It received the designation for energy efficient building and is the seventh area to be recognised under the scheme, the government strategy for a low carbon economy. It highlights £90 million of invested funding towards more sustainable building projects that have taken place recently by regional development agencies, rather than bringing new investment from the government.

£72 million has been earmarked by the London Development Agency for a range of new developments and schemes to improve sustainability and energy efficiency in London buildings until 2013.

It is certainly a worthy cause, as buildings account for 71% of London’s CO2 emissions, the equivalent of 31.5 million tonnes of carbon a year.

The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills want to put the initial focus on retrofitting existing buildings to be more energy efficient and reduce existing emissions. The bulk of London’s buildings really need this as there aren’t that many new developments, retrofitting existing structures to meet new energy standards will truly make a difference in the capital, which will act as a benchmark for the rest of the world.

BREEAM is the standard for sustainable design and environmental performance. The ratings look at many different criteria and offer an award based on the results. ‘Outstanding’ is the top rating, meaning the site has to meet or exceed 85% across all targets.

The PWC site at 7 More London met these targets with ease, with facilities for recycling waste heat to warm or cool the building as needed, amongst other environmental support in the building. The office is situated on the south bank of the Thames river and holds 500,000 sq ft of office space. PWC worked closely with consultancy firm BDP on the building. The site is currently being fitted out ready for occupation in the beginning of 2011.

Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Roger Reeves said, “We had the opportunity with the design process for the building, to take a blank sheet of paper and raise the bar, both for ourselves and others, in the environmental and sustainability performance of office buildings. This assessment sends a really clear message that planning for the sustainable use of resources, in detail and right through the process, can make good business sense.”

It is hope that the award will further promote the issue of sustainability and better environmental awareness within new office space developments in London and around the UK, both to potential developers and tenants.

Deputy Mayor of London Kit Malthouse visited the TfL and LDA offices at Palestra on Blackfriar’s Road and officially unveiled the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant.  The plant cost a reported £2.4 million and is part of the plan for the building to save £400,000 in energy bills and cut carbon emissions. TfL and LDA recently joined the 10:10 Campaign to join the action in London to reduce their carbon footprint.

Kit Malthouse commented about the power plant and the hope for the future of energy usage in London and beyond, “Zero polluting hydrogen fuel has the potential to radically transform the way we power our city to create a more pleasant environment,

“This isn’t a fuel of the future, but available right now. To catalyse its use more widely, we are showcasing the technology, so others will be inspired to follow our lead.”

The power plant and fuel cell are estimated to be able to save £90,000 per year in energy bills and reduce carbon emissions by 40% for the building which houses 2,800 TfL and LDA staff. Also known as the ‘Pod’ the fuel cell and CHP plant are designed in a modern and eye-catching way to attract interest from passers-by.

Another interesting feature of the building at Palestra is the  multimedia display for the CHP plant, which displays live statistics of energy savings, usage and climate change.

The hydrogen fuel cell was funded by the TfL’s £25 million Climate Change fund. It will provide up to a quarter of the buildings electricity, heat and cooling at peak times in the offices, and 100% power off-peak. Any waste heat from power generation in the cell is pumped into a unit on the roof to power the building’s six electric chillers to keep the building cool when needed.

Palestra used to have many wind turbines on the roof but these were removed three years ago, leaving only two behind to help with power supply.

TfL and LDA are hoping that they improvements and technology used at Palestra will help lead the way in London for more sustainable energy production for office buildings. Once other developers see how well the technology works at Palestra, the more they will follow suite and do the same around the city and the rest of the UK.

The Better Buildings Partnership was set up to encourage and improve the environmental performance of commercial property in London.

Following a meeting of 100 representatives at City Hall, the Better Buildings Partnership and Green500 annual brunch, discussing environmental and energy consumption issues in London, Blackstone Real Estate Group and Prupim have joined the scheme.

Green500 and the Better Buildings Partnership are two of many schemes set up by the London Development Agency (LDA)to help combat climate change. The target of the LDA is to cut 60% of energy usage and emissions by 2025, a target set by Mayor Boris Johnson.

Around 220 businesses have already joined the Green500 scheme, which has meant over 200,000 tonnes of CO2 has been saved in London. members include Addison Lee, the Natural History Museum and Schroders PLC. The scheme aims to cut a further 650,000 tonnes of CO2.

Blackstone and Prupim joined the better buildings partnership to help make a similar difference, as environmental awareness is important to them. “Blackstone is committed to giving due regard to environmental and social issues and to encouraging portfolio companies of our private equity and real estate private equity funds to do the same,” says MD of Blackstone, Stuart Grant.

LDA group director for design development and environment, Peter Bishop has high hopes for the vision of the scheme, he comments, “London’s commercial buildings are responsible for a third of the capital’s carbon pollution.

“Through the Better Buildings Partnership, the London Development Agency and London’s commercial property owners are working together to find practical solutions that will cut their emissions and help London become a world leader in commercial energy efficiency.”

Being the UK’s capital city means that London has a high responsibility to lead the way with schemes like this. Once commercial property developers in London make real changes to their energy and sustainability issues, the rest of the country will follow suit and help make a real difference to the impact of office space, business centres and other commercial property on the environment.