Calthorpe Estates - Winner of a West Midlands C+ Carbon Positive award

Calthorpe Estates - Winner of a West Midlands C+ Carbon Positive award

Award scheme

West Midlands's C+ Carbon Positive Awards

Award

C+ Carbon Positive Consumer Choices 2009

For organisations that have reviewed their products and services and are now offering consumers more low carbon choices

Winners < 50 employees

Name

Calthorpe Estates

Organisation

Calthorpe Estates is the award-winning property investor and developer of the 600 hectare Calthorpe Estate in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Summary

The 300 year old Estate comprises a mix of residential and commercial properties across the office, retail and healthcare sectors as well as educational and leisure facilities.

Landmark schemes currently being developed on The Estate include Grade A offices at Calthorpe House, new mixed-use schemes at Edgbaston Galleries and Edgbaston Mill and the world-class University Science Park, Pebble Mill.

A commitment to sustainability is at the heart of Calthorpe Estates with a vision to 'create and sustain the best places to work and live.'

The challenges

To become one of the UK's most forward thinking and progressive property investment and development companies.

The solutions

Calthorpe House - over 10,000 sq metres of new, Grade A offices:

• Through all its stages of design and construction, the building has maintained a clear focus on the issues of pollution, energy and water consumption, alongside provisions for rainwater harvesting, the protection of site ecology and the use of land and materials.
• Minimises energy use with features including high levels of thermal insulation, air handling units with heat recovery thermal wheels, power factor correction and mechanical systems to minimise pump and fan power.
• Requested contractors monitor and report on carbon emissions associated with site activities, use only responsibly sourced timber products and sort and recycle all site waste.
• Easy access to public transport, matched by green travel plans and provisions for cyclists with 42 bike spaces.

19 George Road - 12,545 sq ft of new contemporary office space:

• Exceeded current building regulations on assessment, incorporating energy conservation measures such as 'fresh cooling', flow regulators to strictly monitor water consumption and high efficiency lamps to be as environmentally efficient as possible.
• Insulation has also been of the highest standard, with sto rendering, a kalzip roofing system and powder coated aluminium panels.

Refurbishment programme:

As existing properties are refurbished, they are done so in a manner that maximises opportunities to reduce carbon. Recent examples include:

• 3 & 4 Greenfield Crescent - this office space is naturally ventilated and includes low energy light fittings, condensing boiler and insulation. The £800,000 scheme includes a wet room and bike storage facilities to provide staff with the option to cycle to work.
• 38 Highfield Road - converted to a clinic for a leading healthcare provider, the £0.6m refurbishment included low energy proximity infrared (PIR) lighting, new condensing boiler and insulation to reduce carbon usage.
• 100 Hagley Road - a major redevelopment project of a 1960's structure has been designed to the latest (2008) building regulations. The refurbishment also includes the installation of a biomass boiler and SMART meters, this next generation of technology provides real time data via GPS to an internet database that can be accessed by users on desktop PCs to constantly display energy usage.

Streetscape:

• An investment programme that includes ongoing tree monitoring and replacement to ensure the preservation of one of Britain's largest urban conservation areas.
• Specialist arboriculturists are commissioned to undertake an assessment of all trees on The Estate, including each tree's vitality, condition, age, class and longevity. The information is then collated to formulate a tree management programme and planting strategy.

Wider scale promotion of carbon reducing activity:

The occupiers of Calthorpe House will enter into a 'green lease' agreeing to work to maximise the benefits from the building's design.

The results

Calthorpe House:

• In terms of energy efficiency, Calthorpe House outperforms the 2006 statutory requirements for carbon emissions by 27% and provides energy saving measures which include high levels of thermal insulation and solar control glass.
• Power factor correction will provide a 10-20% saving on electrical loads.
• Total commuting CO₂ emissions for Calthorpe House occupiers are estimated to be <500kg/person/year as a result of green travel initiatives.
• Measures to minimise energy use reduced emissions to only 22.5 kg/CO₂ per square metre, a 77% improvement compared to a benchmark 'typical practice' ten year old building, and 56% improvement compared to a 'good practice' ten year old building.
• Calthorpe House has reduced carbon emissions by an estimated 300 tonnes p.a. whilst also providing 150% more floorspace than the 1960s buildings which previously occupied the site.
• Rainwater harvesting will reduce forecast water consumption from an estimated 4m³ to only 2.25m³ per occupant per year.

19 George Road:

• The first commercial scheme in Birmingham to receive a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating.
• Insulation keeps it as environmentally efficient as possible.
• In 2007, it was awarded the 'Small Projects' award from the British Council for Offices (BCO) and the 'Green Design' award at the British Design Innovation (BDI) Industry and Genius awards.

Refurbishment programme:

In total this £13 million refurbishment programme of over 5,000 sq metres of commercial space will cut carbon emissions by an estimated 320 tonnes per annum.

Wider scale promotion of carbon reducing activity:

For the demolition of the Edgbaston shopping centre to make way for Galleries scheme, the contractor employed practices that resulted in 96% of the material from the demolition being recycled, with a proportion going into the new build.

Learning points

• Begin with small manageable steps, e.g. harness staff support to measure energy support.
• Engage staff support to practice energy efficiency and help promote the sustainability initiatives of the organisation.

"Don't be overwhelmed by what seems an insurmountable task and not do anything."

Calthorpe Estates

"Realise that every contribution, no matter its size, counts and the sooner we all take action, the sooner we can all make a difference."

Calthorpe Estates

SWM comment

We think Calthorpe Estates is a well-deserving winner and a great example to other businesses for its investment in sustainability; implementing numerous and diverse solutions throughout a range of different property types.

Contact

For more information please go to the Calthorpe Estates website.  Alternatively you can call on 0121 248 7676 or email enquiry@calthorpe.co.uk.