The Ice Bucket Challenge Has Got Me Thinking…

Ollie Salter a graduate surveyor working at Morgan Pryce has a particular interest in sustainable development. According to Ollie, there are three key reasons that can motivate landlords, tenants and developers to increase sustainability in existing commercial property. Sustainability covers many areas such as energy, ecology, pollution, materials, waste and water – all of which are assessed by The BRE Environmental Assessment Method, which you will probably have heard of. 

Water is currently being poured all over everyone’s Facebook News Feed – for a good cause – and so this article is tailed towards the water management side of sustainability. 

The first reason to make change is because people have too, it’s the law and there will be consequences if it is not followed. The other side to the law is incentives; the government can offer incentives to encourage businesses to become more sustainable.

Costs; if costs are high because you are wasting water it is in your best interest to look for solutions to the problem which in the future will reduce these costs. Linked to cost is the idea of future proofing property and making it more attractive to businesses that are becoming increasingly more interested in green property which are demanding higher returns. 

The last is to do with attitude; realising that the rate we are using water is not sustainable and wanting to do something about it to safe guard our future. This can be coupled with trying to set an example which will benefit your business as well as the environment.  

There are a number of examples where managing water efficiently can reduce costs and increase business potential; Moorfields Pharmaceuticals in London is saving £22,000 a year by reducing their water consumption by over 13,000m3, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London has estimated water savings of 85,000m3 amounting to £112,500 a year!

Of course, the monitory benefits might be seen in other ways, Lion House, Northumberland where the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs reside has achieved a BREEAM rating of outstanding – with water being at the heart of many of their projects and campaigns, reducing the amount of water used and wasted was important. This can promote businesses by leading by example potentially pulling in more business. 

Something has to be done with the existing building stock, but are you man enough to make a change? (Ps. no need to post a video if you do.)

This news was brought to you by Morgan Pryce, a specialist tenant acquisition agent with offices in Oxford Circus and the City. Morgan Pryce specialises in search, negotiation and project management and works exclusively for tenants.