Following the practice's ranking in the Sunday Times Best Green Companies List for 2010, Head of Sustainability Jeremy Blake talks about the challenges ahead.
We believe that it’s very important that architects not only deliver green buildings but also manage their businesses in an environmentally responsible way. Clients are increasingly scrutinising organisations’ green credentials. Having secured ISO 14001 across all 12 of our UK offices two years ago, we continue to monitor and improve our performance as a business. We’re delighted that our commitment has been recognised in the Sunday Times Best Green Companies Awards, and we’re very encouraged to have improved our ranking into the top 60 from the top 80 last year.
With ambitious government targets to address carbon footprints and promote renewable energy sources, we’re finding that businesses are more willing to share their experience and research, helping to energise the whole industry, from suppliers and designers through to contractors and end users. We’ve been sharing our own in-house Index of Sustainability (PIOS) with fellow consultants. It’s a practical tool to assess every project, regardless of building type, against green benchmarks at key stages, including post-completion.
Whilst there is a growing focus on how buildings perform, we are concerned that more emphasis is put on scrutinising the green credentials and carbon footprint of materials and their supply chains. Often ‘green’ buildings are still made out of high energy materials, such as concrete, steel and glass, concentrating only on the building’s performance not on its construction legacy. Alternative natural materials combined with 21st-technology are catalysing a green industrial revolution, and clients are increasingly looking for exemplary and groundbreaking green buildings. This is reflected in our future projects, which include a BREEAM Outstanding Innovation Centre, a Code Level 6 private residence and two 100% eco-resorts in the Caribbean with more to follow.