INDUSTRY COMMENT
Enjoying spaces amid the rise of Net Zero offices
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UK offices could lead the way in carbon- cutting practices as the race to meet Net Zero targets’ looms, according to Guy Willis Robb, director, mechanical and electrical, Harley Haddow
ith employees in the UK and throughout the globe demanding more from
their workspaces, COVID19 marked a turning point in the way we work and evidently, where we work. Hybrid working has become the norm rather than the exception and there has been a huge rise in the use of coworking spaces. The combination of these factors has led to many people wanting more from their office environments when they venture out of their homeworking comforts, and looking for enjoyable environments to work in. With 80% of current buildings set to be around in 2050, the need and demand for Net Zero spaces is greater than ever if the UK wants to meet Net Zero targets. It has been said that this decade is the one that matters the most if we want to achieve key climate action. As Net Zero continues to dominate the headlines, it is evident that the need for carbon neutral spaces will increase. Whilst many employers believe that construction has the aim of building fast and high, for multi-disciplinary Engineering Consultancy Harley Haddow, it is all about constructing spaces people can actually enjoy. We work with a variety of industries from education to healthcare, both of which have different interior demands, providing a range of services from Civil and Structural Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health (MEP) to Energy and Sustainability and Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). As part of our commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050, we have worked with various clients to provide energy efficient solutions such as 79-81 Grosvenor Street, BAFTA and many private residential clients to achieve this. As part of these projects, we provided low energy sustainable heat pumps to serve the heating and cooling demand throughout the building. In addition to the Net Zero agenda, creating welcoming workspaces can have a significant impact on employee’s mental health and wellbeing. If the current office environment is cramped, poorly lit and unappealing, this can have a negative effect and harm productivity. According to Change Recruitment, having a positive work environment can increase employee happiness by 33% and decrease employee turnover by 58%. This in turn brings benefits to the employer, with research from Fast Company (2014) stating, “companies that invest in workplaces decrease the risk of creating spaces that fail to align company culture, business goals, work styles, and the work environment. Instead, they best position themselves to create
26 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER NOVEMBER 2022
rewarding environments that empower people and business”. So, what key dates need to be hit in the race to the Net Zero? With the UK targeting Net Zero by 2050 and Scotland aiming for five years earlier (2045), work needs to carry on at rapid pace to meet these ambitious yet achievable targets. with many local authorities, organisations and public bodies believing they can achieve Net Zero by 2030. Net Zero is most prominent within the construction and engineering industry, with new regulations put in place this year to combat CO2 emissions. The operation of buildings alone account for 30% of carbon emissions in the UK, making them a key area to concentrate on. But what does a Net Zero office actually mean? Various factors can make a workspace more energy efficient such as the use of natural light, improving insulation and optimising the ventilation strategy whilst managing energy use. A Net Zero office can also mean no use of fossil fuels, using affordable electrical solutions, the impact of grid decarbonisation and use of renewable sources. According to the
Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC), the global economy will need to be Net Zero in terms of carbon emissions by 2050. There has been mandatory ESG reporting and legislation reflecting this urgency and many organisations are already taking action.
Benefits of a Net Zero office
At Harley Haddow our designs have always embedded sustainable, low energy and low carbon building principles. Aligning with our Net Zero mission, we have now relocated to a new Net Zero ready office in London, which aims to provide an elevated work life balance, a liveable space, and a lighter environment with opportunities for collaboration and interactive team meetings. Our new space is following Net Zero practices and is deemed Net Zero ready, using electric heat-pump led heating and cooling systems which will allow ongoing decarbonisation and making use of natural light sources and good air quality to create a space that also works from a health and well-being perspective. Becoming a Net Zero ready office has its benefits including reduced operational expenses, which would
save businesses the staggering increase in energy prices that is set to take place later this year, and this money could be reinvested in other areas of the business.
Understandably, the younger generation are starting to worry about what the future of climate change holds for them. Recent data has found that 67% of Gen Z are anxious about the future of the planet. Providing this Net Zero space shows the steps the employer is taking to combat climate change. Having a Net Zero office can not only help increase staff morale and retention but look attractive to for potential recruiters Through our day to day work we provide a comprehensive strategy on the requirements to meet Net Zero, whether a Net Zero “ready” design or the use of carbon offsetting contributions. This extensive experience allows us to deliver Net Zero buildings and masterplans. The London office will be our next step and part of our contribution to achieving Net Zero by the end of 2050. At Harley Haddow, it is important that our actions align with our core beliefs and ethos, and we believe that the new London office will help us showcase these efforts.
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