08.01.24
Bora achieved a 34% reduction in operational carbon emissions with the move to its new office, and has offset 100% of its carbon footprint since 2006.
As part of our commitment to carbon reduction, equity and health, Bora has purchased offsets for unavoidable emissions associated with firm operations for 2023. Our current carbon tracking and offset program covers air and car travel; office electricity, and paper use; and electricity for the Bora Beach House.
Since Bora first started tracking its carbon footprint in 2006, we have managed to cut our calculated annual emissions from approximately 1,500,000 to under 500,000 pounds; this has in turn been offset by the purchase of emissions offsets, and in the near future will be offset by solar PV generation. As part of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, the U.S. committed to an emissions reduction of 17% by 2020–and an additional 9-11% by 2025–over 2005 levels. Bora’s 68% carbon reduction from 2006 is leading the way and setting an example of success.
In early 2023, the firm moved to the Volta building, our new LEED Platinum office in southeast Portland. Reliance on natural gas has been eliminated through our all-electric building design, while new dedicated rooftop solar PV panels on an adjacent building will soon offset office electricity use.
In the 2023 analysis, we studied the commute patterns of our employees and incorporated VMT (vehicle miles traveled) in an effort to expand the scope of our accounting and enhance responsibility for emissions associated with in-office work. This resulted in offsets for approximately 64,000 VMT, far more than needed to accommodate the office car (a hybrid), car share, car rental, and other project-related mileage.
How do emissions offsets work?
Contributing to carbon-sequestering efforts gives back to the earth as a way to “offset” the unavoidable emissions we expend. For the year 2023, we chose again to purchase offsets through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), which invests in conservation, restoration, and low-carbon energy projects. More specifically, Bora elected to purchase offsets tied to a Native American hardwood forest conservation and carbon sequestration project in Minnesota.
The graph to the left shows the overall downward trajectory of Bora’s carbon footprint since 2006. It should be noted that emission levels were substantially lower in 2020-21 because of work from home and limited travel policies, and while emissions rose in 2022, they did not reach pre-COVID levels. This was in large part due to the adoption of new policies around video communication to intentionally cut down on unnecessary travel.
With the move to our high-performing and inspiring new office, we continue to strive for improvement and through our work remain dedicated to reducing carbon impacts on the planet.