WGBW2013 Green Building: A World of Difference by UKGBC

with thanks to our WGBW 2013 sponsors:

INTRODUCTION

CONTENTS

introduction

PAGES 2-3

Jane Henley, CEO, WorldGBC

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

4-7

Aggregate Industries Morgan Sindall Skanska

resource lIBRARY

GREEN BUILDING A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Jane Henley

8-9

CEO, World Green Building Council

Health Productivity Learning

case studies

10 - 11

12 - 13

It has been estimated that about 70 per cent of the financial value associated with building green is derived from the productivity and health benefits.

UK Green Building Council The Building Centre 26 Store Street London WC1E 7BT

2 | World Green Building Week 2013

World Green Building Week brings together people in 98 countries, and more than 25,000 organisations, to showcase how we are working together to create a world of greener, better, healthier buildings. The World Green Building Council’s Business Case for Green Building report, released in March 2013, found that incorporating green building features – such as fresh air, natural light, views of the outdoors and materials low in toxins –creates healthier and more productive places for office workers. A productivity increase of up to 23 per cent, for instance, can be achieved simply through good lighting. In school environments, green building design has been found to enhance student performance, decrease student and teacher sick days, and reduce teacher turnover. One study of green schools in the United States found students progressed 26 per cent faster in reading and 20 per cent faster in maths when compared with their counterparts in non-green schools.

CAFOD Head Office, Black Architecture Elizabeth II Court, Bennetts Associates

calendar of events

round the world, green buildings are improving the productivity of office workers and delivering healthier workplaces for nurses and teachers. They are accelerating patient recovery rates in hospitals and boosting student test scores in schools. And they are helping homeowners to save money on energy bills while also improving their health.

And in healthcare settings, sunlight and views of nature can reduce average length of stay by up to 41 per cent, and lessen the need for pain medication by 22 per cent. The story is similar in our homes. A range of studies have underscored the connection with homes and health. Asthma sufferers have reported enjoying 63 per cent more symptomfree days after green retrofits improved the indoor environment quality of their homes. In developing nations, low-cost green retrofits have reduced the frequency of respiratory illnesses

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by 76 per cent. When we consider 235 million people around the world currently suffer from asthma, green buildings have the potential to improve the health and well-being of millions of people. For more than a decade, we’ve been showing the world how green buildings can reduce energy costs, cut greenhouse gas emissions and deliver better quality assets on conventional budgets. Motivations to build green are shifting from being simply the right thing to do to being about the operational cost savings that green buildings deliver. This means that, on the balance sheet, assets must have a positive relationship with the income statement through rent, occupancy and productivity. Although surveys show that owners have high expectations of how these assets are going to deliver better performance, 37 per cent don’t track any metrics, and only 26 per cent review performance on an ongoing basis. When data is tracked, it is mostly energy data, but this is only estimated to be about 10 per cent of the possible financial benefit of being in a green building. But without good quality data, what is an investor to do? Focus on what they can measure, monitor, quantify and monetise. And that’s why a focus on energy performance makes sense to investors. However, it has been estimated that about 70 per cent of the financial value associated with building green is derived from the productivity and health benefits. If this figure is so high, then why are we not monetising this to make the case for green building a simple no-brainer? Whether they are skyscrapers or schools, homes or hospitals, green buildings are making people’s lives better. That’s our message during our fourth annual World Green Building Week – and we look forward to working with the green building movement in the UK to accelerate this shift to greener, better, healthier buildings. Visit the WorldGBC website. World Green Building Week 2013 | 3

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industry perspective

The theme of this year’s World Green Building week is ‘Greener Buildings, Better Places, Healthier People’ and on the 18 September, UK-GBC is holding its event on the subject at the Wellcome Trust. Here, the event sponsors Aggregate Industries, Morgan Sindall and Skanska, talk about what green building means to their organisations.

Dr. Shamir Ghumra Head of Sustainability, Aggregate Industries

s the Green Building Councils from around the world come together to mark World Green Building Week, it presents an opportunity to pause and perhaps refocus on the broader aspects of the campaign for a more sustainable built environment. The days when the occasional project or building was singled out as being ‘green’ seem somewhat in the past with the majority of new buildings having some sort of ‘greeness’ associated to them, whether this is through a particular client need or innovation in the supply chain. As a sector we are becoming more accepting of the “fifty shades of green”, something that friends at Skanska have long advocated through their own ‘Journey to deep green’. european hq © lend lease, Will pryce

