Sustainable Office Design - Unlocking Performance & Productivity

WHERE CAN I SURF MORE?

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN & BUILDINGS

General

Advanced Buildings is a superb source of briefings on a range of sustainable building topics such as lighting and daylighting, finishes and furnishings, heating and cooling, water use and heating, building automation systems, energy efficiency, stormwater management, and air quality. A great place to start learning.

The UK Green Building Council was launched in 2007, bringing together companies from across the building industry spectrum.

The US Green Building Council is a fount of fine information, including the LEED rating system.

The Rocky Mountain Institute has a website full of delights on the topics of energy efficiency, retrofits and sustainable architecture in general.

GreenSource provides a range of excellent articles on sustainable design in buildings. Worth visiting from time to time to see what's new.

'Buildings that breathe', by Richard Lacayo, is an inspiring article on how the 'best of the new architecture uses nature rather than fighting it'.

Metropolis Magazine has a section devoted to sustainable design, with often excellent articles.

'Before the First Pour: Design Guide for Energy Efficient Commercial Fit-Outs' is a superb, short introduction to the subject by the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.

The down-to-earth Whole Buildings Design Guide provides an outline of sustainable building concepts and products, including a specific focus on office buildings.

The authoritative Building Research Establishment is a key player in making the UK building sector more sustainable. It does research, dispenses advice, disseminates information and develops tools. It is the brain behind the BREEAM sustainable building ratings.

Building Green is a subscription based on-line resource that provides practical information. It includes case studies, freely accessible, of high performance office buildings.

The Sustainable Building Information System has a great deal of freely available information. You can search websites for technologies, buildings, documents, methods and tools, people and organisations, projects, policies and programmes.

The Association for Environment Conscious Building is a member-based organisation, providing training, articles and conferences. It has straightforward Eco Fact Sheets, covering energy, pollution, water and biodiversity.

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) website has a section on sustainability.

Tools

These Sustainable Buildings Guidelines by the University of Minnesota take you through a process of selecting sustainable design strategies and documenting your actions.

The pool of tools, a directory of hundreds of tools on building performance, materials, components, equipment, HVAC and lighting systems, air quality, you name it. You can search by subject or country. All you ever wanted to know about tools, but were afraid to ask.

Sust is a Scottish initiative for sustainable building design, including a Green Directory of suppliers.

The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) can be used to assess both new and existing buildings. It includes the widely used BREEAM for Offices.

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED™) Green Building Rating System. LEED is one of the leading systems for rating sustainable buildings, devised by the US Green Building Council. This is a clear overview.

Practical Strategies in Green Building: Existing Offices is a short guide for office owners and managers for strategies to obtain LEED certification, but is relevant to anyone needing a neat checklist of things to consider.

Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) is a tool to help assess about 200 building products, both generic and branded.

Building magazine has a section on sustainability, including guidance and reports on legislation and other issues.

Conferences

The International Conference on Improving Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings

The Building Performance Congress

The Global Conference on Sustainable Building and Construction will be held in London in 2011.

Awards

The BREEAM Awards recognise the best of sustainable building design in the UK.

Building magazine has an annual award for sustainable building design, including Sustainable Designer of the Year, Sustainable Client of the Year, Sustainability Innovation Award, Sustainable Building of the Year and others. The 2009 conference and award were organised with the UK Green Building Council.

An initiative meant to encourage better and more sustainable public buildings, with success recognised through the Prime Minister's Better Public Building Award.

There is an annual award from the EU's GreenLight programme.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

The UK Green Buildings Council has done a superb, concise review of the literature on the business case for green buildings. Completed in March 2009, this can be downloaded.

'Doing Well by Doing Good? Green Office Buildings', by Piet Eichholtz, Nils Kok, John M. Quigley (January 2009), looked at 10,000 buildings to determine whether those with "green" ratings commanded higher rent (yes, they do).

Cost savings

Ten Business Reasons to Green Your Office lays out some simple arguments.

'Green construction cost effective', a feature in McGraw-Hill Construction, argues just that.

Envirowise provides a plethora of guides, case studies, checklists, workshops and other services to help companies cut costs by reducing their environmental impacts and energy use. Many of the materials are relevant to office design and management, and there is a section dedicated to construction.

Productivity

Cool Companies give a number of short case studies of improved productivity brought about by energy saving measures.

'Why office design matters' by Thomas Davenport for Harvard Business School, looks at the link between office design and human productivity.

The Office Productivity Network aims to help managers understand how the design of their office environments can affect productivity.

Incentives

The Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme permits you to claim 100% first year capital allowances for investments in energy saving technologies and products which are on the Energy Technology List. This website gives the list, together with tools and criteria to help with applications.

