The Chief Executive of Fourfront Group, the leading commercial interior specialist, is calling for more companies to go green and transform their offices into energy-efficient environments, using money available from the Government’s range of green incentives.
Clive Lucking says: “The range of green incentives for businesses is a key part of the coalition’s promise to be the ‘greenest-ever’ Government and for Britain to be zero carbon by 2020.
"With the commercial property sector responsible for as much as 20% of the UK’s carbon emissions, think of the potential benefit; one large office building could save far more energy than well over 100 homes.
“With the Government now becoming clearer on the financial regulations for commercial buildings, businesses should think seriously about taking up incentives such as, enhanced capital allowances, tax incentives and tax burdens - particularly SMEs, who would otherwise lack the funds to undertake energy efficiency improvements in their buildings.”
According to Fourfront Group’s latest figures from its sustainability guide*, water efficient taps and showers in offices can reduce water usage by as much as 30% a year; whilst upgrading existing light fittings can yield a 45% return on investment in two years. The installation of new energy efficient heating controls and mechanical ventilation can also cut costs by up to 35% within two years.
Fourfront Group uses sustainable, environmentally-conscious design in all of its projects to minimise the negative environmental impact of buildings by enhancing efficiency in the use of materials, energy, and equipment. A recent example is the design and fit-out of new offices at 2 Waterhouse Square, which was delivered by Fourfront’s office design and fit-out business, Area Sq, for Constituency Management Group (CMG). The design and fit-out of the new offices has won Workplace Retrofit at Greenbuild Awards 2013 and also resulted in the project collecting RICS Ska Rating Gold – the highest accolade for a sustainable fit-out.
The project, located over 58,190 sq ft at 140 Holborn EC1N, involved careful consideration to create a sustainable office environment at the historic Grade II listed Alfred Waterhouse Holborn Bars Office, which includes a complex series of spaces that incorporates construction from the 1890s through to the 1990s.
However, CMG has seen energy savings of up to 15 per cent in the last two months alone (approximately £4,000 per month) since Area Sq embedded energy consuming sustainability into the office environment and it expects these savings to continue increasing year on year.
Additionally, all the energy saving opportunities complies with the Governments Enhanced Capital Allowances Scheme, which allows CMG to offset the value of these energy saving initiatives against its corporation tax bills.
Clive continues: “However, green design is not just about the impact on the environment, but also on the occupants of the buildings, so we strive to design offices that are comfortable, healthy and efficient.”