Energy efficiency and climate protection

Responsibilities for society and the environment

277

employees have decided to go without a car parking space in Liechtenstein. They come to work largely by public transport, bicycle or on foot. This represents almost 40 per cent of total staff.

For both ecological and economic reasons, energy sources should be used responsibly. This applies particularly to climate-damaging fossil fuels. We have made progress in this regard over the past few years thanks to our sustainable mobility concept and the improved energy efficiency of our IT infrastructure and buildings. Through our actions, we have made a contribution to climate protection and, at the same time, reduced our operating costs. Group-wide CO₂ emissions fell from 904 tonnes in 2015 to 885 tonnes in 2016. The figure for 2017 was 951 tonnes, whereby LLB Österreich was also included in the data collection for the first time. The figure for 2018 was 1'025 tonnes, whereby the system boundaries were extended again through the acquisition of the former Semper Constantia in Austria.

The organisational unit Facility Management identifies potential energy savings and evaluates the effect of efficiency measures. An example of this is the “Green Datacenter”.

“Green IT” data processing centre

Infrastructure and energy costs for data processing centres are a key factor in facility and IT management. Potential energy savings are high. The bank branch 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 extremely secure. 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. By 2013, we had already achieved a PUE value of 1.54. In 2018, we achieved a PUE of 1.52 (2017: 1.48).

Energy-efficient buildings

We continue to improve the energy efficiency of our properties through renovating and refurbishing. Our main buildings are responsible for the bulk of energy consumption. Since two of our business premises in Vaduz (our headquarters and Haus Wuhr Ost) are equipped with photovoltaic systems, we generate a small part of our electric power in an environmentally friendly manner. In 2018, the PV systems produced 9'380 kilowatt-hours (2017: 8'930 kWh).

In order to identify further potential for optimisation, we measure the thermal insulation values of our buildings. In 2018, we changed the glass in the windows and the rubber seals and replaced the blinds in Haus Äule. As part of the refurbishment of the bank branch in Balzers, the gas heating was replaced and the air conditioning in the open consultation zone (the former counter hall) optimised. The bank branch in Eschen, which is linked to our energy-efficient data processing centre, complies with the Minergie standard.

Bank Linth has set itself the goal of adapting all nineteen of its bank branches to its “bank of the future” concept by the year 2020. The redesign also pays particular attention to climate efficiency. With the new designs that have already been implemented, we have achieved a considerable improvement in energy efficiency and a reduction in power consumption.

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. Furthermore, environmental regulatory pressure is mounting 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 efficient and sparing 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.

Installation of electric charging points

We want to promote electromobility by installing electric charging points. We installed nine electric charging points at six locations in Liechtenstein in the first quarter of 2018. The charging points are primarily intended for use by our employees who drive to work in an electric car, but they are also available to our clients.

Partner to 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 LIFE Climate Foundation Liechtenstein (since 2009) and the Swiss Climate Foundation (since 2012). Between 2012 and 2018, the Swiss Climate Foundation awarded CHF 575'015 to 40 SMEs in Liechtenstein.

LLB thus belongs to a group of 27 partner firms that pool their resources to support 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 promote new products and technological developments that contribute to climate protection as well as energy-saving projects.

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Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions 1,2

 

 

2018

 

2017

1)

Business locations in Liechtenstein, Vienna and Bank Linth. At our business location in Vienna, two new former Semper Constantia Privatbank buildings were taken into account in 2018. They were included in the calculation, similar to financial reporting, on a semi-annual basis only. Certain consumption data at our business location in Vienna was estimated on the basis of consumption in the previous year. The key figures for 2017 were recalculated retrospectively because the exact consumption data for a building at our business location in Vienna could only be collected during the course of the year.

2)

The recording of data on heat consumption is partly incomplete and is being optimised.

3)

The increase in fuel consumption is attributable to the acquistion of Semper Constantia Privatbank AG in Vienna. Without this extension in the scope of measurement, fuel consumption, and therefore the associated greenhouse gas emissions, would have fallen slightly in comparison with 2017.

4)

Greenhouse gas emissions calculated using Greenhouse Gas Protocol Guidelines.

5)

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

6)

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

7)

Reported using location-based approach following Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scope 2 Guidance.

Energy consumption (in MWh)

 

6'974

 

6'792

Electricity

 

5'236

 

5'087

District heating

 

445

 

382

Total heating fuels

 

926

 

1'156

Heating oil

 

189

 

233

Natural gas

 

736

 

923

Total motor fuels 3

 

367

 

167

Diesel (vehicles and emergency power generator testing)

 

268

 

131

Petrol (vehicles)

 

99

 

36

 

 

 

 

 

CO2 emissions (in tCO2e) 4

 

1'025

 

960

Scope 1 total 5

 

300

 

300

Heating fuels

 

202

 

252

Motor fuels

 

97

 

44

Volatile gases (refrigerants)

 

2

 

4

Scope 2 total 6

 

724

 

660

Electricity 7

 

626

 

576

District heating

 

99

 

85