The Landfill Tax is a fiscal incentive to minimise waste, which will increase until it reaches £35 per tonne. For further guidance on waste reduction incentives, see the DEFRA page on waste.

The Aggregates Levy aims to encourage the use of recycled aggregates by taxing virgin aggregates.

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR?

General

This Sustainability Checklist by Morgan Lovell is a quick, clear starting point. It is complemented by an Environmental Fact Sheet that helps you find your way around various key environmental performance certification schemes.

'Greening your office building' is a brief introduction, in McGraw-Hill Construction, to the competitive advantage that sustainable office design can yield.

Advanced Buildings is a superb source of briefings on a range of sustainable building topics such as lighting and daylighting, finishes and furnishings, heating and cooling, water use and heating, building automation systems, energy efficiency, stormwater management, and air quality. A great place to start learning.

One of the most concise yet comprehensive guides to sustainable office design, A Guide to Sustainable Office Fit-Outs, can be downloaded free. A real step-by-step How To guide, covering paint, cabling and wiring, Heating, Ventilation & Cooling (HVAC) systems, lighting, glazing, materials, water, energy, furniture, noise and safety. It provides excellent technical checklists and things to ask for and to avoid. Jargon-free language!

Working 9 to 5 on Climate Change: An Office Guide is a step-by-step guide in the plainest language, with checklists and examples to help office managers reduce the environmental impact of the workplace. It can be downloaded, and is worth distributing around the office.

'The art and science of peace and quiet' by Sara Hart is a well-written, concise yet comprehensive introduction to dampening noise in buildings.

ENERGY

General

Transforming the Market is a short report produced by the Energy Efficiency in Buildings project of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The report summarises the findings of a model developed to assess the impact of different policies, measures and technologies in shifting towards zero net energy buildings. The report is supplemented by a roadmap.

Cool Companies is the website that goes with the book of the same title. Clear guidance on a range of issues affecting energy use.

High Performing Buildings is a magazine of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) which includes an energy focus.

The US Department of Energy has a Building Technologies Program with excellent information on energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Tools

RIBA's Climate Change Toolkit is a clear simple starting block.

Envirowise has a plethora of materials: guides, case studies, checklists and reports that can help companies reduce their energy use.

The pool of tools, a directory of hundreds of tools on building performance, materials, components, equipment, HVAC and lighting systems, air quality, you name it. You can search by subject or country. All you ever wanted to know about tools, but were afraid to ask.

The Climate Change Projects Office advises business on how to adapt to climate change, and even how to take advantage of it.

Renewables

'Switching to Green: A renewable energy guide for office and retail companies' is a short, clear guide for companies that would like to shift to renewable energy supplies but aren't sure how

The US Department of Energy has a page dedicated to on-site renewables.

Air

General

'Here's the dirt on green housekeeping' is a short, clear piece by Nancy Solomon (Architectural Record) which considers the maintenance and monitoring procedures and systems needed to keep the indoor environment healthy.

'Robo buildings: Pursuing the interactive envelope' by C.C. Sullivan in Architectural Record is an entry to the world of smart building envelopes that incorporate ventilation and daylighting to the benefit of occupants and the environment.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is known for setting standards in HVAC energy use.

Energy Master Planning for HVAC Systems in Existing Buildings is a good starting point, which puts sustainable heating, cooling and ventilation in the framework of The Natural Step.

Ventilation

Natural Ventilation is a jargon-free overview of natural ventilation, although the codes and standards part relates to the US only. By Andy Walker, National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

'Commercial buildings open their windows' by Barbara Knecht and Sara Hart is a crystal clear introduction to natural ventilation via windows; another engaging feature in Architectural Record.

The Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems Programme is an International Energy Agency initiative to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, with various research projects including Control Strategies for Hybrid Ventilation in New and Retrofitted Office Buildings.

The Sunpipe is produced by the company that produces the Monodraught Windcatcher, a rooftop ventilation system that eliminates air conditioning, and the Sola-Vent which combines light piping and solar powered ventilation.

Silenceair allows natural ventilation while blocking outside noise by up to 85%.

Heating & cooling

Passive Solar Heating & Cooling Manual is a simple introduction to the subject with clear diagrams and language; passive solar heating and cooling 101.

Indoor air quality

'Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality' is a short on-line guide to what you need to bear in mind, with useful links to additional resources.

To tap research on ventilation rates and technologies, indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sick building syndrome and air pollution, see this Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory page.

Access to a bibliography of 900 papers (many with abstracts) for the Indoor Health and Productivity Project.

The subscription-based Building Green has a section on Indoor Environmental Quality.

Greenguard certifies low emission products for the indoor environment, including adhesives, appliances, ceiling, cleaning systems, flooring, construction, insulation, office equipment, office furniture, panels and moveable walls, paint, textiles and wall coverings. Although a US standard, their Allowable Emission Levels provide a great benchmark for suppliers.

