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published: 1/7/2009
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New Research Highlights the Business Benefits of Low Carbon Buildings

Research recently conducted by BRE social scientists demonstrates the business benefits experienced by companies and organisations who operate from low carbon buildings

The project, which was commissioned by the Carbon Trust in Scotland, took a look at three recently completed BREEAM excellent buildings in Scotland and explored the impact of the buildings on occupier experience and on the organisations as a whole. Buildings included ‘Great Glen House', the Scottish Natural Heritage HQ, Inverness, ‘Solais House', NG Bailey's Central Scotland HQ, Bellshill and ‘Carrochan', the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority HQ, Balloch.

The research consisted of a series of interviews with business, building and facilities managers and focus groups with building occupants. Participants were asked whether they perceived that productivity, job satisfaction and well being had increased since moving into their new buildings.

The following eight key business benefits were uncovered:

  • Reduced operational costs - for example, utility costs, facilities' staff time, paper and travel.
  • Expected increase in the low carbon buildings' asset value over a standard speculative building.
  • The high levels of daylight, good air quality and natural ventilation in the buildings have had a positive impact on occupant health and well being, compared with occupant's previous air conditioned premises.
  • Open plan, transparent offices (related to natural ventilation strategy and increased daylight penetration) encourage communication and break down silos. The research suggests this can have a positive impact on staff - colleagues and managers are more accessible.
  • Award winning, low carbon buildings provide excellent profile raising and marketing opportunities. Clients and the local community enjoy visiting the building and are encouraged to attend meetings and events.
  • Raised awareness of sustainability amongst occupants, encourages pro-environmental behaviour at work that spills over into the home environment.
  • Improved image amongst staff who feel it is important to work in a sustainable building, and enhanced amenities for staff which contribute to making staff feel valued at work.
  • There is some indication that a sustainable building can have a positive impact on recruitment.

Mindy Hadi, Principal Occupational Psychologist  at BRE said: "Although this was a limited study looking at a small sample of low carbon buildings within Scotland, the results are very encouraging - not only did the occupying organisations report financial benefits from reductions in running costs, they also reported more intangible business benefits such as improved staff well being and enhanced company image." 

John Stocks, manager of Carbon Trust in Scotland, commented: "The business benefits of specifying low carbon buildings are significant and numerous, and this research has reaffirmed our strong belief that a low carbon building can only be a good thing for employees, managers and for the business as a whole, both in the short term and the longer term."

A copy of the research documents are available to download at www.carbontrust.co.uk/buildings.

For further information, please contact Linda McKeown, BRE tel 01923 664569, email mckeownl@bre.co.uk or contact Emma Davies or Fergus Reid at Smarts on 0141 222 2040 or email emma.davies@smarts.co.uk.

 

Notes to editor

BRE has been building a better world for almost 90 years through cutting edge research, consultancy and testing services. Our unrivalled knowledge in regard to sustainability and innovation is now used across the construction industry and in the corporate world creating better buildings, communities and businesses. BRE is part of the BRE Group of companies owned by the BRE Trust, a registered charity. The profits made by BRE go to the BRE Trust the largest UK charity dedicated specifically to research and education in the built environment.  https://www.bre.co.uk/

The Carbon Trust is an independent company set up in 2001 by Government in response to the threat of climate change, to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy by working with organisations to reduce carbon emissions and develop commercial low carbon technologies. We cut carbon emissions now by providing business and the public sector with expert advice, finance and certification to help them reduce their carbon footprint and to stimulate demand for low carbon products and services. Through our work, we've already helped save over 17 million tonnes of carbon, delivering costs savings of over £1billion. We cut future carbon emissions by developing new low carbon technologies. We do this through project funding and management, investment and collaboration and by identifying market barriers and practical ways to overcome them. Our work on commercialising new technologies will save over 20 million tonnes of carbon a year by 2050. www.carbontrust.co.uk

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