The built environment accounts for 39% of energy-related CO2 emissions globally ¹, with 28% of this number arising from operational carbon, such as lighting, heating and cooling, and the other 11% from embodied carbon, the materials used in construction. Despite the considerable shift to remote working during the pandemic, the majority of people spend their day at an office or workplace and therefore it is crucial that commercial buildings take steps towards decarbonisation and sustainability in order to reduce this statistic.

Below are three inspirational examples of successful ‘green’ commercial buildings that are pioneering sustainable technologies in the workplace. The design of each of these structures is not only intended to improve the energy-efficiency of the building but also to improve the work environment and health of the employees who inhabit it.


The Edge, Amsterdam
Overview: Completed in 2015, the Edge is a smart, energy-efficient office building designed for global financial firm Deloitte by PLP Architecture ². It earned the nickname, ‘a computer with a roof’ due to its incorporation of the Internet of Things (IOT) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) into its structure.

The Edge uses 70% less electricity than other office buildings of its size and is not only energy-neutral but energy positive. At the time it was built, this structure achieved BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) certification with a score of 98.36%, one of the highest ratings awarded to an office building.

However, the Edge is more than an example of technological sustainability, it is also on the forefront of innovation for new, future-proof workplaces that allow the building’s inhabitants to take control of their energy usage and environment.

Sustainable Features:

Glass Atrium: The building’s design features a 15-storey glass-panelled atrium that filters natural daylight into the office spaces, reducing the need for artificial lighting. It also serves as ventilation for the building while maintaining a buffer from the exterior elements.

Solar panels: 65,000 sq. ft of solar panels are built into the office facades and roof, producing enough energy to power all the systems inside the building, including electric charging stations for employee vehicles.

Rainwater Recycling: Rainwater is collected from the roof and recycled for use in the toilet facilities and garden areas.

Thermal Energy Storage: The Edge has two deep wells which connect to an aquifer, allowing thermal energy to be stored underground and used for heating and cooling.

Smart Lighting: An innovative lighting system powered by Ethernet and completely controlled by computers is utilised in the Edge. This allows changes to be made quickly and easily according to data provided by the building, i.e., no energy use in areas of zero occupancy.

Working Practices: Employees in the Edge do not have assigned desks and instead are free to work anywhere they choose in the building. With an array of workspace options available, including standing desks, sitting desks, balcony desks, concentration rooms, and armchairs, each employee can choose the environment they feel is best suited to their current task.

Additionally, each employee has private access to a mobile app which connects them to the building and provides information on available parking spaces, empty desks, locations of their colleagues, and more. The app also controls the lighting and temperature of the space they are in and notifies them about their energy usage so they can keep track of it.


Bloomberg HQ, London
Overview: Bloomberg’s European headquarters, located in London and designed by Foster and Partners ³, is another remarkable example of a sustainable and technologically advanced building that incorporates numerous environmental features while also encouraging healthy working practices for employees. Spanning an enormous 1.1 million sq. ft and housing nearly 4,000 employees, the Bloomberg building demonstrates that cutting-edge design and sustainable technology can harmoniously exist in one modern, collaborative, and efficient space. It achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating of 99.1%, earning it the title of the most sustainable building in the world.

Sustainable Features:

Petal-shaped Ceiling Panels: The Bloomberg building features 2.5 million petal-shaped aluminium ceiling panels which perform the functions of lighting, cooling, heating, and acoustics. Half a million LED lights are incorporated into the petals, which use 40% less energy than most office lighting systems.

Smart Design: Depending on the weather conditions, the bronze panels on the exterior of the structure can open up to naturally light and ventilate the building and save on energy usage. When the panels are open, air passes through the building’s interior ramp and flows out though the petal-shaped panels on the ceiling. The airflow can be adjusted through inbuilt sensors which detect how many people are occupying the building.

Water treatment plant: Rainwater and ‘grey’ water from sinks are collected and processed in an on-site water treatment plant before being re-used in the vacuum-flush toilets. An estimated 70% less water is used in the Bloomberg than in typical office buildings.

CHP System: The Bloomberg building uses Combined Heat and Power (CHP), a system which generates both heat and electricity, saving approximately 500-750 metric tonnes of CO₂ annually.

Working Practices: Sit-to-stand workstations are provided for all employees to encourage active working throughout the day. The office spaces are also equipped with mobile meeting pods which can be moved flexibly to various floors of the building depending on where they are needed.

Even the central focus of the building, the distinctive central spiralling ramp, has been designed with the wellbeing of the inhabitants in mind. The ramp connects all six floors of the Bloomberg and provides a space for employees to meet and connect with their colleagues and enjoy the spectacular views.


Bullitt Center, Seattle
Overview: The Bullitt Center in Seattle is a six-storey office building that has become a symbol of sustainable design for commercial buildings ⁴. Due to its unique and inspirational features, the building has achieved the rigorous Living Building Challenge certification, one of the most highly sought-after sustainability benchmarks in the built environment. The certification requires buildings to be net-zero for energy and water for at least one year and to be constructed using non-toxic materials.

Designed by Miller Hull, the Bullitt Center was built to inspire other architects to change the way that buildings are designed, constructed, and operated and to demonstrate that a large, commercial office building can be completely run on the energy and water that it generates itself.

Sustainability Features:

Smart Design: The abundance of operable glass windows covering the façade allows for an enormous amount of natural light to enter the building, reducing the need for artificial lighting. There are CO₂ sensors embedded within the structure which detect the need for fresh air and open the windows when required. If weather conditions are poor, however, the windows remain closed while the ventilation system circulates air naturally from outside.

Solar panels: There are 575 rooftop solar panels which generate a net-positive amount of energy for the building. The excess energy is collected, stored, and sold to the grid.

Composters: The Bullitt Center has a unique composting system which collects human waste from the foam flush toilets and transfers it to ten composters in the basement. The composters sterilize any contaminants and produce about 900 gallons of compost each year using an anaerobic digestion system.

Rainwater Collection: Rainwater is collected, stored, and treated for reuse in the kitchens, bathrooms, and gardens.

Building Materials: Over 350 toxic chemicals that are commonly used in construction were excluded from the building materials for the Bullitt Center. These included PVC, Neoprene, Lead, and Formaldehyde.

Working Practices: The Bullitt Center was intentionally designed without an on-site parking area to encourage its occupants to take public transportation, walk, or cycle to work rather than use a car.

Employees are given the option to use height-adjustable desks to encourage active working, and in line with the Living Building Challenge regulations, all occupiable work areas have access to fresh air and light. The glass-enclosed stairwells in this structure have also been considered in the design, as the spectacular panoramic views from the stairs encourage visitors and employees to walk rather than take the lift.

Author: Shirley Carruthers - Content Creator at ParkerSteel

References:
WorldGBC Bringing Embodied Carbon Upfront
The Edge by PLP Architecture
BREEAM New Construction - Bloomberg London
Living Proof - Bullitt Center Case Study