UK awards first standard for low carbon workplace

The UK’s first low carbon commercial building has been awarded a new standard for its efforts on cutting emissions. Investec Wealth and Investment Management was awarded the new Low Carbon […]

The UK’s first low carbon commercial building has been awarded a new standard for its efforts on cutting emissions.

Investec Wealth and Investment Management was awarded the new Low Carbon Workplace Standard for a 33% reduction in carbon emissions per person at its office – a 160-year old former printing office (pictured) in Guildford.

The standard was developed by the Carbon Trust “to break the ‘circle of inertia’ that has prevented many cost-effective CO2 reduction opportunities in non-domestic buildings from being realised in the past”.

It is currently aimed at refurbished public or commercial office buildings in the UK.

Funders, developers and landlords collaborate to ensure the buildings are designed, built and operate to maximise energy savings following which energy efficiency performance is monitored over a two-year period.

Bruno Gardner, Managing Director of Low Carbon Workplace Ltd said: “Investec Wealth and Investment Management’s achievement is an industry first. Their commitment throughout has been uncompromising and the results clearly demonstrate that closer collaboration between landlord and occupier will deliver more efficient and lower carbon workplaces.”

The Carbon Trust’s research found a 35% cut in carbon emissions could be achieved from non-domestic buildings by 2020 by using cost-effective measures, with the potential to save at least £4 billion.

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