The world's local bank
HSBC HQ receives top environmental award
HSBC's head office building in London has been rated 'excellent' by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), the United Kingdom's leading environmental standards authority. This is the first time that any building in the capital's Canary Wharf development has received the highest possible rating for site management.
The BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), Management and Operation, reviewed factors such as energy, water and waste reduction as well as considering the impact of the building on staff health and well-being. It did well in all categories, particularly in its use of energy and transport planning.
Peter Trusler, HSBC Group Head of Corporate Real Estate, said: "As a result of the combined efforts of management and staff, the HSBC headquarters building uses less water, energy and electricity each year. In 2006 and beyond we will work towards ensuring all our sites throughout the world achieve the highest standards of environmental performance."
Martin Wyatt, Chief Executive officer, Building Research Establishment Ltd, said: "We're delighted that the HSBC headquarters building is joining the leading sustainable buildings in the UK. We heartily congratulate HSBC for achieving the top rating of BREEAM EXCELLENT."
Designed by Lord Foster, the 8 Canada Square site became fully operational in 2003. More than 8,000 employees currently occupy the 45 storey, 210 metre structure. Key to its design is the use of energy efficient systems and practices, such as escalators that go into 'standby' mode when not in use; energy efficient lighting and air conditioning units; and recycling zones on each floor.
The building also has its own bottling plant in the basement so that purchases of glass bottles can be kept to a minimum and recently introduced a successful Christmas card recycling campaign.
The environmental performance of 8 Canada Square helps deliver the HSBC Group's announcement in October 2005 that it had become the first major financial institution anywhere in the world to go carbon neutral. It does this through reducing energy use, buying green electricity and then offsetting the remaining CO2 emissions by investing in carbon credits.
Links to web sites
Useful tools
Increase font
Decrease font