HSBC’s top BREEAM award builds on carbon neutrality

The HSBC Group headquarters building in Canary Wharf has become the first building in this development to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. Designed by Lord Foster, the site at 8 Canada Square became fully operational in 2003. More than 8000 people work in the 210 m2 45-storey structure. Key to its design is the use of energy-efficient systems and practices. Examples include escalators that go into standby mode when not in use, LED lighting, energy-efficient air conditioning units and recycling zones on each floor. The environmental performance of this building supports the HSBC Group’s announcement in October 2005 that it had become the first major financial institution in the world to go carbon neutral. It does this through reducing energy use, buying green electricity and then offsetting the remaining carbon-dioxide emissions by investing in carbon credits. BRE chief executive Martin Wyatt says, ‘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”.’