Thursday, October 01, 2009
£2m eco-office reflects
company's sustainable ethos, as local MP visits
West Coast Energy
has moved into a new purpose-built
headquarters in Mold, Flintshire. As befits a company
in the business of making renewable energy a reality, the new
headquarters has been designed with the
environment very much front of mind, using a
number of sustainable methods and materials.
West Coast Energy had outgrown its
current rented office space at Waen Farm in Mold, and the
management was keen to move into their own premises as an
investment in the future of the company. The new, 850m2
timber clad office has been accredited under the BRE Environmental
Assessment Method (BREEAM) as 'excellent', and includes a glue
laminated timber (glulam) frame. All the timber used in the
build and furniture is Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified
and sourced from local suppliers.
The building's 'green' roof
features a covering of sedum plants to further benefit the
environment and boost insulation. The low-impact environmental
build also made maximal use of local suppliers, as well as
available natural resources, to reduce power usage including sun
pipes for natural lighting, natural ventilation and a sustainable
drainage system. Eighty per cent of the fabric of the building is
made from A-rated energy performance materials. Electrical lighting
is operated by movement sensor.
In addition to the move, West Coast
Energy has launched a redesigned corporate identity. The company's
branding and logos have been updated to be cleaner, more modern and
reflective of the organisation's sustainable ethos. A newly
designed website will also be launching soon.
The newly completed building was
visited and toured by local MP David Hanson, who commented: "I am
always heartened during these difficult economic times to see a
Flintshire business thriving. In West Coast Energy's case this is
combined with an inspirational environmental construction project.
I am delighted to have toured the new headquarters to see how a
successful local business has realised ambitious plans for
expansion. West Coast Energy's new headquarters is a wonderful
example of a truly environmental build, from the insulated
foundations to the sedum roof."
Paula Jewson, Director and Company
Secretary, West Coast Energy comments: "We are very proud of our
new headquarters, which is a great example of modern construction
from sustainably-sourced materials: from under-floor heating to
cyclist facilities to including showers with low water consumption
sanitary fittings. It is a vast improvement on our previous
surroundings and will bring our employees a more attractive, modern
and airy working environment. What's more, all staff members will
now be working in the same building - previously they had been
spread across three sites."
The new office is set within
landscaping of locally sourced trees and wild flowers,
improving the surrounding habitat's biodiversity. Rain water will
be conserved using storage butts and porous tarmac paves the car
park. An application for a wind turbine is currently underway, to
enable self-sufficiency and promote the use of renewable energy
locally.
