Choosing an eco-friendly office space: BREEAM and why it matters

When it comes to choosing a particular space it can be useful to look for a BREEAM rating. Buildings with this status use less energy and water and often have better air quality too. We’ve always had a strong commitment to offering an eco-friendly space, and The Blade has the highest BREEAM rating for any Berkshire office building. We’re also in the top 20 BREEAM rated buildings across the whole of the UK, placing 13^th.

What is BREEAM?
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is one of the world's leading methods for assessing sustainability in buildings. It was developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in the UK and is now used globally to confirm the sustainability of buildings based on various environmental, social, and economic factors.

Why BREEAM Matters
BREEAM promotes the design, construction, and management of sustainable buildings. This helps reduce carbon emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and create healthier living and working environments.

Some of the other considerations you might need to think about when making your office space as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible are:

·      Accessibility– choosing an office space which is near public transport, which encourages teams to use more eco-friendly commuting options like cycling or walking.

·      Location– it can be useful to consider the immediate environment around the office, and check whether there are green spaces, places to walk, meet or have lunch close by. This also ensures that teams have the opportunity to take meetings outside, as and when needed, and when the weather permits!

·      Aesthetics- incorporating welcoming spaces can make an enormous difference for staff and visitors. Plants can improve air quality and create a more relaxing atmosphere, and music and scent can play a part too. Earlier this year we took some time to make over our reception space to incorporate natural landscaping, background music and even a new signature scent from The White Company!

·      Open-Plan Design: very much the expected design in modern office spaces, open-plan layouts also help create a more eco-friendly impression, reducing the need for extensive materials (like walls and partitions), promoting natural light distribution, and improving airflow.

·      Well-being: offering other amenities including bicycle racks, showers, and changing rooms can encourage walking, running or cycling as an alternative means of commuting, or enable teams to build exercise time into their working day.

Choosing an eco-friendly office space allows businesses to make a meaningful impact on the environment, reduce operational costs, and promote a healthier, more productive workplace for teams. Here at The Blade we’re proud to offer eco-friendly space which teams enjoy being part of. To find out more about life at The Blade please get in touch with our team.

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