{"id":4275,"date":"2024-05-17T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-17T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.londonofficespace.com\/buzz\/?p=4275"},"modified":"2024-07-21T03:03:55","modified_gmt":"2024-07-21T02:03:55","slug":"sustainable-workspaces-how-office-spaces-in-london-are-adopting-eco-friendly-practices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londonofficespace.com\/buzz\/sustainable-workspaces-how-office-spaces-in-london-are-adopting-eco-friendly-practices\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainable Workspaces: How Office Spaces in London Are Adopting Eco-Friendly Practices"},"content":{"rendered":"

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During the past few years,<\/span> environmental concerns have taken front stage in the UK\u2019s construction market<\/span><\/a>. This is a reflection of a generalised trend towards sustainability, which affects both residential and commercial existing space, including offices, as well as planned new builds. This trend mirrors the requirements and expectations of eco-conscious tenants and office occupiers, who are increasingly committed to<\/span> sustainable workspace<\/span><\/a> initiatives.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this blog post, we explore the different ways in which office spaces in London are adopting eco-friendly and sustainable ventures, putting green innovation at the heart of the workplace.<\/span><\/p>\n

6 Ways London Offices are Embracing Sustainable Practices<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u00a01. Renewable energy<\/b><\/h3>\n

The adoption of green energy sources in business settings is not a new practice, but it has been gaining popularity over the years. It\u2019s estimated that<\/span> 60% of developers now approve of this measure<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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To implement renewable energy sourcing in offices, some developers have incorporated green energy systems into their buildings, as is the case of The Crystal in Royal Victoria Dock, a state-of-the-art conference centre that also features office space. This is one of the few office spaces in the city that<\/span> doesn\u2019t burn any fossil fuel to meet its energy consumption needs<\/span><\/a>, thanks to an extensive photovoltaic system that covers more than 1,500 square metres.<\/span><\/p>\n

A similar example is Knotel\u2019s Hatfield, which draws<\/span> 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources<\/span><\/a>. Moreover, the<\/span> Southwark<\/span><\/a> office building covers 90% of its hot water requirements from on-site solar panels.<\/span><\/p>\n

On-site green energy generation isn\u2019t the only option. For example, flexible space operator Workspace recently signed a 10-year deal with a solar farm in Devon, to<\/span> cover 2\/3 of the total electricity requirements<\/span><\/a> in more than 70 sustainable workspaces spread across London and the south of England.<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Smart heating and cooling systems<\/b><\/h3>\n

Smart HVAC systems are capable of optimising temperature settings based on occupancy, weather conditions, and other factors, using real-time data and smart monitoring technology, including IoT and machine learning. In commercial buildings, these systems can reduce energy use by anything between 20% and 40% while improving indoor air quality.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bishopsgate 22, one of the tallest buildings in London, is an example of successful implementation. This office building boasts some of the top smart building standards in Europe. Its<\/span> smart HVAC system<\/span><\/a> can provide a comfortable office environment to 12,000 workers, since it\u2019s integrated into a smart building management platform that can<\/span> automatically adjust cooling output<\/span><\/a> based on the building\u2019s current heat load at any given time.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Recycling and upcycling<\/b><\/h3>\n

Recycling and upcycling are some of the most fundamental concepts in sustainability. These practices have a wide range of applications in office buildings, from waste reduction and introducing natural elements to construction, design, and d\u00e9cor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, the collaborative office at<\/span> Creative Works<\/span><\/a> has been listed as one of the top 10 most sustainable workspaces in the city. These<\/span> Walthamstow<\/span><\/a> offices have been refurbished making<\/span> extensive use of locally sourced sustainable materials<\/span><\/a>. More than 80% of the furniture in its sustainable workspaces is made from reclaimed wood, and the company in charge of the renovation is an award-winning circular economy supporter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For a large-scale upcycling project, there\u2019s no better example than<\/span> Containerville<\/span><\/a>, which offers state-of-the-art and eco-friendly office space in upcycled shipping containers, which are ideal for companies looking to stay green throughout their growth journey.<\/span><\/p>\n

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4. Minimising waste<\/b><\/h3>\n