LIGHT

Daylighting

See this short introduction to the benefits and concepts of designing for maximum daylight.

Another short sweet introduction, covering pros, cons, devices, controls and costs, all in five pages, with a few more on resources if you wish to dig deeper.

This Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory site has sections on Glazing Materials, Window Properties, and Commercial Performance.

'Daylighting Guide for Canadian Commercial Buildings' can be freely downloaded from the website of the Public Works and Government Services of Canada. Fairly concise and readable, it also provides some brief case studies.

Links to the 'Daylighting in Commercial Buildings Sourcebook' and 'Daylighting The New York Times Headquarters Building'.

A straightforward tour of daylighting, under this section on energy efficient lighting.

The company that produces the Sunpipe, an aluminium light pipe for bringing daylight into a building interior, and the Sola-Vent which combines light piping and solar powered ventilation.

Another maker of light pipes, or 'miracle skylights'.

Lighting

Guide to Sustainable Office Lighting - very short and simple overview.

A short guide to energy efficient lighting, well illustrated and clearly written. A good starting point.

A brief guide to electric lighting controls, such as photosensors and occupancy sensors, which can make a big different to productivity levels (up) and energy bills (down).

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory does wide ranging research on windows, daylighting, lighting systems, and commercial buildings systems.

They also have a Lighting Research Group addressing these issues.

The Human Factors research team considers how lighting affects productivity.

Linked to productivity is the capacity to improve control of lighting. The Control and Communications research group is considering how digital technologies can be applied to building lighting controls.

Lightsearch is a source for lighting products and manufacturers.

The Intelligent Workplace has suggestions for lighting and lighting controls.

A straightforward tour of various forms of energy efficient lighting. A good place to start.

The EU's Greenlight Programme aims to encourage more energy efficient lighting. It has an annual award, and an e-newsletter. It also has an excellent overview of energy efficient lights and a guide to action.

The Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems Programme is an International Energy Agency initiative to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, with various research projects including Annex 45 Energy-Efficient Future Electric Lighting for Buildings.

Superwindows

The Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory site has sections on Glazing Materials, Window Properties, and Commercial Performance.

Efficient Windows provides a wide-ranging introduction to technologies around energy efficient windows and tools for selecting them, including a detailed glossary and access to superwindow information. Although quite US-oriented, it's still valuable to a European.

The Center for Sustainable Building Research at the University of Minnesota has a site dedicated to energy efficient windows for commercial buildings.

WATER

General

'Greening your site', by Heather Kinkade-Levario is a short article looking at how low impact techniques can maximise water conservation.

Sustainable Sources has a clear guide to several key aspects of sustainable buildings, including a section on water.

The Interflush is a device for reducing water use in flushing.

The UK Rainwater Harvesting Association is a good place to start.

The Global Water Tool is a free, easy-to-use, Excel based tool that allows companies to punch in water-use data from their operations and have these compared to external water availability data. Gives a quick assessment of where you need to focus your water management action. Developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

MATERIALS

General

Sustainable Sources is clear guide to several key aspects of sustainable buildings, including a section on building materials.

The BRE Centre in Innovative Construction Materials is a research and development partnership between the Buildings Research Establishment and Bath University.

Tools

Greenseal provides some very clear and concise guides to specifying a range of materials and products, including particleboard and medium density fibreboard, carpet, lighting, occupancy sensors, office supplies and other office relevant products.

Transmaterial is a joy to behold, taking you through a range of new materials. Although not specifically 'sustainable' materials, many of them come with environmental features which are briefly outlined. There is also a richly illustrated book of the same name.

BRE has a Green Guide to Specification which is easy to use and full of guidance.

This is the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing page of the US EPA providing guidance on a range of building related products; very clear information.

This is the pool of tools, providing a directory to hundreds of different tools concerning analysis of building performance, with a section dedicated to materials and components.

Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) is a tool that helps assess about 200 building products, both generic and branded.

The EcoLogo of the Canadian government allows you to assess a wide range of building materials and products, including flooring, heating and cooling, paints and finishes and raw materials.

Greenspec is an excellent, enjoyable on-line resource for specifying more sustainable materials and products.

The Waste & Resources Action Programme, funded by government, aims to create markets for recycled materials. It has a section specifically dedicated to reducing waste in construction - excellent and clear.

Sust. provides a directory of sustainable building materials in Scotland.

Website of the BC (formerly known as the BioComposites Centre) which develops plant-based composite materials for industrial use, including a project looking at plant-based MDF. They have a newsletter to which you can sign up.

