Grosvenor Europe (Grosvenor), part of Grosvenor Group Limited, the privately-owned international property group, has launched a first of its kind air quality monitoring scheme in its Swedish retail portfolio.
The programme will help the business better understand local air conditions impacting tenants, visitors and employees, identify energy savings and achieve a more positive, direct impact on the environment and the wellbeing of the people that use its assets.
The company said: “We are one of the first real estate firms in the world to monitor the air quality of our own retail assets. The programme, launched in July 2019, monitors the indoor and outdoor air quality of two shopping centre assets in Stockholm, in order to help us maximise the health and wellbeing of both asset occupiers and visitors, and reduce energy consumption.”
The scheme at Skärholmen Centrum in the south of the capital and Väsby Centrum in the north, is run by leading sustainability design consultancy ZED. Results so far have identified very good air quality across both centres.
Outdoor air pollutant levels were 57% below World Health Organisation prescribed limits; indoor air pollutant levels were 60-40% below best practice guidelines and healthier than outdoor air levels; while nergy savings already identified; sufficient to power 235 dwellings per year.
The most common air contaminants including carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) are being monitored as part of this programme, as well as the temperature and humidity of both centres. Analysis includes the effectiveness of ventilation systems in cleaning the outdoor air entering the centres, as well as an examination of indoor air pollutants, including the potential impact of tenant units on overall air quality.
Maintaining positive indoor conditions can improve short and long term respiratory and cardiovascular health issues while an effective ventilation system can maintain low CO2 levels, sustaining energy levels and enhancing the visitor experience in the shopping space.
RPA Perspective Rebecca Dwyer, Strategic Projects, Grosvenor Europe, said: “Buildings are one of the biggest contributors to air pollution, so it is essential we understand how we can positively improve the air quality experienced by people using our assets, as well as maximising energy savings.
“We believe our buildings have the potential to improve the future health and wellbeing of end users and as a responsible real estate investor and developer it is important we do what we can to understand how, and minimise any negative impact on the environment and the wellbeing of building users.
“We are encouraged by the initial results of this project and hope this programme will encourage the wider real estate sector to establish new industry norms.”
Will Procter Director, ZED, said: “Our partnership with Grosvenor on such a forward-thinking scheme has enabled us to learn more about their pioneering approach to the wider sustainable property management and investment business. The sensor-based approach allows real-time data to be captured, analysed and used to make appropriate positive interventions. Grosvenor is truly demonstrating a sector leading commitment to community, wellbeing and the environment.”
This air quality programme forms part of Grosvenor’s wider sustainability strategy, which includes becoming a founding signatory to the Better Buildings Partnership’s Climate Change Commitment, announced on 20 September 2019.
A series of sensors were installed in both Skärholmen Centrum and Väsby Centrum shopping centres to measure outdoor air conditions in line with global guidelines (World Health Organisation, EU commission, US Environmental Protection Agency) and indoor air conditions in line with WELL and RESET certification standards.
