Agency building opens doors to public

Office design news from Morgan Lovell

Published on 14-09-2011

A city building made from 85% recycled material and incorporating one of the ’greenest’ office interiors in the country, has had its doors opened to the public.

Horizon House in Bristol, run by the Environment Agency, was included in the city’s Doors Open Day.

Careful space planning in the building has resulted in "intelligent" lighting systems, helping to reduce consumption; solar panels generating electricity, which also heat water; rainwater harvesting; ground-source heat pumps which provide 17.5% of the total energy needs; and automated windows to give natural ventilation.

The agency says that in the past five years it has cut its carbon emissions by 17%, energy use by 15% and the volume of water sourced from a mains by 18%.

Environment Agency chief executive Paul Leinster said: "We hope that the achievements here inspire other organisations to reduce their impact on the environment, and also save money."

Doors Open Day visitors were shown the work carried out by the agency, such as reducing flood risk and environmental protection.

Copyright Press Association 2011