Unpacking the Carbon Footprint of Corporate Housing

 

With ESG reporting rising up the corporate agenda, many global mobility teams are asking: How do we track the environmental impact of our accommodation choices? SilverDoor has stepped up to answer that question with its award-winning Carbon Calculator, developed specifically for the serviced apartment and corporate housing sector. In this Q&A, the ATMA ESG committee learn from SilverDoor how this works, what it measures, and why it is fast becoming a must-have for sustainability-minded mobility teams.  

 

ATMA: Why did SilverDoor create the Carbon Calculator?
SilverDoor: We saw a growing demand from clients for transparent, standardised emissions data, especially for Scope 3 reporting. While our own direct emissions were small, the biggest chunk came from our supply chain: mainly the properties we booked for clients. So, in 2023, we set out to build a tool that could measure emissions per stay at apartment level, was free and easy to use, and could compare apartments with hotels.

The tool was unveiled in September 2023. The response and impact were swift and received widespread support and engagement from both our clients and property partners. By January 2024, the calculator was recognised with a CHPA ‘Innovation of the Year’ Award, followed by multiple accolades including the ITM Game‑Changer Award in 2024, and a Business Travel Award for Technology Innovation.

With sustainability already an important element of corporate travel decisions, we recognised that our Carbon Calculator could help lead the industry in transparent, sector-specific emissions reporting. The tool empowers operators, corporate clients, and guests to understand the environmental impact of accommodation choices, embedding sustainability directly into booking, reporting and guest behaviour.

 

ATMA: How did you decide what information to include?
SilverDoor: We focused on the biggest contributors to emissions without overwhelming property partners. Inspired by the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI), we developed a bespoke tool for corporate housing, including apartment size, energy consumption (electricity, gas, oil), laundry frequency, and occupancy. Importantly, we normalise emissions per night so properties can be fairly compared, even when some units are empty or under renovation.

 

We adapted hotel-based carbon metrics for corporate housing by accounting for multi-bedroom units and key data points like apartment size, energy use, communal areas, occupancy, and laundry frequency. Emissions are calculated per night by spreading total building emissions over occupied nights, adjusting for unoccupied units. Laundry was identified as a major emissions driver, prompting the inclusion of detailed linen service data including outsourced laundry in later updates.

 

ATMA: What if property partners cannot provide full data?
SilverDoor: If building-level data is unavailable, we use local HCMI industry averages. A one-leaf icon shows that a benchmark is in use. As more operators add real data, these benchmarks become increasingly accurate. This balances usability with transparency and encourages participation without penalising smaller or less resourced providers.

ATMA: What were the biggest challenges?
SilverDoor: Diversity in building types and operator models meant data availability and consistency varied greatly. We had to build a system that could normalise fragmented data and still deliver reliable results. Some properties did not control building-wide utilities or had no access to detailed metering. Another challenge was the lack of sector-wide benchmarks, which we addressed by adapting existing hotel methodologies and consulting with sustainability experts. We also had to build a user interface simple enough for non-experts, with guidance built into every step.

 

ATMA: What surprised you most?

SilverDoor: Serviced Apartments are a significantly more environmentally friendly option than the average hotel. This didn’t surprise us as we suspected it might be the case, but our data shows that serviced apartments frequently emit significantly less CO₂e per night than equivalent hotels. Higher occupancy rates, shared utilities, and fewer communal areas such as restaurants, bars and swimming pools contribute significantly.

Laundry impact stood out. Frequent linen changes significantly affect carbon footprint. It prompted us to ask guests and operators how essential daily room service really is. In EMEA, weekly or twice-weekly servicing is typical, while in APAC, daily service is more common. For clients aiming to cut emissions, offering less frequent room service may enable real change with minimal compromise.

Renewable energy also became material. Operators using renewable tariffs, especially with certificates could cut CO₂e per night by meaningful margins. Our input fields now let properties report their percentage of renewables, and those emitting under 1 kg CO₂e/night are flagged to explain why. We also now request renewable certificates to be uploaded to our CMS to verify such claims.

 

ATMA: Has the calculator influenced booking behaviour?
SilverDoor: Absolutely. Emissions data is now a key part of client RFPs and programme reporting. While travellers are not yet restricted in their choices, many are actively opting for lower-emission properties. EY’s Siân Ellis said in 2025, “We are prioritising carbon emissions...and increasing engagement with suppliers who provide data to support our Scope 3 reporting.” HQ travel teams now use the tool to measure carbon savings, track regional performance, and benchmark against hotel stays and air miles.

 

ATMA: What’s next for the Carbon Calculator?
SilverDoor: We are scaling up. The calculator already covers over 21,000 units in 27 countries, with new features in development:

• Carbon budgeting tools and reporting dashboards to support travel managers
• Guest-facing insights to encourage sustainable behaviour during stays
• Pop-ups showing CO₂e savings from actions like declining daily housekeeping
• Expanded reporting by region, programme, and apartment type

Our goal is to formalise a global benchmark for serviced accommodation emissions. We believe no other provider has gathered building-level data at this scale and we are just getting started.

 

Conclusion
As corporate travel shifts towards sustainability, tools like SilverDoor’s Carbon Calculator are more than just nice-to-have, they are shaping how decisions are made. With growing client demand and global operator buy-in, this innovative tool is setting the bar for carbon transparency in temporary housing and helping the industry move decisively toward a lower-emissions future.

 

Thank you to Victoria Jackson, Head of Communications at SilverDoor UK for sharing these insights, Alex Neale, Sophie Brinsley and the rest of the SilverDoor team for their support.