Different building solutions are competing for green supremacy and clearly as a manufacturer of concrete (amongst lots of other cool stuff) I 4 | World Green Building Week 2013

would draw attention to the benefits of thermal mass, which can have long term benefits for buildings and the ongoing energy demand. This is however not a parochial piece presenting one particular solution against another. Indeed, quite often we are seeing hybrid solutions, bringing the benefits of a number of different techniques together. It is this cross product and supply chain collaboration that focuses on the construction asset that is helping to support the drive for greener buildings. The ‘greener’ buildings that I have visited in the past few years do genuinely seem like nicer places to work - no let me correct myself - they seem like nicer places to be. The Lend Lease office at Triton Square near Euston in London is one such location; there are lots of plants, lots of open spaces for people to meet, relax, think and work, and the welfare facilities are pretty top notch too.

There are many projects I have been made aware of through the Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction that are truly quite sobering. For some projects there was no building in the first place. To design, build and occupy a new school, or to provide security for children to learn and grow is something that we often take for granted. The power of the built environment to shape the future of society is incredible. co-operative headquarters © Co-operative

by projects recently completed by the divisions in our group (which include Construction and Infrastructure, Fit Out, Affordable Housing, Urban Regeneration, Investments and Professional Services). The link between green buildings and occupant health and happiness is already recognised in the criteria of the most widely used environmental assessment tools including BREEAM, LEED, CEEQUAL and Ska. Delivering projects to these standards is now common practice for the Morgan Sindall Group and moving beyond this, our Group divisions are increasingly focusing on post-occupancy studies as well as Passive House principles to ensure customers get the most sustainable outcomes. Where we learn

We remain committed to the campaign for a sustainable built environment and would like to thank all those involved with World Green Building Week for giving us an opportunity to pause.

The first BREEAM Outstanding School in the UK, built by Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure and supported by the Group’s professional services arm, was designed to provide an optimal learning environment for children. Supporting the ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ scheme, Carnegie Primary School in Fife was designed so that the building and landscape form part of the learning environment. Carnegie primary school © morgan sindall group, sandy young

The recently opened new Co-operative headquarters in Manchester has again adopted a number of different approaches to ensure that it is a great place to be. There are a number of studies to support the theory that productivity improves in such utopian places of work. It then also follows that people will enjoy coming to work because of their surroundings (of course, not the only reason to enjoy work). Humans tend to enjoy social interaction, as has been demonstrated by the growth in social media, so buildings that offer such flexibility can contribute to a better, happier and healthier working environment. While much of what I have said is very UK centric, World Green Building Week gives us a window into buildings from all over the world. www.ukgbc.org

Graham Edgell Director of Sustainability and Procurement, Morgan Sindall

s one of the UK’s largest construction and infrastructure businesses, Morgan Sindall Group is committed to embedding sustainability into its operations. This benefits society and the environment, as well as making good economic commercial sense. Because of this, we are pleased to actively support World Green Building Week 2013. The theme of the week, ‘Greener Buildings, Better Places, Healthier People’, is exemplified www.ukgbc.org

On completion, the project was chosen as an ideal venue to host the ‘Making Space for Children’ launch event in 2011. This rewards buildings and spaces which support the findings of physiologist Edward Edgerton, who found that new school buildings can reduce negative behaviour, increase pupil self-esteem and World Green Building Week 2013 | 5

industry perspective

industry perspective encourage pupils to engage more with learning. This year, a post-occupancy evaluation is being carried out on the project and includes the testing and re-commissioning of specific mechanical and electrical areas to ensure the project is performing as expected. Where we work Aside from improving occupant learning, research also suggests that the buildings in which we work can also influence productivity, a concept that Morgan Lovell (part of the Group’s Fit Out division) have been exploring through its ‘Green Office’ series of podcasts. The recent refurbishment of RWE npower’s offices achieved the highest Ska rating in the UK and focused on not only providing an optimal working environment for employees but also influencing their ‘green behaviours’. Where we live In addition to standard environmental assessment tools, Passive House presents a new approach to low carbon building with a focus on the occupant. The Fulmodeston project in Norwich, completed by the Group’s Affordable Housing division Lovell in July 2013, has fully adopted these principles to become one of the UK’s first affordable passive housing developments. Already fully occupied, the four homes are compliant with Passive House standards and offer new solutions in affordable housing due to low tenant bills and maintenance costs. Lovell intends to use the project as a reference point for all future home developments, taking the most effective principles forward to ensure future projects offer increased quality and tenant satisfaction. The company is also working in close collaboration with Bradford Housing to monitor two of the plots as part of future research to establish a Passive House standard in the UK. These are just a few examples of the ways in which Morgan Sindall Group is delivering on its Total Commitment to sustainability.

