Paul Brown, MD of Overbury's Northern office comments on why the company is pressing ahead with the implementation of sustainable practices in the current economic climate.
“Sustainability is an integral part of our business culture at Overbury – and this will not become any less important over the next few years despite what is happening in the economy. It is ingrained in our company; is what our clients want and one of the areas where we feel we can add value. Similarly we are encouraged by other businesses who are taking the green agenda seriously - whether they are in the property industry or otherwise.
“The fit out market is naturally seeing an impact from the downturn but sustainable construction practice is set to continue as government legislation such as Part L, BREEAM and the latest –
“Technolgies incorporated into the actual base build such as photovoltaics and combined heat and power units not only make a building more energy efficient and cheaper to run but can provide an effective marketing tool for attracting tenants that wish to occupy a ‘green’ building.
“For those looking to refurbish, reconfigure or make the most of their existing space – there are many ways of creating a greener working environment without breaking the bank. Fixing chilled filters on water taps is relatively inexpensive and minimises the waste associated with using bottled water. You can also look at installing sensor activated lighting to help reduce energy bills.
“But it’s as much about changing the way a buildings occupants behave. Often simple measures like taking away waste bins at individual workstations and introducing paper-only, card, glass and plastic recycling points in communal areas can have a real impact, encouraging staff to change their habits and promoting a green culture in the workplace.
“As government legislation and pressure from shareholders will inevitably remain a constant during this downturn, businesses will continue to engage in sustainable activity for all sorts of reasons. Ultimately though – it is those that continue to strive for best practice in sustainability that will benefit in the long term and not only because of the obvious cost benefits.
“Afterall, the cream of the tomorrows' workforce is well-educated in all things green and will use a company’s stance on sustainability as a differentiator and an indication of how commited to continual improvement it is. Now is the time to position your business so that once the econmony turns you can continue to attract and retain the best people.”
