Citi Tower refurb to drastically cut carbon emissions

Citi has announced a plan to refurbish its Citi Tower in Canary Wharf that, when completed, will be the most carbon-efficient building in Citi’s real estate portfolio. The project is expected to be the UK’s tallest office refurbishment project to gain LEED platinum, WELL platinum and BREEAM excellent certifications.

“Our aim is to create an environmentally sustainable, innovative and exciting place to work, incorporating modern design, state-of-the-art technology, and best practices in employee and client spaces,” said David Livingstone, Citi’s EMEA CEO.

The plans include installing solar panels on the roof, which is forecasted to generate 52,577 kWh per annum, enough carbon dioxide-free electricity to power 18 average UK homes for one year. This, along with other efficiency measures and infrastructure updates, are designed to significantly minimise electricity and water consumption.

Fixtures will be selected with the aim of reducing water consumption by 20% and a greywater system will be implemented, where water will be collected from hand-wash basins and showers and reused in flushing toilets and urinals, reducing the bank’s impact on potable water. This recycling system will save an estimated 29.5m³ per day of greywater, or 10,767m³ per year.

Citi Tower has a future-proofed design to meet proposed 2030 efficiency standards. The renovation is expected to be completed in 2025.

Citi purchased the 42-story office tower at 25 Canada Square in 2019 to serve as its EMEA headquarters. The bank’s decision to refurbish the building and bring it up to modern efficiency and environmental standards instead of demolishing the existing structure is thought to save the release of an estimated 100,000 tonnes of embodied carbon.