Achieving any of the UK green building certifications or standards such as BREEAM, Fitwel, NABERS UK, Passivhaus and WELL can be extremely advantageous. Not only can doing so help your business meet various environmental objectives, but greener buildings can also produce happier and healthier employees.
The use of plants can look to enhance any efforts towards creating a more sustainable building, while also supporting your holistic needs as a business.
If you are involved in the construction or redevelopment of a corporate space in the UK, then Planteria Group is here to help.
Discover how our biophilia experts can help you achieve green building certifications through our vast range of services.
Sustainable Biophilic Design And Green Building Certifications In The UK
Humans were always meant to coexist with nature. But over time, our lives, including the corporate spaces where we spend most of our lives, have become devoid of natural elements.
All too often, the result is trying to work in spaces that feel uninspiring and can even harm our health.
Over the years, several green building certifications and standards have been developed to improve the standard of our buildings, while also working to support wider sustainability objectives. In the UK, applicable programmes include BREEAM, Fitwel, NABERS UK, Passivhaus and WELL.
Biophilia translates to “love of life” and is a key aspect of the various global green building certifications.
While each certification is different, they commonly require consideration of a building’s energy use, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and resource management. In addition, the environment itself contributes to the health and well-being of building occupants. Therefore, the use of greenery can be integral to meeting many of the requirements.
Here is an overview of the various UK green building certifications that exist. Plus, how the Planteria team can help you achieve them for your next corporate building project.
P.S. Don’t see your green building or environmental certification listed below? If you are involved in developing or designing a corporate space in the UK, we may still be able to help you. Please contact us here at Planteria to discuss your requirements with us.
BREEAM
BREEAM stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology.
As a globally recognised scheme, BREEAM measures multiple aspects of a building to determine its overall environmental performance.
Key areas of the BREEAM assessment include carbon emissions, biodiversity protection and circular economy principles. Another criteria includes health and social impact, which looks to ensure that buildings have adequate air quality, ventilation and visual comfort.
With BREEAM being one of the best-known green building certifications internationally as well as in the UK, the entire Planteria team is well versed in the required standards your building may need to achieve. Therefore, we can ensure your project meets the very highest criteria within the solutions we provide.
Fitwel
Fitwel certification is based on the idea of promoting human health within the built environment. It comprises over 50 evidence-based and operational strategies to enhance health and wellbeing within our buildings.
Getting certified for Fitwell can look different depending on whether the building is classed as a new construction or a redevelopment. However, what Fitwel certification demonstrates is that the building is committed to improving the lives of not only those who use the building but also the surrounding communities.
At Planteria, we are very in tune with enhancing wellness in the workplace, including through the use of biophilia. Ask our experts about reducing stress and improving wellbeing in corporate spaces, including to achieve Fitwell certification in the UK.
NABERS UK
Originally an Australian green building certification, NABERS UK is now overseen by the CIBSE.
NABERS UK offers two types of green building certifications relating to designing for performance along with the energy efficiency of offices.
For any corporate building looking to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability or achieve net zero, NABERS UK is a relevant certification to consider.
Various plants have been shown to improve energy efficiency within a building by providing natural insulation. If you are striving to achieve NABERS UK certification, our plant experts can curate the plants chosen with energy efficiency and designing for performance in mind.
Net Zero Carbon Building Standard
The Net Zero Carbon Building Standard provides a set of guidance to achieve net zero buildings. It is a relatively new set of standards, which relate to how buildings can be designed or retrofitted to improve energy efficiency. The use of plants can enhance any green building measures in several ways.
As it happens, Planteria has also worked on projects directly relating to the green energy industry. Therefore, we have an intrinsic understanding of the need to provide greener solutions across all aspects of sustainability.
Passivhaus Certification
Passivhaus Certification (also known as Passive House Certification) covers a strict set of standards for building energy performance. While voluntary, a building classed as ultra energy efficient can have many advantages, which is why the Passivhaus standards are held in such high regard.