Greenguard certifies low emission products for the indoor environment, including adhesives, appliances, ceiling, cleaning systems, flooring, construction, insulation, office equipment, office furniture, panels and moveable walls, paint, textiles and wall coverings. Although a US standard, their Allowable Emission Levels provide a great benchmark for suppliers.

Boards

The Natural Building Technologies website has a section on boards, plaster and render, including avoidance of the 'sick building syndrome' through breathable renders. It includes a checklist of natural insulators, including some wood fibre boards which can be used for walls, floors, ceilings as well as roof insulation.

PrimeBoard Inc manufacturers wheat board, a fibre board using wheat stalks which would otherwise go to waste. They also make DorCor, low density panels from renewable resources such as wheat straw and sunflower hulls, and formaldehyde-free, emission-free synthetic resins.

Carpets

Interface is the global leader in developing sustainable carpets.

Ceilings & flooring

Armstrong World Industries is known for a commitment to sustainability in its ceiling and flooring products. It also offers cabinets.

Plyboo is a product made from a strong, light, fast-growing renewable resource: bamboo. It can be used for flooring (harder than many woods), panels or doors.

'Bamboo in construction: is the grass always greener?' is an excellent overview of bamboo as a building material, looking at all aspects of its sustainability performance, from Environmental Building News, 2006.

Paints & finishes

'Eco and Natural Paints', by Neil May, is a readable, concise article on the ecological effects of paint, from the Natural Building Technologies website.

Textiles

Designtex is one of the main suppliers of fabrics designed for minimal environmental impact. Their Climatex Lifecycle started by designing 'out' as many chemicals as possible to create a fabric that can be composted. Climatex Lifeguard FR has the same mulchable qualities while meeting worldwide fire retardant safety codes. Eco Intelligent Polyester uses environmentally benign materials while Terratex is 100% recycled polyester. Designtex has produced guidance on how their products can contribute to LEED credits.

Wood

The Forest Stewardship Council is the certifier par excellence of sustainable timber.

The Sustainable Procurement of Wood and Paper-based Products Guide and Resource Kit helps navigate a plethora of standards and certification schemes. Developed by the Sustainable Forest Products Industry group at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSES

Directives & legislation

This site can help you keep up with current and emerging environmental legislation. Similarly the Department of Energy and Climate Change has a useful page on legislation.

The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme kicked off in April 2010. There are some excellent materials to help you ascertain if you are eligible (liable) and if so, to navigate the scheme.

'The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme: User Guide' by the Department of Energy and Climate Change is crystal clear (and even colourful).

The Carbon Trust has also produced a helpful guide to Managing CRC as Business Opportunity.

'Managing the CRC as a business opportunity' is a short, straightforward overview by Paul Kelly at Morgan Lovell.

The Environment Agency also has a CRC website.

The Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme allows you to claim against tax for capital investments in energy efficient or water saving plant and machinery, and low emission cars.

EU Directive on Energy Performance in Buildings was implemented at national level in January 2006. The Directive Implementation Advisory Group can help you figure out what it all means.

The Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004 allows building regulations to consider sustainability more broadly to include not only environmental improvements, but also furthering sustainable development, and the reduction of crime.

The Update to Part L of building regulations sets standards to reduce CO₂ emissions. It looks at overall CO₂ emissions against a target value and will take into account any renewables used. See these Frequently Asked Questions on Part L and proposed changes.

The Climate Change Levy (CCL) effective since 2001, as tax on energy use in industry, commerce and the public sector. See this Carbon Trust Factsheet.

Codes & standards

There is also discussion about whether to develop a Code for Sustainable Buildings (CSB). See this UK Green Buildings Council paper on the case for such a code.

The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) can assess new and existing buildings. Its widely used BREEAM for Offices assesses office buildings. It has five levels: Pass, Good, Very Good or Excellent and, added recently, Outstanding.

OVERVIEW OF SUSTAINABILITY

The government's mouthpiece on its sustainable development strategy.

'Sustainable Development Indicators in your Pocket 2009' is an excellent annual overview of sustainable development indicators and facts in the UK, compiled by the government and presented in a graphic-rich design, even though it isn't quite pocket-sized. There is also a Powerpoint version.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development is a coalition of 200 multinational companies looking for ways to make business and sustainability work for each other. The website has been voted the best on-line resource on sustainable development and the organisation produces a wide range of tools, research, newsletters and policy guidance. It has an Energy Efficiency in Buildings project.

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment brought together about 1,400 scientists from 95 countries and examined the state of the planet, looking at ecosystems, biodiversity, degradation and other issues including human impacts. It offers some manageable synthesis reports.

The Design Council's website has a section on sustainability, with an emphasis on design and a range of resources, short case studies, and content on trends and other emerging issues.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - global authority on climate change.

The Sustainable Development Commission was set up by the government as an independent advisory body.

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