Highest Accolade for Low Carbon Research Labs

An exemplar low carbon building dedicated to the research and development of sustainable energy technologies has been named as BREEAM’s Education Building of the Year 2014.

The Energy Technologies Building (ETB) at The University of Nottingham’s Innovation Park on Jubilee Campus is equipped with a host of eco-features. Designed and built with the intention of achieving a BREEAM outstanding award it became the first laboratory in England to achieve this in July 2013.

Chris Jagger, the University’s Chief Estates and Facilities Officer, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this top award accolade for this building from the UK’s building environmental performance accreditation body. It is further recognition of the achievements of The University of Nottingham in demonstrating the very best sustainability and environmental practice in new building construction.”

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) recognises that certificated schools, universities and further education establishments represent an important investment in the future. Their Education award acknowledges that students are learning, with help from the buildings they occupy, lessons in sustainability that they can take into their own lives and this is admirably demonstrated by the buildings on the 2014 Education Award shortlist.

Mark Gillott, Professor of Sustainable Building Design, who attended the awards ceremony said: “This is a very prestigious award and a huge accolade. The competition is now very tough with the winners gaining some of the highest ever BREEAM scores.”

Gavin Dunn, Director of BREEAM, said: “The outstanding quality of this year’s winning projects has set the sustainable development bar even higher. They are not only testament to incredible technological ingenuity but also to the resourcefulness and vision of the teams that brought them to life and their ability to put people at their heart.”

The building, part funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund, is also home to the UK’s first hydrogen refuelling facility.

Worldwide 250,000 buildings have been with certified BREEAM assessment ratings and over a million registered for assessment since it was first launched in 1990.