In November 2021, King’s Cross became carbon neutral. This landmark achievement is an important step on our journey to become net zero as soon as possible.
What does going carbon neutral mean?
The combination of using 100% renewable energy, having energy-efficient buildings and offsetting carbon emissions means that King’s Cross is now carbon neutral. The amount of CO₂ emissions we put into the atmosphere is the same as the amount of CO₂ we remove from the atmosphere. Our impact is neutral.
Today, the neighbourhood is powered entirely by green gas and electricity – meaning all the electricity and gas that heats, cools and powers the neighbourhood comes from renewable sources. By switching to 100% renewable gas and electricity, King’s Cross is avoiding 19,729 tonnes of CO₂ from being released into the atmosphere every year.
Since the outset of the project, we’ve been focusing on the sustainability and energy efficiency of the buildings. But there are some emissions that cannot be avoided, namely our historic carbon emissions.
Historic emissions include the carbon previously used in operating our buildings as well as the embodied carbon which came from the construction of the buildings. For these emissions (and only as a last resort) we offset through verified carbon credit projects.
What is embodied carbon?
This is the carbon generated in creating a building. It includes carbon emitted in the extraction, manufacture, transportation and assembly of materials like concrete, steel and timber.
Powered by green gas and electricity
As you walk around King’s Cross, under your feet is a vast network of pipes and cables that deliver heating and hot water to buildings via a district energy network. In May 2021, we moved the entire gas supply for King’s Cross to renewable ‘green gas’. This means that renewable gas is providing all the heating and hot water for the neighbourhood’s, offices, shops and restaurants as well as our public spaces and facilities.
In addition, 100% of the electricity used on the estate comes from renewable sources. We get our electricity from REGO certified renewable electricity tarrifs.
How do we offset our emissions?
We offset our historic emissions (going back to when construction began in earnest in 2001) via internationally recognized carbon credit schemes. These schemes are funding carbon reduction initiatives like wind farms in Inner Mongolia and replacing polluting cookstoves which are used in homes across Kenya. Learn more about these projects here.
We’re also going to be planting trees, 600,000 of them. Over the next 60 years, we will work with forestry experts to plant and manage the forests, which will be 7.5 times the size of the King’s Cross estate. The forests will offset 153,000 tonnes of carbon over the next 60 years, more than the total embodied carbon of all new and future buildings at King’s Cross.
Next step – net zero
Going carbon neutral is an important step, but it isn’t enough! We are working towards net zero as soon as possible.
While renewable energy and offsetting are vital parts of the solution, energy efficiency is key. Currently, even renewable energy sources like solar and wind require power to be built and to operate and most countries lack sufficient renewable capacity to meet demand.
This is why our pathway to net zero, in line with guidance from the World Green Building Council and the UK Green Buildings Council, focuses on improving the efficiency of buildings with climate-smart tech and energy-saving behaviours. We are aiming to improve the efficiency of the office buildings by 66%. In addition to this, we will invest in innovations that support future decarbonisation.
About the certification
The King’s Cross Estate, which is owned and managed by King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership (KCCLP), is carbon neutral. Every building within KCCLP’s ownership has been certified as a CarbonNeutral® Development.
The certification has been provided by Natural Capital Partners, in accordance with The CarbonNeutral Protocol. The Protocol is the leading global framework for carbon neutrality. It is revised and updated annually to reflect developments in climate science, international policy, standards and business practice.
The King’s Cross Environmental and Social Sustainability Report
We have defined a vision for King’s Cross as a place where people and the planet can flourish together. This report sets out our ambitious environmental, social and governance targets and outlines what we’re doing to meet them.
