According to a survey of construction industry professionals conducted by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), 94.6% of respondents believe that ‘green’ building is the future of the construction industry. Ian Nicol, managing director of sustainable energy solutions firm Active, discusses the benefits of energy efficient buildings.

Ian said: “As energy prices continue to rise, an increasing number of business owners are looking to safeguard their future energy commitments by investing in energy efficient buildings. Although the technology and building principles are already used extensively within the colder climates of Europe, it is only now that companies are beginning to take a serious look at how renewable technologies can benefit business.”

In May this year Active announced plans to build one of the UK’s most energy efficient buildings within the Minto Commercial Park, Altens, Aberdeen. The Active Renewable Energy Centre will be the new headquarters for the specialist air conditioning, ventilation and sustainable energy solutions firm and is expected to be completed early in 2009.

Ian said: “The building will incorporate the very latest renewable technologies including solar panels, a wind turbine and ground source heat pumps. It will generate all of its own electricity and we plan to sell any additional power back to the National Grid. Although the initial construction will be more expensive than a typical industrial unit, it will be cheaper to run and will cost much less in the long-tem.

“We also intend to measure the energy consumed and generated by the building and plan to use the data to demonstrate that investing in energy efficiency can bring long-term gains and makes sound commercial sense. We have a good team involved with the project and by working closely with our architects, Halliday Fraser Munro, we hope to deliver a truly outstanding building.”

There are not only financial benefits to investing in sustainable buildings. According to research conducted by the Carbon Trust more than three-quarters of UK employees now consider it important to work for a company that has an active policy to reduce carbon emissions.

“There are many benefits to investing in ‘green’ buildings - ranging from cost saving to reducing CO2 levels and increasing motivation among staff. We are keen to embrace every aspect of ‘green’ building and we hope to get the message into the wider business community that sustainability really is good for business,” Ian continued.

As public demand for energy efficiency increases and new government initiatives concerning carbon emissions are implemented, sustainability has become more than just a buzz word. Businesses must begin to plan ahead for their future energy needs if they are to ensure that they are not left out in the cold.

Email: christine@thinkpr.co.uk