Sustainability
At SBC, we are committed to making our activities sustainable
Built to ‘excellent’ BREEAM sustainability standards
BREEAM is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for infrastructure and buildings. SBC’s Incubator was built to their ‘Excellent’ standard for sustainability performance which is achieved by only 10% of new, non-domestic buildings. Similarly, the Accelerator building achieved a ‘Very Good’ rating for its construction.
Renewable energy
Using energy from renewable sources is important to us. Our include solar panels help us to save 28,100 kg of CO2 emissions annually – the equivalent to planting over 1,290 trees.
We use air source heat pumps to heat and cool our buildings. They work by converting heat in the air from the ambient environment into a renewable heat source. Because they are energy efficient, they help to reduce our carbon footprint.
Green Spaces and Biodiversity
Wild meadows and woodland surround the Stevenage Campus, providing a pleasant walking circuit ideal al fresco meetings on foot, screen or lab breaks and lunchtime seating areas. To support biodiversity, SBC have installed a series of bird and bat boxes, and there are beehives dotted around the perimeter of the site, owned and managed by GSK. Similarly, GSK provide a waterside inhabited by many Carp, which can be viewed and enjoyed by all staff on the campus.
Eco lighting and rainwater harvesting
LED lighting has been installed in our car parks because it uses a fraction of the energy compared to traditional lights. Our indoor lights are motion-activated, which means the lights are only on when people need them. They are also being changed to LEDs to further reduce our energy consumption. On average, these changes save 20,650 kg in CO2 emissions every year – the equivalent to planting 950 trees.
Our buildings also have rainwater harvesting systems which collect rain and use it to flush toilets. This helps us to reduce water consumption by over 220m3 a year.
Recycling and sustainable transport
We have installed electric car charging points and all staff have access to a free station shuttle bus shared with GSK. Extensive recycling facilities are available for electrical equipment, metal, paper, glass, plastic and cardboard, and we offer coffee grounds for those who want to use them as garden fertiliser. Occupiers all have access to ‘Warp It’, a lab and office equipment free-cycle scheme, to help reduce costs and landfill.
Green Spaces and Biodiversity
Wild meadows and woodland surround the Stevenage Campus, providing a pleasant walking circuit ideal al fresco meetings on foot, screen or lab breaks and lunchtime seating areas. To support biodiversity, SBC have installed a series of bird and bat boxes, and there are beehives dotted around the perimeter of the site, owned and managed by GSK. Similarly, GSK provide a waterside inhabited by many Carp, which can be viewed and enjoyed by all staff on the campus.
