In an escalating trend, corporations and institutions are progressively putting more emphasis on constructing and managing their facilities in a sustainable way, utilising well-established eco-friendly building standards like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) to conform to stringent sustainability parameters.
However, sustainability is not only related to the construction phase; it permeates every segment of the building’s life and usage. This encompasses implementation of renewable energy sources and investing in intelligent technologies to enhance energy efficiency and reduce expenses, as well as conservation of water, waste minimisation, and even including how the employees commute to work.
Sustainable design is also beneficial in offering a more appealing working conditions, thereby contributing to employees’ mental health by boosting indoor climate quality via natural lighting, nature-inspired design and advanced air filtration systems.
Since launching its sustainability plan last year, the telecom firm Three Ireland has been diligently working towards reducing its carbon footprint and environmental impact across their two workplaces in Dublin and Limerick.
“At our Dublin office, we have undertaken a comprehensive plant and equipment renovation programme, replacing the boilers and all the water pumps with intelligent variable speed pumps. Besides this, we have replaced the belt-driven fans in all air handling units with direct-drive fans,” mentions Derval O’Brien, the sustainability manager at Three Ireland.
Moreover, at the Limerick office, the company has implemented a complete lighting renovation to more energy-efficient LED systems and has also replaced their 30-year-old lifts with a more modern and energy-efficient substitute. They have even developed a wild-flower garden to endorse biodiversity. “We aim to replace the total air conditioning system by 2025, which is anticipated to lead to more energy savings,” according to O’Brien.
The efficacy of these modifications is clear: the revised lighting system in the Limerick branch has led to a 16% reduction in power consumption, and the introduction of a reusable cup plan saved 34,000 single-use cups within the first ten months of the previous year.
It’s not just the workplace buildings that have an impact, but also the means by which employees commute to work. As part of its commitment to a greener planet, Three Ireland is not only working towards electrifying its vehicle fleet but also encouraging its staff to commute more sustainably to work by providing amenities like electric vehicle charging stations, bicycle parking facilities and promoting cyclinig-to-work initiatives.
In the case of UCD’s Belfield campus and Smurfit Business School, with a filled-to-capacity population of around 35,000 students and staff, a strong emphasis is placed on transport and environmental sustainability. Paula Carroll, an associate professor at UCD School of Business, notes that numerous sustainability-driven initiatives target both the energy and transport sectors from multiple viewpoints including research, teaching, learning, and operations.
At the heart of these initiatives are infrastructure design and operational projects, aimed at influencing how members of the UCD community commute and utilize energy. The university boasts a dual-purpose energy monitoring and building management system that evaluates and controls energy and water usage. Plans exist to upgrade the energy efficiency of older buildings, exemplified by recent work on the Quinn School of Business’s building, upgrading its Building Energy Rating (BER) from D1 to C2, and with intentions to wean UCD’s district heating system off fossil fuels, it is projected that the the BER of its buildings will be increased to B2 by 2030.
Despite the substantial work required to renovate the 133-hectare campus’s already extant facilities, new constructions, like the Centre for Future Learning, are being designed with near-zero energy consumption goals in mind. Carroll states, “well thought out design is pivotal in ensuring these buildings serve their intended purpose sustainably.”
Schneider Electric is yet another organisation incorporating building management systems in its own and clients’ offices to moderate environmental conditions, like HVAC, lighting, and energy levels based on occupancy. These smart systems not just optimise buildings’ operations but also afford the necessary data analytics that enterprises demand for transitioning to net zero.
Schneider Electric’s Ireland Country President, Chris Collins, asserts, “Allocating resources to upgrading their infrastructure and building systems is an avenue by which businesses can significantly progress towards enhancing their green reputation. Renewable energies will ultimately join forces with AI, automation and IoT devices as part of clever energy management strategies to ensure comprehensive decarbonisation.
Schneider occasionally meets pushback over implementing innovative strategies due to budgetary issues, Collins highlights that the prosperity generated is regularly more valuable than the financial contribution, which can be redeemed via the advancement in energy efficiency.
He has witnessed firsthand how the incorporation of construction and design aspirations with sustainability targets cultivates an enhanced workspace for the workforce. Collins emphasises how consciously strategising to decrease energy usage in workplaces by controlling the heat, light and air cooling systems can generate a noticeable difference that will be appreciated by staff, clients, and all associated parties.
Moreover, he adds that this can even stimulate an augmentation in productivity as the office evolves into a more agreeable setting for work.