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Jennifer Clark Director of Environment, Skanska

kanska believes that the benefits of green buildings go far beyond just financial savings. There is also a positive impact on the people who occupy them. The Business Case for Green Building report by the World Green Building Council shows that reduced energy and water bills make green buildings desirable to owners and tenants. The study also shows that these buildings can command higher rents and sale prices. But it’s not only commercial benefits and reduced environmental impact that make greener buildings an attractive proposition.

Trust reported sleeping better, with a third less incidences of sleep disruption, and one in three patients experienced better privacy.

between the classroom and nature, and the building’s exposed structure maintains the temperature inside to help pupils concentrate.

This suggests that green features can enhance healthcare facilities and patient experience.

Better performing buildings

Additionally, Barts Health NHS Trust is saving £100,000 a year on its energy bill through the trial. Everyone from nurses and consultants to support staff are learning to be more energy efficient. They are taking simple steps to reduce excessive heat and noise, cut light pollution and regulate room temperatures. Environmental education

issac newton academy © skanska

Skanska’s green projects highlight how better indoor environments contribute to healthier, more productive people. Bringing the outdoors indoors, with clean fresh air ventilation and natural lighting, is beneficial to the health and wellbeing of those who use the building. Healthy hospitals A pilot scheme on green behavioural change at a London hospital showed improvements in patient experience. By turning off equipment when not in use, switching off lights and closing doors, patients in wards at the Barts Health NHS www.ukgbc.org

Since moving into new school buildings, built by Skanska, exam results have improved at four secondary schools in Bristol. With naturally ventilated teaching spaces, the buildings can function for 75 per cent of the year without mechanical intervention. This suggests that better environments at Bristol Brunel Academy, Bristol Metropolitan Academy, Brislington Enterprise College and Bridge Learning Campus have helped contribute to improved productivity and performance. Green schools, with computer systems that provide up-to-the-minute information about their energy and water usage, are now being used to teach pupils about protecting the environment. The new school at Isaac Newton Academy in Redbridge, was designed as an inspirational learning space with a host of green features. Courtyards and roof decks provide a connection www.ukgbc.org

With the world’s resources under threat, it is important that our existing buildings perform well too. Some 80 per cent of the world’s buildings will still be standing in 2050. Retrofitting older buildings with the latest green technology combined with careful use by the building’s occupants can improve their performance. Skanska’s green retrofit of its offices in the Empire State Building is reducing its electricity bill by 57 per cent over 15 years, but it has also led to 15-18 per cent reduction in absenteeism since 2009. A healthy working environment is vital in protecting a company’s most valuable asset – its employees. The future Skanska believes that construction with almost no impact on the environment is realistic. Evidence of the value of green buildings is growing, supporting the business case. We think selfsufficient buildings that generate their own power, built and maintained with no net impact on the environment, are the future.

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resource library

Resource library -

greener buildings, better places, healthier people The benefits that green buildings provide for the people who use them are multiple. Whether it’s improved productivity in offices, faster recovery rates in hospitals or better exam results in schools, there is a growing body of research from around the world which supports the link between greener buildings, better places and healthier people. Our Resource Library highlights some of the global studies into the attributes of green buildings and how these have impacted on the people who occupy them.

Click on the

Productivity Research suggests there is a link between green building features and increased workplace productivity. •

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Office plants can assist in boosting staff productivity by 38 per cent, increase well-being by 47 per cent and increase creativity by 45 per cent, according to research carried out by the University of Exeter and Indoor Garden Design in 2013. A seminal 2003 study by Carnegie Mellon University in the US found that workplace productivity increases by up to 23 per cent with the use of better lighting, 11 per cent from improved ventilation and 3 per cent from individual temperature control. Organisations that underwent green retrofits reported a greater ability to attract talent, improved employee retention and an increase in workforce productivity, according to a 2008 Deloitte survey.

Visit Pinpoint for all these resources and more.

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Education

Health

Students in schools with green features have been shown to have improved learning outcomes. Studies suggest that green building features aid patient recovery in hospitals and have other health benefits on occupants. •

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A 2012 study in the international journal Building and Environment found that a relationship appears to exist between indoor daylight conditions and the average length of stay in hospitals – with the average length of stay in rooms orientated to the South East shorter than rooms orientated to the North West by 16 to 41 per cent in certain wards. A 2011 study into an administrative office building at the University of Oregon found that 10 per cent of employee absences could be attributed to architecture with no connection to nature. Office workers recovered better from stress when they were exposed to a window view of nature as opposed to the same view on a plasma screen or in a windowless room, according to a 2008 study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology. A seminal study by Ulrich (1984) showed hospital stays reduced by 8.5 per cent when patients were in rooms with windows views of nature.

