Environment Agency is the UK government agency concerned mainly with rivers, flooding, and pollution, public information and educational materials.
The city center development recorded a score of 85.06% under BREEAM 2006, the most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings around the world. No other office building in the UK has ever achieved such a high rating under either BREEAM 2006 or BREEAM 2008, making it the ‘greenest’ office development in the UK.
The BREEAM score is calculated by assessing a building’s performance under eight criteria. Horizon House achieved 100% for management, transport and water, and recorded an ‘excellent’ rating for all other criteria, including health and well-being, energy and pollution. Only three other office buildings in the UK have ever achieved a score greater than 80% under BREEAM 2006.
The latest technologies, innovative design and stringent site management have been used to ensure the highest levels of environmental performance in both the construction and use of the building.
Sustainable technologies employed include natural ventilation, rainwater harvesting systems, on-site renewable energy sources in the form of a ground source heat pump, 100 square meters of photovoltaic cells to produce electricity, and a solar hot water system. Waterless urinals, intelligent lighting, water metering, and meadow grass roofs to external terraces further consolidate the development’s green credentials.
