What does it mean for an office to be green?
The climate emergency means that it’s more important than ever that the buildings we design, build and operate are as sustainable as possible.
The built environment contributes to around 40% of the world’s carbon emissions, so the impact of reducing the carbon footprint of buildings should not be underestimated.
The onus on tackling the climate crisis is on all of us: from those building spaces, like The Clarendon Works, to those considering their next office move.
Increasingly, it is also imperative that buildings are designed to foster the health and wellbeing of those that live or work in them. With The Clarendon Works office building in Watford, we are working hard to ensure the project achieve both these ends and is both green and healthy. But what does that mean in practice?
Green buildings are electric…
On sustainability, that means ensuring the building is designed to be as eco-friendly as possible. The Clarendon Works is being designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent and EPC A ratings, the internationally recognised markers of a building’s green credentials.
Significantly, it will run entirely on electricity, rather than using gas for heating, meaning it can be connected to 100% renewable energy sources. This is unusual for UK office buildings but is a hugely important step in reducing the carbon footprint of commercial real estate.
Other green features of the project include hugely reducing the waste from construction and the operation of the building that goes to landfill; installing solar panels to provide renewable energy; providing electric vehicle (EV) charging in parking spaces and using energy efficient lighting, among many others.
Our efforts mean the building will save 69 tonnes of carbon per year compared to a typical office building, giving the end users of the building confidence that it is working hard to reduce its impact on the environment and helping companies achieve their own sustainability targets.
Getting fit for work…
The Clarendon Works is also designed to foster better health and wellbeing of those working in it.
It is one of only a handful of office developments in the UK pursuing WELL Platinum – the highest rating under the global WELL Building Standard, which rates a building by its health and wellbeing features – which will prove it as one of the UK’s healthiest workspaces. It has also already achieved Active Score Platinum, a measure of a building’s active travel provision (which means how easy it is to travel to comfortably by foot, cycle or similar such activity, including cycle parking and changing facilities/showers).
The WELL Building standard assesses a building’s performance across seven key areas:
- Air: Optimise and achieve indoor air quality.
- Water: Optimise water quality while promoting accessibility.
- Nourishment: Encourage healthy eating habits by providing occupants with healthier food choices, behavioural cues, and knowledge about nutrient quality.
- Light: Minimise disruption to the body’s circadian rhythm.
- Fitness: Utilise building design technologies and knowledge-based strategies to encourage physical activity.
- Comfort: Create an indoor environment that is distraction-free, productive, and soothing.
- Mind: Support mental and emotional health, providing the occupant with regular feedback and knowledge about their environment through design elements, relaxation spaces, and state-of-the-art technology.
The aim is to optimise these features through the design of the building and its operation in order to enhance the wellbeing of the workplace. Part of this includes internal and external planting, with The Clarendon Works featuring around 40 trees and a range of evergreen plants and flowers. The biophilic design elements aim to reduce stress, enhance creativity and clarity of thought, and improve well-being.
Ultimately, enhancing workplace wellbeing means those working in the office will be happier, healthier and more focused, which is good for businesses as it translates into more productive, enthusiastic and loyal employees, who take fewer sick days.
That’s why being a WELL Building matters and it’s something contemporary businesses increasingly expect – along with being good to the planet. The Clarendon Works is working hard to deliver both.
Our efforts mean the building will save 69 tonnes of carbon per year compared to a typical office building, giving the end users of the building confidence that it is working hard to reduce its impact on the environment and helping companies achieve their own sustainability targets.