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A 2012 pilot study by the University of Salford and architects Nightingale Associates found that the classroom environment can affect a child’s academic progress over a year by as much as 25 per cent. According to a 2013 report by McGraw Hill Construction, 91 per cent of primary and secondary schools and 87 per cent of higher education institutions in the USA state that green schools increase health and well-being amongst students. The report also found that 74 per cent of American primary and secondary schools and 63 per cent of higher education institutions report improved student productivity through green features. One study, by Heschong Mahone Group in 1999, suggests that in schools with optimal daylight, attendance increased by three days a year, test scores improved by 5 to 14 per cent, and learning rates could be boosted by between 20 and 26 per cent. Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories have found that aspects of student performance increase by 5 to 10 per cent through doubling the ventilation rate (when rates are at or below minimum ventilation standards.)

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case studies

cafod head office Building: Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) head office Location: London Size: 3,000 sq m Architects: Black Architecture Rating: BREEAM Excellent Completed: 2010 CAFOD, an international aid charity which runs projects in 40 countries around the world, wanted to relocate from various office locations in London to a central headquarters that would become the heart of the organisation. Black Architecture produced a brief that examined technical elements as well as the emotional, psychological and behavioural changes that CAFOD wanted the building to deliver. Features: • The building is arranged in two components to encourage interaction between colleagues. A triangular, open plan office and a smaller section - containing support spaces such as

meeting rooms, toilets and breakout areas are connected by an atrium. Mezzanine social areas between each office floor encourage spontaneous interactions and promote a vibrant sense of community. • Natural and mechanical cooling and heating are used to maximise the comfort of the indoor environment. Occupants are able to increase ventilation rates by opening windows but these will be automatically closed by the building’s energy management system (BMS) if external temperatures are too high or low. Air is drawn passively through the building via the atrium and controllable roof vents. There is also ground source cooling and heating. • An equal ratio of windows and solid walls ensure that light penetrates deep within the building and staff have unobstructed views outside, but avoids unwanted solar thermal gains. • The roof has been utilised for a cafe pavilion for informal, social gatherings, and a green roof assists with water storm management and provides a habitat for insects and birds.

elizabeth ii court Building: Elizabeth II Court, Hampshire County Council Location: Winchester Size: 12,600 sq m Architects: Bennetts Associates Rating: BREEAM Excellent Completed: 2009 The transformation of Hampshire County Council’s 1960s office block into a modern, efficient and sustainable building was completed in 2009. The refurbishment was designed to make the building as sustainable as possible and enable the council to introduce new flexible working methods and make more efficient use of its assets. As a result, the Council was able to accommodate 500 more staff, reducing its wider office portfolio and redirecting funds into frontline services. Features: • The previous working environment of corridors and cellular rooms was replaced with a flexible open plan office space. Outside, car parking

was replaced with a welcoming new entrance and the exterior appearance was transformed into a modern building using local materials in harmony with Winchester’s historic context. • The building features an innovative natural ventilation system. As opening windows on the street facing elevations was not feasible due to traffic noise, a system which draws air from the inner courtyards and expels it through ducts or chimneys on the street facades was created. The ducts use renewable wind energy to create the suction force that drives the system. • Solar shading, intelligent lighting systems and a new energy efficient building envelope have all helped to ensure Elizabeth II Court uses 70 per cent less energy compared to the old building. Occupant surveys revealed the building’s users were more satisfied with criteria such as temperature, air and comfort following refurbishment, with an increase in perceived productivity. The building achieved above the UK benchmark mean for design, needs and image.

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wgbw cALENDAR

World Green Building Week (16 - 20 September) is celebrated through a programme of events hosted by UK-GBC and our members, highlighting this year’s theme: ‘Greener Buildings, Better Places, Healthier People’. We will be joining 98 GBCs, representing more than 25,000 organisations globally, to celebrate green building through a series of events around the world. Details of our member events and how you can get involved can be found here, or more information can be found on our website. The Photon Project Organisers: Cantifix Date: 14 - 22 September Location: Building Centre, Store Street Experience ‘life under glass’ from sunrise to sunset. Visit the website for more information Green Tours and Interactive Bee Talks Date: 16 - 22 September Time: Tours daily at 3pm Location: Museum of London See what’s making the museum environmentally friendly and take a sneak peak at the museum beehive. For more info, contact Elizabeth Pilliere Sustainable Buildings 2020 - Capturing the Global Perspective Date: 17 September Time: 8am - 10am From 16 offices in 10 countries, Cundall is bringing you one event for WGBW. For more info, contact Audrey Martin TCPA Study tour to the Netherlands Organisers: Town and Country Planning Association Date: 17 - 19 September Location: Across the Netherlands Visit the website for more information Visit 12 | the website

