrates eco-responsible site management, high energy performance from construction to the end-of-life of the buildings, as well as living comfort for occupants “, explains Marc Diver.
Since its creation, initiatives have followed one another to make this true campus a pioneering location for eco-responsible projects: “being eco-responsible means taking concrete action“, he insists.
The electricity produced by the photovoltaic panels is immediately injected into the national Creos grid. “To date, it is unfortunately not permitted in Luxembourg to use one’s own energy, but the electricity we use is, of course, 100% green as well“, adds the CEO. The site was the first to test autonomous shuttles – with Sales Lentz – to encourage its tenants to take the train by covering the last mile with a safe and regular mode of transport. A shared electric car, a carpooling system, MéGO! collection and recycling devices, and of course the BioOrg air purification system are part of these “little extras” that are environment-friendly.
Analyzed, certified
It was therefore quite natural that Marc Diver wished, a few months ago, to have his carbon footprint assessed to confirm the performance of his buildings and to offset the remaining emissions. For this, he called upon a consulting firm based in Brussels. ” CO2logic offers “CO2 neutral” certification to organizations that calculate, reduce, and offset their climate impact. Since 2015, the “CO2 neutral” label has also been validated by the independent third-party certifier, Vinçotte “, can be read on the website.
The calculation of the campus’s carbon footprint was carried out based on the Damier building (3,245 m2 of offices and coworking spaces). For example, experts identified the various materials present and made suggestions to further reduce the carbon footprint in the event of renovations or future constructions. For example:
- Campus Contern favored fiberglass for insulation, a solution 70% less impactful than rock wool. The ideal choice is straw, which is 164% less “impactful” than mineral fiber, as plant-based insulation absorbs carbon during production.
- Concrete foundations account for 30% of Campus Contern’s total carbon footprint, while on average they account for 50%.
- The carbon footprint of the 4 buildings concerned is estimated at 15,812 tCO2e: 90% for construction materials, 2% for demolition, and 8% for “operational” carbon emissions (calculated based on the buildings’ annual consumption). This very low percentage is due to the fact that the buildings use only green electrical energy, including for heating (heat pumps).
To offset carbon emissions (especially the irremediable ones from the construction site), CO2logic proposes investing in carbon offsetting projects. Here, the action is indirect, but it allows for the financing of game-changing projects: reforestation, hydroelectric power plants, etc.
Finally, experts are also attentive to communication, prioritizing – of course – transparency, responsibility, authenticity, and impact, and strongly rejecting greenwashing: “Even if you only communicate on a few key activities that resonate with your stakeholders, you must prioritize taking climate action to earn the right to communicate and inspire“. “What’s important for us is to act, but with actions that have a people & planet impact“, specifies Virginie Ducommun, CSR manager at Campus Contern.
Thanks to its unwavering commitment, Campus Contern has been certified CO2 neutral across all 3 scopes:
1️⃣ Scope 1: direct greenhouse gas emissions: heating, combustion, etc.
2️⃣ Scope 2: indirect emissions related to the production of energy used
3️⃣ Scope 3: other indirect emissions: on the construction site, through business travel, purchases of goods and raw materials, etc.
It is rare for a company to evaluate – and offset! – carbon emissions from Scope 3.
Once again, there had to be a first: it’s Campus Contern;
Excerpt from Infogreen’s monthly report “Building Other Models”