Postbank endorses scientists' assertions that the global climate is currently undergoing a change caused by human action. We therefore take seriously the warnings indicating that catastrophic climactic developments could occur if we do not succeed in stabilizing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a reasonable level (i.e. a maximum temperature rise of 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels).

Climate protection poses a challenge in terms of operating Postbank buildings - including the procurement of the office and communications equipment necessary for operation as well as consumables and supplies (energy, utilities supply and waste disposal) – that with an amount of 69.000 t of CO2 were responsible for more than 90% of our total CO2 emissions. Climate protection at Postbank aims for cost efficiency while achieving a great impact on positive environmental change.

Environmental footprint of Postbank

Energy efficiency

In past years, various projects, processes, and measures were conducted in Postbank buildings to analyze weak points. Improvements have already contributed to more environmentally friendly conditions in the following areas in particular:

• Land use, changes in workplace environment
• Running times of equipment, lighting supply adjusted to changes of need (working hours)
• Lighting units exchanged to more energy-efficient models
• Appeals made to employees to make a personal contribution by being environmentally aware and behaving accordingly

This led to lower energy consumption and CO2 emissions and resulted in a reduction in CO2 by 6%, in the period between 2005 and 2007.

Postbank is closely integrated in Deutsche Post World Net’s GOGREEN climate protection program. As a first success we already realized that

• Postbank has increased the use of green electricity in its buildings in Germany to 68% (in comparison: German energy mix: 11%). This will result in a reduction in CO2 emissions of approximately 22,000 t CO2 p.a.

GOGREEN climate protection program

Against the background of the rapid increase in energy costs in 2006/2007 due to rising supply prices in Germany, Postbank buildings will be analyzed in coming years to determine where improvements in building envelopes and building utilities in terms of energy efficiency, building physics, and building substance could lower consumption. It will be required, however, that improvements made without merely shifting emissions within the Group; harmful emissions must ultimately be eliminated in full.

BHW’s Hamelin head office has been successfully implementing measures to optimize consumption and lower CO2 emissions for 15 years. Despite a changed office landscape with increased IT use at individual workplaces, energy consumption has been reduced by approx. 20% to date.

Here are some examples of the energy-saving measures put into practice during 2006 and 2007 at Postbank:

• Substitution of electricity-powered cooling with cooling from district heating:
  -1,800 t CO2
• Air outlet systems replaced with simultaneous reduction in minimum temperature of supply air temperature and air quantity:
  -1,200 t CO2
• Control systems for all building utilities converted from analog to digital technology:
  -210 t CO2
• Equipment running times (ventilation/cooling) in cafeteria area adjusted to business hours and kitchen operation:
  -155 t CO2
• Heating cycle hydraulics adjusted and operating times adapted to business hours:
  -104 t CO2

BHW has long been part of the German working group of the IFMA Deutschland e.V. (International Facility Management Association), where companies and public offices share their experience in facility management and perform energy benchmarking. The annual IFMA Benchmarking Report represents one of the largest benchmarking pools in the German-speaking area.

IFMA Deutschland e.V.

Procurement

Procurement of all materials of Deutsche Postbank Group has been managed via Deutsche Post World Net since 2001. Insofar, general specifications of Deutsche Post World Net are generally applicable, for instance the "paper policy" when purchasing furniture or paper. At Postbank sites we predominantly use copying paper that is certified in accordance with FSC- or PEFC standards. When procuring business cars via Deutsche Post World Net, we only accept cars with diesel particulate filters conforming to EURO 4 standards.

Deutsche Post World Net’s Supplier Code of Conduct

Waste

In the area of operational waste management, we have implemented the principle of waste separation by concluding various agreements for the disposal of household garbage, wastebasket paper and information-sensitive paper, fluorescent light tubes, used operational supplies containing oil, grease separators, kitchen waste, residual waste, potential recyclables, used glass, toner cartridges, metal scrap, transparencies/plastic packaging, and micro-data carriers. Waste data is recorded internally for each type of waste.

Next steps

In 2007, Postbank undertook a comprehensive analysis of the environmental performance of its major sites. The findings serve as the basis for further improvement of our environmental performance and in order to obtain DIN ISO 14,001 certification. The first components of this have already been put into practice in 2008 in the form of an environmental policy and the new Competence Center for Sustainability and Climate Protection.

Postbank aims at making employees and executives even more aware of environmental concerns. This is done by repeatedly appealing to them in person and using multimedia channels, the most recent being an e-mail on saving energy that was sent to all employees of Postbank Group at the beginning of June 2008. At Postbank, we intend to solidify what we have achieved to date and enhance it step by step.

Environmental Policy of Postbank (ca. 44 KB)