While achieving energy efficiency is a core focus of Passivhaus, there is also a need for occupant comfort and environmental sustainability. As we’ve established, plants can be used to enhance any efforts to improve energy efficiency, but most of all can offer a wealth of benefits to improve the built environment.
Plants can also be used to complement any Passivhaus project on a more holistic level. For instance, making your WFH space a more inspirational place to work.
WELL Building Standard
The WELL Building Standard was developed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). It provides a way of measuring and certifying how the built environment impacts human health and wellbeing.
The key criteria which are assessed as part of the WELL Building Standing include air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, mind and innovation.
At Planteria, one of our core specialisms is improving the air quality of corporate spaces through the use of plants.
With air quality being one of the main areas of assessment to obtain the WELL Building Standard, our team can ensure your building excels in this category. In addition, we can look at all other ways we can support your WELL application through our vast range of services.
How Planteria Supports Sustainability Goals
Sustainability will likely be at the forefront of the design when looking to achieve any green building certification.
The experts at Planteria are best placed to support any sustainability objectives involving the design, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of greenery.
Over the many decades we’ve been in business, we have worked on a wide range of projects, from office redesigns to luxury hotels, designing everything from green entrances to stunning rooftop gardens.
Discover these top ways we can help your business become more sustainable, in addition to meeting any environmental certification requirements.
Energy Efficiency
New information is constantly emerging about how strategic plant placement can reduce heating and cooling costs, resulting in greater overall energy efficiency.
BREEAM certification focuses on reducing carbon emissions, with around 50% of its credits related to improving building energy efficiency. Since both indoor and outdoor plants can possess temperature-regulating properties, they can support various sustainability goals.
Environmental Impact And Indoor Air Quality
Research suggests we spend up to 90% of our time indoors. Therefore, it makes a huge difference when the air we breathe is free from common pollutants.
Plants are one of the best ways to improve indoor air quality. If your business is striving for an environmental certification such as BREEAM or WELL, we can select plants that will enhance your corporate space’s air quality.
Beyond meeting any certification requirements, improving the air quality can also promote the health and wellbeing of all those who use the space. As we have previously mentioned on our blog, some office plants have been shown to increase productivity by 15%.
Waste Reduction And Eco-Friendly Sourcing
At Planteria, we’ve always been extremely passionate about sustainability. When sourcing plants or materials for our projects, we always look to protect ecosystems and natural resources. Having a strong stance on sustainability matters, especially for our clients who partner with us to achieve various environmental certifications.
Case Study Highlight – JLL Birmingham Office Refurbishment
To get a more tangible feel for our sustainable green building initiatives, we invite you to visit our case study for JLL Birmingham.
JLL is a commercial property agency. As with any building redevelopment, it gave the ideal opportunity to meet various environmental certifications and identify aspects lacking within the current space.
For this particular project, this required aligning with Net Zero Carbon requirements, along with BREEAM Excellent, SKA Gold, and WELL Gold standards as a minimum.
On a practical level, the JLL team also craved a corporate space that encouraged collaboration, while also providing quiet working zones for concentration.
Planteria supplied a large mix of biophilia to bring nature and life into the building, transforming the space into a biophilic oasis. Not only did the use of biophilia support the various environmental objectives, but also the need to engage and uplift employees by connecting them with nature.
How Planteria’s Consultative Approach Ensures Certification Success
At Planteria, we commonly work with architects, interior designers, facilities managers or other decision-makers involved in the redevelopment process.
It’s our role to bring expertise related to all aspects of biophilia, especially when the design is striving to meet various environmental accreditations or certifications.
With Planteria having been established in the 1970s, your sustainable green building project couldn’t be in more experienced hands.
Fully Tailored Solutions
Treating each client as an individual is a key ethos here at Planteria. During your initial consultation, we’ll listen carefully to your needs in terms of meeting green building requirements, but also any wider aims for the project as a whole.
