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Top offices of the future: A look at the greenest offices in the country

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Top offices of the future: A look at the greenest offices in the country

Often seen as one of the best ways to save money on gas and electricity bills, eco-friendly ventures have become more and more common across the UK in the last few years.

However, the ability to save on bills is not the only benefit to be seen from making changes in business that benefit the environment. Having a positive impact can be a reputational winner and help companies to give back.

These are just a few of the reasons that eco-friendly offices and green commercial properties have become so popular in recent years, but where are some of the most environmentally-sound ventures in the UK, and how do they make it happen?

One Angel Square, Manchester

Completed just this year, One Angel Square is now officially known as the most eco-friendly building on the planet, and it was opened in November by none other than Queen herself.

The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) gave the building a green rating of 95.16 per cent earlier this year, which is the highest it has ever awarded.

The building is the new headquarters of the Co-operative Group, and it takes its green credentials from a number of different tactics that are designed to save money on energy bills and make a dent in the carbon footprint of the company based therein.

Tactics designed to boost green credentials include power generated from crops grown on the Group’s farms, heating and cooling the premises by drawing air below the basement and redistributing it at the earth’s core temperature and a double skin that can keep the place cool in summer and warm in winter.

The National Trust HQ, Swindon

Whereas One Angel Square makes its mark with a range of new technology designed to cut energy use, The National Trust's headquarters in Swindon has shown that there are other ways to go green.

The materials used in the construction and decoration of this fantastic office are what makes it one of the most environmentally-friendly in the whole country.

The walls were painted with water-based paints, while the floors are covered with non-PVC linoleum and carpets that are made from the wool of flocks of Herdwick sheep that are owned by the trust. On top of this, the ventilation snouts on the roof are made from recycled beer cans.

All of this serves to make it one of the greenest commercial plots to be found in the whole country.

7 More, London

The home of accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers, 7 More London was awarded a BREEAM outstanding rating back in March 2010. It was the first building in the whole of London to be afforded this honour, and only the third in the whole country at the time.

The building gets all of its power from a biodiesel-fuelled combined heat and power plant in the basement. It not only heats and powers the building, but it also stores waste energy, which it reuses again to cool the building when temperatures get too high.

It is part of PWC's big plan to cut its carbon emissions over a number of years, and although it still has a long way to go, the building uses 55 per cent less power than a standard office block, which makes a big difference.

One Silk Street, London

The first building in the square mile that is the City of London to be certified as BREEAM In-use, One Silk Street has been occupied for a number of years by Linklaters LLP. It is one of the rarities among green royalty, given that it was originally built in the 1960s.

Since 2001, One Silk Street's usage of electricity has been reduced by a full 40 per cent, making it one of the most environmentally-friendly structures in the centre of the city itself.

In 2009, the building had its carbon footprint verified to the Carbon Trust Standard, and in the next few years, it is believed that Linklaters will be making some serious changes that will not only help the company keep its excellent rating from BREEAM, but also push on and achieve the outstanding rating that would bring it in line with others.


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