Bruntwood has received planning permission for The Ev0 Building, the UK’s lowest carbon new build workspace.
Based at Didsbury Technology Park in South Manchester, the £31 million development will meet LETI 2020 design targets for upfront carbon, RIBA 2025 targets for whole life carbon and the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) Paris Proof operational energy use targets, making Ev0 net zero in both construction and ongoing operation. It is also targeting a NABERS 5.5 star rating, the highest level of environmental performance in use.
The development’s key innovative feature is its mass timber frame. The design is centred on the use of timber because of the material’s ability to capture and store carbon, ensuring it is not released back into the atmosphere until the end of its lifespan. This process is known as sequestration, with Ev0’s timber frame predicted to store 4,000 tonnes of carbon, the equivalent of 2,500 return flights from Manchester to New York.
Ev0 will be a fully electric development, with up to 94% of its energy requirement generated through photovoltaics located on the building’s roof and car park, acting as a series of mini power plants. All energy required by the development will either be generated on site or supplied by Bruntwood’s co-operative wind farm.
As part of Ev0’s energy efficiency plans, the building’s ground-breaking design estimates running costs at 58% lower than a traditional new build, supporting future occupiers in mitigating the risks and uncertainty of rising energy costs. Bruntwood will provide sustainability guidance to Ev0 customers to help them meet Paris Proof targets for their own operational energy use, as part of a green leasing strategy. A smart building management system will also help customers manage their daily energy use effectively.
The development has employed parametric design principles to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the building, with the facade designed to minimise solar gain and overheating on the south and westerly elevations, and maximise solar gain on the north and east elevations.
Ev0 will also feature a gym, cafe, customer lounge, cycle storage and event space, characteristic of Bruntwood’s approach to the provision of excellent onsite customer amenity.
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