Carbon Emissions

Step 2: Reducing Carbon Emissions

IFC has been reducing its carbon emissions through commonly-used and innovative conservation measures undertaken by staff and individual offices.


Reduction Target

IFC's headquarters electricity use accounts for 22 percent of the overall FY09 carbon footprint. In fiscal year 2008 (FY08), IFC committed to an electricity reduction target of 10% over 5 years (with a goal of 2% per year on average) for the DC Office, IFC's largest global office. Efforts left by Facilities Management reduced electricity use per workstation in the DC office by 10 percent to 6,394 kilowatt hours from an FY08 baseline, achieving the electricity reduction target we set for the years FY08 through FY13. We will be readjusting this target in FY11 to encourage even more energy efficient operations.


Reduction Initiatives

Examples of reduction initiatives include:

• Changing light-bulbs from incandescent to compact florescent (CFLs), saving approximately 293,000 kWh and $38,000 annually.
• Powered off drive-lane lighting on parking levels with no adverse effect on user needs, with savings estimated at 72,000 kWh and $9,360 annually.
• Variable Frequency Drives (VFD's) installed on cooling tower motors to regulate energy use from behind-the-scene-motors, with savings estimated at 196,000 kWh and $ 27,440 annually.
• Adjusting building-wide heating and cooling set points (warmer by 1 degree in summer and cooler by one degree in winter), with approximate savings of 301,000 kWh and $25,480 annually.
• Installing occupancy sensors in offices to control lights with approximate savings of 72,000 kWh and $10,080 annually.
• De-lamping (removed 50% of fluorescent bulbs) in open office areas on ten floors eliminated unnecessary lighting without compromising working conditions. Savings are approximately 453,000 kWh and $59,000 annually.

IFC's focus on reducing its carbon footprint includes reduction initiatives from commuting, business travel, and energy use beyond just our DC office facility. Examples of other reduction initiatives include:

• Increasing capacity for video-conferencing globally and other online meeting and collaboration tools
• Offering commuting alternatives and incentives, such as transit subsidies, for using public transportation, having bike racks and shower/locker facilities, and building partnerships with car-sharing companies
• Purchasing energy-efficient office equipment that is Energy Star certified for energy efficiency. We purchase mostly laptops and flat screen monitors because of big energy savings.
  • Savings from each laptop vs. desktop: 50-200W
  • Savings from each LCD flat screen vs. CRT monitor: 65W