Keeping the Lights On: Energy and Commercial Property Organisers: GVA Date: 17 September Time: 8am - 9.45am Location: Library Events Room, 6 -9 Carlton Terrace Venue, SW1Y 5AG Examines the issue of energy security in the UK and the implications for the commercial property sector. For more info, contact Kelly Bradshaw Soft Landings - Who should pay? Organisers: Nicholas Hare Architects Date: 17 September Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm Location: 3 Barnsbury Square, N1 1JL What does it cost, what is it worth, who benefits the most and who should pay? For more info, email events at NHA Sustainability in Leasing, Fit-Out and Occupation: Manchester Case Study Organisers: GVA Date: 18 September Time: 8.30am - 10am Location: Norfolk House, M2 1DW Find out how GVA has worked to ensure that their office move will lead to improved environmental performance. For more info, email events@gva.co.uk

wgbw cALENDAR Performance-Based Design: ONLI the Key to Sustainability NE EVEN Organisers: Sefaira T Date: 18 September Click here to register Explore how architects can integrate analysis into the design workflow, and how to use performance analysis to drive design decisions. How long should a green building last? Organisers: David Morley Architects Date: 18 September Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm Location: 18 Hatton Place, EC1N 8RU An invigorating debate with some eminent protagonists to explore the future of temporary structures. Contact by email for more information Organic Wine Tasting Organisers: Tishman Speyer Date: 19 September Location: London

INVIT E ONLY

Green to Gold - Changing Times for Property Investment Organisers: GVA Date: 19 September Location: 10 Stratton Street, London, W1J 8JR This presentation will outline the key changes to sustainability legislation and how these changes may affect your investment decisions. For more information email Emily Collins 40 Percent Symposium Organisers: 40 Percent Symposium Date: 19 September Time: 8.30am - 6pm Location: Haberdashers Hall, EC1A 9HQ Understand the implications of sustainability as it affects the value of commercial property. Visit the website for more information

Nearer to Zero Organisers: Zero Carbon Hub Date: 19 September Time: 9.30am - 3.30pm Location: Centre for Life, Times Square, Newcastle, NE1 4EP Conference bringing together partners in the house building industry in response to zero carbon new homes from 2016. Click here to register online Waitrose Way Awards and Reception Organisers: Waitrose INVIT Date: 19 September E ONLY Location: Hampshire To learn more visit the website Design for a Changing Climate Organisers: Bennetts Associates Date: 20 September Time: 9am - 10.30am Location: 1 Rawstorne Place, EC1V 7NL Sustainable architecture, and how architects can deal with the impacts of climate change. Email Ben Hopkins for more information Green Supermarket Tour Organisers: Sainsbury’s Date: 20 September Time: 9.30am - 12pm Location: Sainsbury’s store, Kings Lynn Tour of the supermarket and an update on the technologies currently being installed as standard specification. Email David Merefield for more info Nationwide Factory Tours Organisers: UK Timber Frame Association Date: Throughout October Time: 9.30am - 1pm Location: Across the UK Learn why precision-engineered timber frame is at the heart of the Fabric First ethos. Email Richard Riley to book your place | 13

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Greener buildings, better places, healthier people Wednesday 18 September 6 - 8.30pm at the Wellcome Trust, 215 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE As part of World Green Building Week, UK-GBC will be bringing together a top line up of speakers to discuss the idea that greener buildings can lead to increased productivity and happier, healthier occupants. The event will be followed by an informal drinks reception, where you will have the opportunity to network with other UK-GBC and World GBC members.

with thanks to our sponsors:

Speakers include: Jane Henley, CEO, World Green Building Council Rab Bennetts OBE, Director, Bennetts Associates Nigel Bunclark, Director, Workplace Management, Network Rail Dr Fiona Adshead, Senior Sustainability and Health Advisor, PwC and former Director of Chronic Disease and Health Promotion, World Health Organisation Mark Russolo, Director of Public Affairs, UL Environment

with thanks to our hosts:

with thanks to Indoor Garden Design for providing plants:

Please note, this is a member only event. For more information, visit the website.