We have experts spanning a wide spectrum of greenery expertise, meaning your brief will be subject to the most innovative foresight and innovations. Crucially, we’ll always ensure any ideas align with your environmental certification goals.
We’ll be with you every step of the way, and can also provide ongoing maintenance services to ensure your greenery continues to meet the necessary requirements.
Biophilic Design: The Long-Term Benefits For Businesses
Deciding to go for BREEAM, Fitwel, NABERS UK, Passivhaus or WELL certification is in the best interests of every corporate space.
Beyond being recognised for your commitment to the environment, there are also many other benefits that achieving green certification can bring to your business.
For instance, incorporating greenery into workspace can result in reduced operating costs and improved employee wellness. That’s because many studies have shown that greenery makes buildings more attractive places to work in, as well as healthier places to be.
Biophilic design can also enhance the corporate image of the business. At Planteria, we also help our clients showcase their sustainability efforts through corporate reporting and marketing. There are endless ways this information can be used to enhance your brand image to deliver an ROI.
Biophilic Design UK FAQs
Do you have a question about how infusing more greenery into your corporate building can benefit your business?
We’ve answered some common questions below. But for anything else, including how we can help you achieve any green building certifications, please get in touch with the Planteria team on 0345 505 3333.
What Green Building Certifications Apply In The UK?
At the time of writing the green building certifications which apply in the UK include BREEAM, Fitwel, NABERS UK, Passivhaus and WELL.
Additionally, making your building more sustainable through the use of biophilia may also be required for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and ISO 14001.
It’s also worth noting that LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a common green building standard in the United States. In the UK, we have different green building standards. However, there may be aspects of LEED that can be incorporated when looking to achieve a green building certification in the UK.
What Are Some Corporate Green Space Sustainability Ideas?
Plants can be used in endless ways to make your corporate space both greener and more sustainable. Ideas can include office plants, green walls, exterior planting and biophilic design schemes.
What Is BREEAM Biophilic Design?
Biophilic design can contribute towards several of the BREEAM criteria, particularly in regards to improving health and wellbeing.
Incorporating natural elements into a building can reduce stress, enhance mood and have a positive impact on local ecosystems. Furthermore, biophilic design can demonstrate excellent sustainability practices which can also earn extra credits for a BREEAM project.
Check out our use of biophilia for 108 Cannon Street which earned a BREEAM ‘very good’ rating.
What Is The Environmental Impact Of Corporate Plants?
Corporate plants can have a hugely positive environmental impact across your entire building. Notable benefits include reducing indoor air pollution, regulating humidity levels and promoting biodiversity.
Recently, there have also been studies about corporate plant installations such as green roofs, which have been found to provide insulation during colder months while also enhancing heat absorption in the summer.
If there is any particular environmental challenge you are looking to solve, our plant experts can tailor the most innovative solutions to not only reach but exceed your goals.
What Is Sustainable Corporate Landscaping?
Sustainable corporate landscaping harnesses the power of plants to produce a positive environmental impact within the exterior aspects of your building.
Prioritising aspects such as employee wellbeing and productivity, corporate landscaping seeks to inspire and uplift your team through the plants chosen, as well as the overall approach to the installation.
Our commercial planting services can be fully customised to your available space, as well as your overall commercial aims.
A wider benefit of sustainable corporate landscaping is that it can also support biodiversity in the local area. For urban corporate spaces especially, such greenery is often in short supply making it an extremely worthwhile addition to any building.
Planteria – Achieve Environmental Certification For Your Business With Our Biophilic Expertise
Are you working on behalf of a UK business aiming to achieve or maintain any environmental certifications?
Planteria offers a vast range of biophilic design services, making us perfectly positioned to become your sustainability partner. We help our clients to achieve stringent environmental standards and certifications with their corporate sustainability efforts in mind.
To find out more or to get a free quote, please get in touch by filling out our contact form. You can also give us a call on 0345 505 3333.
