At Tritax Symmetry, we take our commitment to creating sustainable spaces and a healthy working environment seriously.
That's why all of our buildings have been carefully designed with a holistic approach to create spaces that consider the environment and communities, where our customers' businesses can thrive and employees are happy and healthy when they come to work.
These are just some of our sustainability initiatives...
Tritax Symmetry recognise the essential role of the built environment in delivering sustainable development, we understand and embrace the need to have a positive impact on the environment. We therefore adopt a holistic approach to creating energy efficient buildings, sensitive to the climate and environment. We believe that the approach to sustainable development must be tailored for every project to meet the needs of the client and the requirements of the project stakeholders.
In our opinion some of the most relevant definitions and objectives of sustainable development are incorporated in the following, the ethos of which we are committed to reflect in all new development.
Brundtland Commission 1987
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
UK Government Initiative
The Triple Bottom Line Objective
The concept of measuring performance in terms of social and environmental performance, as well as financial return.
In order to fulfil our objectives as outlined above, we undertake the following detailed analysis for each new project we embark on:
Tritax Symmetry support and use BREEAM as a guideline for sustainable building practices and embraces local authorities’ environmental requirements and objectives. BREEAM is the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. It is the most widely used and robust method available for measuring and demonstrating the environmental performance of buildings.
Tritax Symmetry are committed to delivering energy efficient, low carbon and cost effective buildings, which we assess through building operation energy usage modelling. This is vital because Buildings are responsible for about half of all carbon dioxide emissions in the UK.
Tritax Symmetry deliver workspaces designed to provide the most comfortable working conditions by optimising daylight, ventilation, heating and cooling systems.
Tritax Symmetry fully investigates the use of integrated renewable energy systems on all projects, in order to minimise the erosion of exhaustible materials e.g. fossil fuels.
Tritax Symmetry consider the following strategies in all new projects:
To review all environmental aspects of the site and the proposed building with a view to achieving the highest rating possible.
To investigate the ecological value of the site with a view to maintaining or enhancing the ecological value of the site to the benefit of all.
To investigate the alternative sources of renewable energy and to determine its suitability for the site and buildings.
To obtain an air leakage rate for the building at least 50% better than that required under current Building Regulations.
Provide roof lights to a minimum of 10% of the roof area.
To ensure the systems installed provide heating, lighting and cooling with minimum energy usage and wastage.
To review the design and alignment of the offices to maximise the use of fresh air ventilation and natural daylight.
By use of sun path analysis, ensure that the alignment of the offices on the site maximises daylighting.
To reduce heat gain within offices during the summer months with the benefit of more natural cooling.
To control heat gain within the building during the summer months.
To constantly review the latest products to reduce energy usages.
To enable the building user to monitor the building system to reduce and control energy usage.
To enable the building user to manage and maintain the building systems to maximum effect for minimum energy usage.
To minimise energy usage whilst offices are not occupied.
To control external lighting in relation to outside light levels.
To review the location of all external lighting to minimise upward glare.
To help encourage less reliance on single occupancy private car travel.
Investigate materials and method statements to decrease embodied carbon and all new buildings to be retained in the portfolio will be constructed to net zero carbon in construction as defined by the UKGBC.
Reduction in the heating design temperatures without a material effect on the building amenity whilst accepting that this will require acceptance by occupier, investors and advisers alike.
To minimise energy usage whilst offices are occupied and lighting is switched on.
By providing the following water saving devices within the plumbing system.
Will assess the energy performance of a building at completion and in use. Guidelines issued in March 2007
*Introduction for commercial buildings on 6th April 2008*
* Dates for England & Wales – Scotland different dates
A system for heating water using energy from the sun.
Measures the environmental performance of the development of a site including the impact of site constraints i.e. contamination, ecology, transport arrangements etc. these issues can affect the BREEAM assessment we can attain irrespective of how sustainable the building is.
Water that has already been used in washbasins, showers, baths and the like, and can be filtered and disinfected before being used again in toilet flushing and other non potable activities such as gardening.
A method dealing with surface water drainage which dependant upon existing site conditions can control surface water run off rate, maintain or improve water quantity, provide an amenity for the local community, provide additional habitat for wildlife and provide ground water recharge
A calculation giving the gross carbon consumption to operate a building. Includes all aspects of operating the building including such items as transportation of staff.
The technology of heating and cooling a building naturally without the use of mechanical equipment.
Encompasses environmental, economic and social issues for a development, including SUDS, Energy Efficiency, Transportation, Ecology etc
The means by which carbon emissions can be offset to a similar quantum by external investment e.g planting trees.
The process of converting solar energy into electricity.
Also known as combined heat, cooling and power (CHCP or CCHP). The production of useful power, heat, cooling from an energy plant. Where cooling is required CHP plant can be used to produce cooling.
Is the domestic version of BREEAM, and provides an environmental rating.
The total life cycle energy used in the collection, manufacture, transportation, assembly, recycling and disposal of a given material or product.
Energy generated from sources that do not require the use of exhaustible materials ie fossil fuels.