Sustainability

At Guildhall Shopping & Dining, sustainability plays an important role in both the running and decision-making processes that take place. We realise the tremendous impact the built environment has on the world and we make every effort to help reduce our impact upon it. We believe it is important to share these efforts with our customers as part of that commitment, so you understand how important sustainability is to us.

Cushman and Wakefield LLP were appointed to manage Guildhall Shopping & Dining on behalf of Aviva from 2010 and as part of that signed up to ‘Aviva Investors Sustainability Charter for Managed Properties’, which helps drive Environmental and Social improvements, and along with Cushman & Wakefield policy and Centre Management’s own commitment, delivers a more sustainable Centre.

As part of that management EPC ratings are closely monitored and improved upon and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) standards met wherever possible. This was particularly important when creating Queen St. Dining and our residential apartments which all have a high BREEAM rating. In addition, sustainable materials, full lifecycle models and energy efficiency initiatives are considered in relation to any works /changes to existing systems / new systems.

As well as ensuring that we do our best at the Centre, we also actively encourage our Brands to do the same by including green clauses in all new and reversionary leases and asking those Brands to sign up to our Green Partnership initiative. By engaging and developing these relationships with our Brands we create more comfortable and better managed buildings, improving the wellbeing of staff and improved upkeep of public spaces.
Most recently, in the hope of helping our Brands ascertain what action may be appropriate for their business, we produced and distributed a ‘Quick Win Schedule’. The schedule suggests changes / actions and / or low-cost initiatives which may be easily undertaken at little, or relatively low-cost, to make their business more sustainable.

Hopefully the following FAQ’s explain some of this:

DO WE RECYCLE?

YES, WE DO. We have been recycling at the centre since 2002 and have remained a “Zero to Landfill” site for several years now, with all products either recycled or used as refuse derived fuel for the generation of electricity.

In 2017 we recycled over 469 tonnes of general waste and during 2016 183 tonnes of waste were handled and recycled by the Team. The increase has mainly arisen due to higher customer numbers and the introduction of a Dining Quarter as part of our recent redevelopment.

We segregate all the major waste streams such as cardboard, paper, food, glass, pallets, metal and plastic. Plastic is split into 3 further waste streams such as thin film, bottles and hard plastic to ensure that all products are achieving a high revenue and are reused to their best advantage.

HOW DO WE MANAGE OUR ELECTRICITY AND WATER?

The companies that supply the utilities are also considered, with a “bulk buy” approach, using a third party as a broker.

Smart transformers on the incoming supplies to the centre have been fitted to reduce unwanted fluctuations in supply and balance demand across the phases which in turn reduces the heat generated and allows very fine tuning of the voltage supplied as well as precise monitoring of electricity consumption.

The Building Management System allows a phased switch on, and off, of lighting in the mornings and evenings, ensuring that specific areas are adequately lit at the time of usage. Coupled with LUX sensors these can be over-ridden if natural light levels are sufficient. All new lighting schemes consider energy efficiency and consumption, with LED technology given priority.

As part of any redevelopment works or Unit alterations smart electrical meters are installed enabling more effective monitoring of electricity consumption (on-going from 2010). Older installations have been reviewed for compatibility and wherever possible smart metering adopted.

We ensure that water pressure reducing valves are incorporated into any new installations or when existing systems are modified. Our existing systems use solenoid-controlled water delivery direct from the mains, rather than tanks, they flush / provide only the water that is needed and no more.

The refurbishment of our main public toilets included revamped energy efficient sensor taps, as well as new hand drying facilities and the new washrooms in Queen St Dining also adopt the same technology.

DO WE CARE ABOUT LOCAL COMMUNITY?

OH YES, WE DO! Since 2006, we have been providing mall space, and vacant units whenever they arise, for local community projects and independent / start up or fledgling local business’s. Over the last three years, the mall space has been used for many local charity events and to raise awareness for local groups free of charge.

We have been a Child Safe Zone since 2006 and offer free wristbands allowing children to carry their parent or guardian’s contact mobile number safely. Look out for the dispensers located at each of the store directories and help Child Safe Zones to reunite your child with you quickly if they lose sight of you.
We also provide a family “Friendly Wi-Fi” service Friendly Wi-Fi, a government-initiated safe certification standard for public Wi-Fi. The Friendly Wi-Fi symbol tells you where the service meets minimum filtering standards, particularly in areas where children are present, ensuring that our customers of all ages have access to public Wi-Fi within the centre that is properly filtered. This certification means you can know for sure. Your online experience is safe. Our customers are safe.

The shopping centre security team are one of the key supporters of the Exeter Business Against Crime Partnership (EBAC), providing a safe and secure customer experience across the City and can also can stand in at a moment’s notice to provide major incident support for the city centre as well as becoming the secondary city centre control room for the whole city centre when required. Each of the team is also highly qualified and trained to provide a wide range of first aid as and when required by our customers

HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT WE REMAIN SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY IN THE FUTURE?

Aviva are committed to reducing the environmental impact of the properties under its ownership and to promoting sustainability to its tenants. This has the dual benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions / global warming and reducing our Brands occupancy costs and will continue to be achieved in the following ways:

• Occupier engagement– promote the use of green leases, fully engage with occupiers on energy and efficient use of the building and create a healthy working environment.
• Energy management – building energy consumption monitoring, increase in efficiency by improving plant, energy consumption benchmarking. Install smart metering and undertake meter validations.
• Water Management – building energy consumption monitoring, increase in efficiency by improving plant, introducing water saving amenities and utilise rain water where possible.
• Waste Management – building wide recycling initiatives to aid in reducing waste production and capitalize on new recycling capabilities / opportunities as well as critical waste benchmarking as part of the Green Initiative.
• EPC recommendations – where viable implement the recommendations contained in EC reports and further energy audit reports to improve energy efficiency.
• Staff Training – site staff to be trained in sustainability issues and efficient management of building systems. Organise and run building wide workshops and seminars to help inform occupiers.
• Management of alterations – fully engage with occupiers when an application for alterations is made and encourage and assist with the use of sustainable materials.
• Transport – promote the use of shared transport or cycling to work by providing necessary amenities such as cheaper car parking for shared vehicles, bicycle racks and shower facilities.
• Community Engagement – promote the use of the building amenities to the wider community, recycle office equipment for community use and promote local workforce for employment within building services.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS RIGHT OR EFFECTIVE?

We use a system called BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) which is the leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become the de facto measure used to describe a building’s environmental performance. BREEAM provides us with:

• Market recognition for low environmental impact buildings
• Assurance that best environmental practice is incorporated into a building
• Inspiration to find innovative solutions that minimise the environmental impact
• A benchmark that is higher than regulation
• A tool to help reduce running costs, improve working and living environments
• A standard that demonstrates progress towards corporate and organisational environmental objectives

THE FUTURE
Maintain our “Zero-To-Landfill” credentials
Maintain our recycling of ALL recyclable materials in the Centre
Working within the “Green Initiative” waste management maintain our “Centre of Green Excellence” accreditation
Continue to review and investigate the use of photovoltaic panels for providing centre electricity.

A sum has been budgeted to create this sustainability section to the website that you are reading now; this will be updated on a regular basis, and if you have any further questions, or perhaps some interesting or innovative ideas, please do not hesitate to contact us.