Orbis Energy

International Green Apple Awards 2008

Gold winner award for Energy Efficiency    

Pick Everard’s involvement in the OrbisEnergy building quickly earned it an acclaimed International Green Apple recognition for energy efficiency, while at the same time providing small to medium-sized start-up businesses – all in the renewable energy sector – with 30,000 square feet of office and workshop space.

The five-storey, multi-purpose construction – with its striking glass atrium and undercroft parking, includes conference and exhibition facilities. Pick Everard used its expertise in sustainable design to aim for a ‘Very Good’ Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) rating. Using the latest building management systems technology available the potential environmental impact of this structure has been reduced. Natural ventilation and heat recovery, comfort cooling and solar thermal hot water heating will keep seasonal temperature fluctuations to a minimum, thus maximising personal comfort and minimising the building’s carbon footprint. Heating comes from a locally sourced boiler fuelled by sustainable woodchips and facilities to enable future rainwater harvesting have been included. Additional measures have also been put in place to protect the building from the extremities of British coastal weather, such as harsh sunlight and sea air.