According to data on office waste management, the<\/span> average UK office worker generates 2 kg of solid waste every day<\/span><\/a>, not counting paper and cardboard waste. To reduce waste generation and minimise its impact on the environment, some London offices are implementing comprehensive recycling programs and initiatives to minimise single-use plastics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An example of this is the<\/span> Walkie-Talkie building<\/span><\/a>, located at 20 Fenchurch Street. This pioneering building has achieved an Excellent BREEAM rating thanks to its wide-ranging sustainability profile.<\/span> More than 96% of the building\u2019s construction waste is diverted, and from timber pallets to packaging or excavated materials, they all found a second life away from landfill.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Energy-efficient lighting<\/b><\/h3>\n

A Deloitte study found that a significant percentage of<\/span> London offices fall short of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards<\/span><\/a>. Energy ratings can be improved by upgrading to<\/span> energy-efficient<\/span><\/a> lighting solutions, including LED lighting and smart lighting controls, sensors, or circadian lighting.<\/span><\/p>\n

An example of an office building that has already embraced these green lighting solutions is Fetter Yard, located in the heart of<\/span> Holborn<\/span><\/a>. By<\/span> replacing standard fluorescent tubes with LED lighting<\/span><\/a>, they didn\u2019t only gain visual appeal, but they were also able to reduce their lighting consumption by 70%.<\/span><\/p>\n

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6. Water conservation\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Rainwater harvesting systems and water-efficient fixtures can help reduce a building\u2019s environmental impact. A well-known example is the<\/span> Bloomberg headquarters located in the City<\/span><\/a>. This sustainable workspace achieved an impressive 98.5% BREEAM score for its innovative approach to sustainable building management systems, among which it\u2019s worth highlighting their water conservation strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n

The building has its own water treatment plant, which is capable of reusing rainwater and grey water to then feed vacuum-flush toilets and reduce mains water usage even more. In doing so, the building saves 25 million litres of water each year and its water usage is 70% lower than the average office building.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another good example is<\/span> The Shard<\/span><\/a>, one of the city\u2019s most iconic office buildings. The building features a<\/span> seven-tank rainwater harvesting system<\/span><\/a> with a total capacity of nearly 300,000 litres, which significantly reduces the demand on mains water across its 53 floors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n

As we have seen from these examples of sustainable ventures in<\/span> Central London<\/span><\/a> offices, environmentally friendly practices are helping create sustainable workspaces across<\/span> the City<\/span><\/a>. The most sustainable office spaces in London are more than just places for work; they are future-forward environments that prioritise well-being, comfort, and even cost-effectiveness in their chase for environmental responsibility, reducing their impact on the planet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking for a sustainable workspace in London?<\/i><\/b><\/h3>\n

After physical or virtual office space in Central London? Or maybe you’re wanting a<\/span> Greater London<\/span><\/a> borough location? We have a variety of choices for serviced offices and workspaces across The Capital. Call us on 020 3965 9617 to speak with a member of our friendly team of professionals. Our office space experts will help you and your business locate the perfect office in London to fit your individual requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n

For further reading, below are some of our best recent articles on workspace and the workplace:<\/span><\/p>\n

Mastering the Art of the Office Seating Plan<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/a>Comparing Office Space Cost: Central London vs Outer London<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/a>Prime Locations for Office Space, Central London<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/a>Harnessing Clean Technology: Five Strategies for Energy-Efficient Office Spaces<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/a>Shining a Light on How Office Lighting Fuels Employee Creativity<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/a>Types of Commercial Leases in the UK: What You Need to Know<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/a>Wellness in Office Design: Gearing Offices for the Wellness Generation<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/a>Hot Desking & Renting a Virtual Office in London<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

During the past few years, environmental concerns have taken front stage in the UK\u2019s construction market. This is a reflection of a generalised trend towards sustainability, which affects both residential and commercial existing space, including offices, as well as planned new builds. This trend mirrors the requirements and expectations of eco-conscious tenants and office occupiers, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,200,560,325,480,176,156,5,489],"tags":[495,328,582,26,35,555,327],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/londonofficespace.com\/buzz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4275"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/londonofficespace.com\/buzz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/londonofficespace.com\/buzz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonofficespace.com\/buzz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonofficespace.com\/buzz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4275"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/londonofficespace.com\/buzz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4380,"href":"https:\/\/londonofficespace.com\/buzz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4275\/revisions\/4380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/londonofficespace.com\/buzz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonofficespace.com\/buzz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonofficespace.com\/buzz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}