What would be the organisational, financial and environmental impacts of requiring government agencies in the Region to play a role as environmental models? This was the question that was put to 21 Solutions with a view to providing input for the thinking of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region.
To evaluate the impact of such a requirement, 21 Solutions worked with its partner Comase to draw up an inventory of properties, conduct a documentary study, in-depth individual interviews and an online survey and hold a focus group meeting.
More than 270 public-sector and related organisations were listed, with more than 2,700 buildings and 16 different categories of property use. More than a third of the organisations are already engaged in an environmental role model approach recognised by the Region or internationally.
It seems that such an approach would indeed reduce the environmental impact of the Brussels-Capital Region while also making substantial financial savings possible, provided that there is a simple and clear system in place to encourage the adoption of eco-management at all levels.