Product Owner: Banco de la República (Colombia Central Bank)
Describe the project
Banco de la República (BR) contributes to environmental care through the implementation of measures that focus on prevention, control, and mitigation of environmental impacts generated by its operations, including the integral management of waste, atmospheric discharges and emissions, and the efficient use of resources. Also, The Central Bank promotes a culture of environmental sustainability. BR has assumed the responsibility of becoming a low-carbon organization, leading by example towards this goal. In order to do so, it developed a program for energy efficiency and carbon footprint management and applied it to all its facilities in the country, for the prevention of greenhouse gas emissions and reduction of carbon footprint.
This report describes the actions taken by Banco de la República in the field of environmental Sustainability which include the following components, highlighting the activities carried out in 2018 and 2019: (i) Sustainable industrial processes; (ii) Architectural and technical updating of buildings, with sustainability criteria; (iii) Efficient use of natural resources and carbon footprint; and (iv) Actions taken to strengthen the culture of sustainability. BR is partner since 2019, of the Network for Greening the Financial System – NGFS, an initiative to contribute to sustainable economic development with others Central Banks. (See attached file)
Date the project was implemented
Sustainability project locations
Use of renewable energies by solar panels: in 2018 and 2019: At the Bank´s Branches in Cucuta, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga and Cash Center in Bogota.
Upgrading and decentralization of air-conditioning systems: At the Bank´s Branches in Barranquilla, Cali, Bucaramanga, Cúcuta
Systems for harvesting, storage, and use of rainwater, for use in water systems and irrigation systems at the Bank’s branches in Bucaramanga, Barranquilla, and and the Mint. (See attached file)
Commitment to sustainability
The Central Bank promotes a culture of environmental sustainability. BR has assumed the responsibility of becoming a low-carbon organization, leading by example towards this goal. In order to do so, it developed a program for energy efficiency and carbon footprint management and applied it to all its facilities in the country, for the prevention of greenhouse gas emissions and reduction of carbon footprint. (See attached file)
Conserve or manage energy, water, or other resources
Banco de la República promotes a culture of environmental sustainability. BR has assumed the responsibility of becoming a low-carbon organization, leading by example towards this goal. In order to do so, it developed a program for energy efficiency and carbon footprint management and applied it to all its facilities in the country, for the prevention of greenhouse gas emissions and reduction of carbon footprint.
Regarding the management of sewage discharges and rain water use, the Mint implemented a system that allows recirculating and reusing water from the washing process, returning it to the system without generating dumping of residual industrial wastewater and reducing water consumption. (See attached file)
Environmental consideration(s) generated from implementation
The Banco de la República promotes a culture of environmental sustainability. BR has assumed the responsibility of becoming a low-carbon organization, leading by example towards this goal. In order to do so, it developed a program for energy efficiency and carbon footprint management and applied it to all its facilities in the country, for the prevention of greenhouse gas emissions and reduction of carbon footprint. (See attached file)
The tangible results of the project
These initiatives have contributed to a reduction in electricity consumption reaching 31 GWH in 2019, which corresponds to 73.7% of the consumption recorded in 2011. The reduction of 2018 and 2019 with regard to 2017 it was 13%
The carbon footprint emitted by BR between 2011 and 2019 was reduced in 18 %, and which has been partially offset by planting native trees en un 49%. The Net Carbon footprint is 41,4 % de CF of 2011
Water consumption at BR in 2019 was 124,801 m3, representing close to a 32% decrease vis-à-vis the consumption observed in 2011, which was 182,688 m3. The reduction of 2018 and 2019 with regard to 2017 it was 12 % (see attached file).
