Reducing energy consumption, and increasing its share of Green Building- accredited properties, is part of listed Swedish property company Kungsleden AB's environmental work. The logistics property Plattan 4 in Kristianstad, southern Sweden, was previously oil heated, but a ground-source heat pump system became operational in March 2011. This change of heat source reduced energy consumption by 63% and CO2 emissions by 99%. The requirement for Green Building certification is for energy consumption to reduce by at least 25% or energy consumption 25% below Swedish new-production standards for energy. Three Kungsleden properties were already Green Building certified. In absolute terms, Kungsleden has more than halved the CO2 emissions of its operations in recent years, in goal-oriented energy-saving work, which reviews all properties annually. The company purchases hydropower with certified origin from Harrsele power station in Umeälven river, northern Sweden. "Often, Green Building-accredited properties are city centre buildings. But Kungsleden is demonstrating that warehouse premises can also secure this prestigious environmental accreditation, which is a win-win for us, the tenant and the environment," commented Kungsleden's Environmental Manager, Maria Sandell. Northern European commercial property firm Newsec judges that environmentally-accredited properties will become more attractive as more tenants are environmentally aware, who will actually make operating in sustainable premises a requirement.

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