HIW CRR 2022 FINAL - Flipbook - Page 20
ENERGY AND CARBON
Highwoods is committed to transitioning to a lower
carbon future. This journey began decades ago with
the hiring of engineers who were on the forefront of
deploying microprocessors to closely monitor
energy consumption. As technology advanced, we
began benchmarking our energy performance using
ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and created the
Highwoods Energy Command Center to monitor
energy usage in real-time.
We are currently monitoring the evolving landscape
of industry and global frameworks for measuring
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the new climate
change disclosures proposed by the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) that may impact how we
measure emissions from our supply chain, construction
projects and assets for which we do not have
operational control (Scope 3).
In 2022, we performed a Carbon Neutrality Scoping
Study to estimate the current financial impact of
achieving carbon neutrality across our portfolio
through evaluating current green power supply options
in the markets where we operate and nationally.
Additionally, we aligned with the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) best practices for
reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions to advance our
transition to a lower-carbon future.
To deploy innovative energy efficient technologies, we
reinvest the utility savings to implement high value
opportunities across our portfolio. Over the last 5 years,
we have invested over $25 million in projects that
improve energy efficiency, resulting in annual energy
savings of approximately $6 million.
In support of DOE’s Better Buildings Challenge, we
established 20% portfolio-wide energy and GHG
reduction goals by 2026 from 2016 baselines and are
currently on track to achieve both goals. In 2022, we
achieved ENERGY STAR certifications for 75 assets
and LEED certifications for all new, wholly-owned
developments to ensure high-performing, energy
efficient systems are in place.
We measure our GHG emissions as Scope 1 or 2
Emissions. GHG sources include the on-site combustion
of natural gas and fuel oil for heating and back-up
power generation (Scope 1) and the generation of
electricity and district heating and cooling off-site by
local utilities (Scope 2). We utilize the ENERGY STAR
Portfolio Manager online platform to monitor GHGs
from our on-going operations and to track progress
towards meeting our goals.
CAPITOL TOWERS | CHARLOTTE
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