Green awareness 'needed by firms'

Office design news from Morgan Lovell

Published on 03-02-2011

An increase in awareness regarding sustainable office design and green practices is needed by businesses if the country is to move towards a zero-carbon future, it has been claimed.

Michael Shanks, chief technology officer of Ultraspeed, said the simple truth is that improving sustainability in the UK is often down to workers - as well as business leaders - as practices in the office can be just as important as big issues like recycling and waste management.

He commented: "Moving forward, offices will want to take a more environmentally-friendly approach by embracing the paperless office fully and discouraging staff, clients and suppliers from practices that are not green."

Meanwhile, Michael O'Doherty, head of climate change for buildings and energy at Manchester City Council, recently told attendees of Retrofit Salford 2011 that pressure needs to come from tenants for sustainable office design to really take off in the UK.

Posted by Ian Johnson