Paring down its office space with a work-from-home policy and reworked designs helped Toronto-based Altus Group Ltd. achieve a modest decrease to the carbon emissions from its operations and buildings in 2024.

A commercial real estate intelligence firm that services companies such as Brookfield, Blackstone and CBRE, Altus right-sized its leased office space by 12 per cent in 2024 by shutting offices where possible, resizing major offices such as its Toronto headquarters and allowing some remote work.

The efforts led to an approximate five per cent cut to the greenhouse gas emissions it tracks, addressing direct emissions from its vehicle fleet and natural gas consumption (Scope 1) and the purchased electricity and heating in its office spaces (Scope 2).

“We remain very much committed to reducing our environmental footprint. That’s just really part of our ethos as being a conscientious corporate citizen,” Camilla Bartosiewicz, Altus’ chief communications officer who leads its sustainability reporting, told Sustainable Biz Canada in an interview about its 2024 Sustainability Report.

Right-sizing office space and carbon

As a company that neither owns nor develops properties, Altus generates a relatively low carbon footprint, she said. Last year it reported producing under 1,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide across Scope 1 and 2, with value chain emissions called Scope 3 not yet recorded.

Embracing an activity-based model for employee flexibility drove the reduction in emissions. Remote work was offered as an option for some employees and Altus shut some smaller offices. Another contributing factor was how the company began to share office space differently. At its main Toronto office, the floor space for private offices was reduced in favour of a more collaborative common workplace.

“As before we would have occupied far more bigger offices, now we can better use this space.” Bartosiewicz said.

With less office space, Altus required less heating and electricity use, reducing its carbon emissions.

The 12 per cent reduction in office space follows up a five per cent reduction in 2023. Altus now leases under 250,000 square feet globally, and plans further reductions this year.

The year-over-year reduction was also influenced by Altus improving the precision of its greenhouse gas data collection in 2024 to be “more targeted and effective,” Bartosiewicz said, and higher renewable energy adoption from its facilities’ property owners.

Altus prioritizes green certifications when considering leases. For example, its Toronto headquarters has a LEED Gold certification for commercial interiors. Over half (56 per cent) of its offices have a green certification, and of those, 71 per cent have multiple certifications.

“As you look across our office portfolio we take great pride in knowing that these are green-certified.” Bartosiewicz said.

Altus purchases energy efficient appliances and lighting when making replacements. Over 90 per cent of its major offices have LED lighting and occupancy sensors or both. The company collaborates with building management to use greener materials and engage in environmentally friendly renovations, and picks recycled or carbon-neutral furniture.

There is room for improvement in the five per cent greenhouse gas emission reduction, but Altus is encouraged by the positive trend line, Bartosiewicz said.

How Altus is tackling value chain emissions

Though it does not yet track the numbers for Scope 3, she said Altus is mindful of reducing its value chain emissions.

To address expected main sources – corporate travel and employee commuting – Altus will be redesigning its travel policy. Bartosiewicz noted the adoption of remote work as already having an impact.

Another effort to reduce its Scope 3 emissions is Altus transitioning from on-premises servers to cloud-based servers. More than boosting cybersecurity, it reduces material waste, energy use and carbon emissions, Bartosiewicz explained. Altus partnered with Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, which have goals to be powered entirely by renewable energy by the end of 2025.

Altus is in the early phase of evaluating a timeline for tracking its Scope 3 emissions.

Further reductions in office space expected

Altus plans to continue its office space reductions which will positively affect its environmental impact. In January 2025 the company completed the divestiture of its property tax business, which shaved office space by 26 per cent and is expected to cut its carbon emissions by 27 per cent - although that segment of its business was transferred to the responsibility of the new owner.

“Overall, we’ll continue down the path with our office measures to implement sustainable practices all across and where we can to really influence the energy profile of the leased buildings,” Bartosiewicz said. “That’s really where I think we can have a little bit more leeway what we can negotiate, more green lease terms, as we change spaces and continue to work in partnership with the landlords.”