An Overview Of Impressive UK Green Buildings

Sustainable designs are being incorporated into new construction projects every year, and Ecobuild is one of the top participants in this industry. There was an event where policymakers and developers were able to connect with one another, discussing how their plans for energy-efficient and sustainable designs could be helpful for the environment.

If you look at research that is current, you will see that retail outlets, hotels, and offices that are being constructed are going to use commercial structures that will have high environmental standards. Moving toward a more eco-friendly design, especially in the United Kingdom, is a positive sign for those that will be residing in, or working, the structures. A company by the name of Dodge Data and Analytics was able to provide information looking at the next three years and was able to determine that nearly 40% of the people in the UK that are developing projects are positive about these changes.

There is a substantial amount of advanced technology and green design techniques that are being incorporated into smart buildings to reduce running costs and create a more helpful living environment for people living or working inside of structures that can ultimately increase property values for those that own these buildings or homes.

Eco-friendly buildings have become very innovative and here are five examples that you will likely see in the United Kingdom.

Eco-friendly - Bloomberg HQ

There are eco-friendly buildings that are found throughout London, including 10 story buildings that are going to be some of the most prominent office buildings that are sustainable which have been assessed very highly by BREEAM, earning them a near-perfect rating in regard to sustainability on a global level. When looking specifically at the green project that they are focused upon, it will use sustainable solutions such as the collection of graywater from toilets and rooftops that can reduce energy usage. In some cases, saving on energy can be done throughout many different homes and facilities through modifying the use of florescent lights, heating systems, cooling systems, and even acoustic functions. If you look at LED lights, for example, there are nearly 500,000 of these used in different types of panels that will use florescent bulbs that can help you save money.

Eco-friendly - Waitrose Stratford City, London

The name BREEAM is well-known for giving out ratings, but very few people receive an outstanding rating like Westfield’s energy centre. In this case, there is a lot of food waste that can be redirected into an anaerobic digestion processing plant where it can be converted into electricity and distributed across the grid. The use of low carbon lighting can also be extremely helpful, and using the energy produced by refrigerators can also help out.

Eco-friendly - The National Trust HQ

Perhaps one of the most eco-friendly locations in the UK with a green office setting is the National Trust. The carbon emissions that are produced by this building are significantly less than other developments, and they also use photovoltaic or solar panels in order to produce electricity. The materials that are used will be eco-friendly, such as only using water-based paints, and this can help sustain your business by helping you save money. There are many ideas that you could also follow up on such as using carpet that is made of wool. Recycled beer cans can also be used to provide conduits for ventilation as well.

Eco-friendly - Dalby Forest Visitor Centre

The winner of the Better Public Building Award in 2007 by easily using the environment surrounding this North York Shire structure. Using a boiler powered by woodchips they were able to save money. The use of photovoltaic cells and panels, along with wind-powered turbines, were able to produce a large amount of electricity. Rainwater was used for toilet flushing and was easily stored in a tank. Even better, the entire building, if it ever needs to be taken down, can be recycled.

Eco-friendly - Eden foundation building

Located in St Austell, Cornwall, the Eden Foundation has constructed a building that is completely eco-friendly, avoiding the use of PVC. They were able to insulate their floors, walls, and rooftops using insulation that was made from newspapers, and despite that fact, it is insulated better than most buildings today. When it was constructed, the amount of soil that was removed was extremely minimal during the construction process, and they also used cement to complete the project.

Looking ahead

eco-buildings and cost-effective strategies are always going to be a winning combination if you want to be truly sustainable plus make money. By using shipping containers that are recycled, and creating eco-friendly homes, this can help the environment by using natural materials such as straw and bamboo that do not have to be created using processes that can pollute the environment in the most sustainable fashion possible.