Energy efficiency and climate protection

For the LLB Group and its stakeholder groups, sustainability means ensuring long-term corporate success, accepting responsibility and using resources in a conscious way. Fossil energy sources, which are essential to modern industrial society, are finite. For both ecological and economic reasons, these scarce resources must be used responsibly.

The recording of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions is being continuously optimised. For the first time, we also collected data for Bank Linth for 2016 and retrospectively for 2015. At our Liechtenstein location, the data basis was enlarged in 2016 to include the newly acquired Aeule Nord and Marxer buildings. This necessitated a revised presentation of the environmental indicators.

Energy use causes greenhouse gas emissions. The LLB Group wants to contribute to climate protection by increasing energy efficiency and to save costs at the same time. The organisational unit Facility & Security Management identifies potential energy savings and evaluates the effect of efficiency measures such as the selection of technical equipment, the “Green Datacenter” being a typical example.

“Green IT” data processing centre

The infrastructure and energy costs for data processing centres are a major factor in facility and IT management. Potential energy savings are high. The branch office of Liechtensteinische Landesbank in Eschen (FL) has set standards in this area for the Rhine Valley region since December 2012. The LLB data processing centre, which was built according to the American Uptime Institute’s Tier III Certification of Design, is an extremely secure data centre. This means that highly sensitive business data are perfectly protected.

Our data processing centre, however, not only has one of the highest security standards of the region, it also reflects a clear commitment to “Green IT”. All building elements – from construction, to insulation and the architectural design of the building – were carefully matched to each other in order to increase energy efficiency. Since the middle of 2013, we have reduced power consumption substantially and consequently lowered our CO₂ emissions.

The power consumption of the cooling devices plays an essential part in terms of power usage effectiveness (PUE). We aim to achieve a PUE value of below 1.5, which would be half the original energy usage. In 2013, we had already achieved a PUE value of 1.54; in 2014, we achieved a PUE of 1.46; in 2015, despite the hot summer, we managed to reduce it further to 1.41. In the reporting year, the PUE value was 1.40.

Energy-efficient branch offices

Sustainable construction is based on the interaction between ecology and technology and is becoming the standard. The building that houses the Eschen branch office complies with the Minergie standard. The energy-efficient design of the branch office in the data processing centre enabled the energy consumption of our buildings in Liechtenstein to be reduced substantially.

Our main buildings are responsible for the bulk of energy consumption. Since three of our business premises in Vaduz (headquarters, Haus Wuhr Ost, Haus Engel1) are equipped with photovoltaic systems, we generate a small part of our electric power in an environmentally friendly manner. In 2016, the PV systems produced 10,170 kilowatt- hours (2015: 13,017 kWh).

1 Haus Engel was sold on 1 June.

Energetic renovation of buildings

The Bank Linth branch offices in Pfäffikon (SZ), Kaltbrunn (SG) and Schmerikon (SG) were built in accordance with the Minergie standard. The headquarters in Uznach (SG) is currently being renovated. This will bring about a massive improvement in energy efficiency and a reduction in power consumption. Furthermore, an agreement has been made with the power plant in Uznach whereby half of the energy drawn must come from renewable energy.

Bank Linth is refurbishing various branch offices according to its “bank of the future” concept (see chapters “Retail & Corporate Banking”, and “Employees”). This also includes updating the air-conditioning system of the Bank Linth building in Rapperswil. Detailed assessments have shown that when the building was constructed in 1969, materials containing asbestos were used. Starting summer 2017, the building will be completely renovated, inside and out, and the hazardous waste will be disposed of properly. There is no risk to health.

Promotion of sustainable construction

Due to uncertainty about costs for conventional energy sources, energy and ecological considerations are becoming increasingly important for new buildings and building refurbishments. Public debate on environmental policies is growing, and the people living in Liechtenstein and eastern Switzerland are also becoming more ecologically aware. The LLB Group actively supports sustainable construction and provides eco mortgages and renovation mortgages that promote the sustainable use of resources. Clients benefit from a preferential rate of interest for investment in new buildings that comply with the Minergie, passive house or other comparable standards for alternative energy.

Reduction in operational CO₂ emissions

Our commitment to climate protection is bearing fruit. We have made progress thanks to sustainable mobility and the energy efficiency of our IT infrastructure and buildings. The LLB Group’s investment in the promotion of the use of public transport contributed, out of all LLB employees, to 246 coming to work in Vaduz by bus, bike or on foot in 2016 (2015: 248). Efficiency measures at our data processing centre, implemented since 2013, have enabled us to reduce our CO₂ emissions. group-wide CO₂ emissions fell by 10 percent from 904 tonnes in 2015 to 812 tonnes in 2016.

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Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions 1

 

 

2016

 

2015

1)

Liechtenstein as location and Bank Linth. The recording of data on heat consumption is partly incomplete and is being optimised.

2)

Greenhouse gas emissions calculated using Greenhouse Gas Protocol Guidelines.

3)

Greenhouse gas emissions from own heating boilers, motor fuels and air-conditioning systems.

4)

Greenhouse gas emissions produced from production of consumed electricity and district heating.

5)

Reported using location-based approach following Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scope 2 Guidance, approximates the market-based approach.

Energy consumption (in MWh)

 

6’069

 

6’471

Electricity

 

4’870

 

4’934

District heating

 

240

 

348

Total heating fuels

 

875

 

1’152

Heating oil

 

233

 

388

Natural gas

 

642

 

764

Total motor fuels

 

84

 

37

Diesel (vehicles and emergency power generator testing)

 

42

 

21

Petrol (vehicles)

 

42

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

CO2 emissions (in tCO2e) 2

 

812

 

904

Scope 1 total 3

 

220

 

280

Heating fuels

 

194

 

260

Motor fuels

 

22

 

10

Volatile gases (refrigerants)

 

4

 

10

Scope 2 total 4

 

593

 

624

Electricity 5

 

539

 

546

District heating

 

53

 

77

Climate foundations

We are convinced that actions driven by sustainability and responsibility increase the value of the LLB Group and have an impact that extends beyond our own company. We promote small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that contribute to climate protection. LLB is a partner of the independent non-profit Swiss Climate Foundation (since 2008) and the LIFE Climate Foundation Liechtenstein (since 2009). The Swiss Climate Foundation has awarded CHF 477,300 to 24 SMEs in Liechtenstein since the start of the cooperation.

That is why LLB belongs to a group of 28 partner firms that pool their resources to promote SMEs in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The companies do this in an uncomplicated and efficient manner and, through their activities, help to protect the climate. LLB refunds of CO₂ contributions from Liechtenstein made to the Climate Foundation are used to support new products and technological developments as well as energy-saving projects.

This page includes, inter alia, disclosures on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicator G4-22.
A complete list of all GRI indicators shown in the report can be found in the GRI Content Index.