Our simple guide to office carbon footprint calculator in London

The office carbon footprint calculator is becoming an essential tool for all businesses. As climate change accelerates, firms are under growing pressure to reduce carbon emissions and support the UK government targets to reach net zero by 2050. Fortunately, even small adjustments like switching to LED lighting can help firms achieve this.

Employees now expect action on climate, and clients are increasingly demanding it as part of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) frameworks. Therefore, with a free carbon tracking tool, you can begin your journey to reducing your climate impact with clarity and confidence. 

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions a business generates directly or indirectly. It is expressed as equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2e). In office settings, this includes heating, electricity, digital activity, and procurement choices.

According to the London Energy and Greenhouse Gas Inventory (LEGGI), the city emitted 28.40 million tones (MtCO2e) in 2022 (which is positively decreasing compared to last year). The report categorises carbon reporting is into three primary scopes:

• Scope 1: These are greenhouse gases (GHGs) that a business produces directly. They include emissions from any physical assets like company vehicles, gas boilers, and on-site fuel combustion.
• Scope 2: These are indirect emissions from the energy a business purchases or consumes. They include purchased electricity from the grid, gas for heating, and water for cooling and use.
• Scope 3 emissions: The scope covers the entire value chain and lifecycle of products and services used or sold by the business. They include employee commuting and business travel, office waste, digital infrastructure, and purchased goods and services.

Digital-first industries can also have hidden sources of emissions. Understanding these surprising sources is essential to conducting a proper office energy audit and achieving transparent CO2 emissions tracking. They include:

• Cloud storage and digital infrastructure, like file sharing, video conferencing, and cloud backups.
• Employee commuting patterns, especially staff travelling by car or air.
• Procurement and vendor choices. The carbon intensity of goods and services, such as printing, cleaning, and catering, can have a significant climate impact.

You may interest in: 8 smart ways to build sustainable office design

Here is how to conduct a greenhouse gas assessment using the carbon footprint calculator for companies.

• Gather activity data: Collect essential records for a defined period, typically 12 months. These include workplace energy usage (kWh), water usage (m³), travel records, waste disposal routes, and digital usage.
• Calculate emissions: Apply emissions factors using a free carbon tracking tool or spreadsheet. Use the reliable GHG Protocol methodology and multiply activity data by respective emission coefficients.
• Interpret the results: Assess the results based on metrics like emissions per employee (kgCO₂e/yr) and emissions per square metre (kgCO₂e/m²/yr).

Avoid the following common pitfalls when calculating your business’s greenhouse gas emissions:

• Overlooking Scope 3 emissions, especially commuting and digital activities.
• Relying on average emission factors instead of actual data.
• Neglecting part-time, remote, or hybrid staff in your calculations.
• Double-counting or missing shared utilities in leased or co-working spaces.

Below are the best tools to calculate business carbon emissions, each designed to meet specific business needs.

• Carbon Trust SME Carbon Calculator (UK): A simple, Excel-based small business carbon footprint calculator. It is ideal for firms with limited sustainability expertise or resources.
• Giki Zero for Teams: This offers an innovative approach on how to calculate carbon footprint, focusing on employee sustainable actions and setting improvement goals.
• CoolClimate Business Calculator (USA): A web-based calculator that offers a detailed assessment of energy usage, transportation, waste, supply chain, and employee commuting data.

Companies seeking more robust, enterprise-level analysis and regulatory compliance can use Arbor, Sphera, or Persefoni. However, they should avoid using a generic business carbon footprint calculator meant for individuals. 

Office energy audit benchmark by UK Government  is approximately 89.6 kgCO2/m2 per year or 215 kWh/m2 per year for a typical existing office building. A deeper investigation is needed if your office emits over 90 kg CO₂/m² annually.

Sustainability is becoming imperative for businesses in London, a global hub for finance, innovation, and ESG-conscious clients. Going green can deliver tangible business advantages while ensuring long-term resilience.

• Cost savings: Implementing sustainable measures such as energy-efficient lighting, better insulation, and smart HVAC systems can significantly reduce operational costs. According to UK government-backed data, SMEs that adopt energy-efficient lighting and heating solutions can cut up to 20% of annual energy bills.
• Enhanced employee satisfaction and retention: Sustainability plays a crucial role in talent attraction and retention. A recent survey found that 65% of UK workers, especially Gen Z and Millennials, are more inclined to work for a company with strong environmental values.
• Attracting high-value clients and contracts: Large organisations and public sector bodies are increasingly prioritising environmentally responsible suppliers. Under the UK government’s PPN 06/21 procurement policy, any supplier bidding for contracts over £5 million must submit a carbon reduction plan.
• Meeting ESG expectations and compliance pressure: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards are rapidly becoming baseline expectations rather than optional benchmarks. Even small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs), once considered too small to be impacted, are now being required to demonstrate carbon tracking and reduction efforts.

Reducing your office’s carbon emissions shouldn’t be overwhelming. These simple, practical actions can make a measurable difference in your sustainability performance.

1. Quick wins for immediate impact

Begin with low-cost, high-impact changes that can be implemented right away. These include:

• Switch to efficient LED lighting.
• Encourage digital workflows and reduce unnecessary printing.
• Promote green commuting.
• Unplug devices after hours.

2. Collaborate with building management.

Partnering with your property manager or landlord is crucial in reducing emissions.

• Request green lease clauses like energy-efficiency commitments or renewable energy sourcing.
• Suggest shared environmental audits.
• Push for green building certifications like LEED and BREEAM (1)

3. Responsible carbon offsetting

The UK Government has set principles for voluntary carbon markets that recommend using carbon offsetting in addition to strong emission reduction efforts. This allows you to offset what remains after thorough reduction measures within your operations. However, you should not use it as a substitute.

High-integrity UK-based offsetting programs include:

• Gold Standard: An internationally recognised scheme that delivers verified emission reductions along with social and environmental benefits.
• UK Woodland Carbon Code: A UK government-based standard ensuring woodland projects are independently validated and transparently managed to deliver permanent, measurable results.
• Local woodland creation or rewilding projects.

If you are looking for a flexible, sustainable office design that adapts to your business and aligns with your ESG values, The Langham Estate is the perfect fit. Operating in Fitzrovia, one of London’s most dynamic and forward-thinking neighbourhoods, our adaptable office and commercial spaces offer flexibility and sustainability rolled into one.  

To show our commitment to sustainability:

• We have ongoing initiatives to reduce emissions and achieve net zero by 2040.
• We are proud signatory of the Westminster Sustainable City Charter, which promotes carbon-reducing practices (2).
• We have Planet Mark Certification for the 2023/2024 financial year (3).
• We undergo annual carbon emissions reviews to track progress and maintain transparency.

By choosing a space at The Langham Estate, you become part of a future-ready market that allows you to track your sustainable growth. 

In this article:

(1) Essential green building certifications for UK office spaces

(2) The Langham Estate’s environmental commitment strengthens as we partner with Planet Mark

(3) The Langham Estate achieves Planet Mark certification