April 17, 2009—Gazeley’s 35,500-square-meter G.Park Blue Planet in Staffordshire in the U.K. is the first-ever building to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding rating by scoring exemplary credits in four areas of BREEAM and achieving an exceptional standard of sustainability as a carbon-positive development.
The new BREEAM Outstanding rating was introduced in August 2008 to recognize a new standard of sustainability for exemplary developments, says BRE Global.
The facility is projected to save up to 300,000 per year in reduced running costs as a result of the environmental features incorporated into its design—providing further evidence that achieving a high BREEAM rating improves return on investment, notes BRE Global.
Highlights of G.Park Blue Planet’s sustainability features are:
- Energy: target of being carbon-positive; biomass plant to provide heat and electricity; photovoltaics on roof; electro-kinetic road plates to generate electricity from vehicles; energy efficiency measures throughout;
- Water: water-efficient fittings; rainwater harvesting system to collect roof water and reuse in the building; rest of roof water and surface water will be diverted to balancing ponds created on site;
- Materials: majority of materials used in building are either A or A+ rated by BRE Global; most materials are sourced from suppliers with an Environmental Management System; all timber is FSC certified; all internal finishes have very low levels of volatile organics.
- Waste: target of zero waste sent to landfill; waste tonnage generated on-site is minimal, and any waste generated will be recycled; most major suppliers are committed to retaining their own waste for recycling;
- Ecology: the site is a brownfield, with a significant ecology enhancement plan in place; landscaping plan includes a number of native species; and
- Local community: green spaces and habitats within the development will be accessible to the public; training and development opportunities will be created in an area abandoned for many years; and new bus stops are planned for nearby road.
