A Greener Future at our Ipswich Head Office - Barnes Construction

In 2024, we completed a major refurbishment of our head office in Ipswich. Alongside modernising the internal office space, we made several changes to make the building and its operations more sustainable. These upgrades are all part of our commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, as outlined in our Carbon Reduction Plan.

A key part of the project was installing 357 photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof, which now generate a significant portion of our electricity from renewable energy. Using thermal imaging, we identified areas to improve insulation and made upgrades to enhance the thermal performance of the building’s external walls.

Our office now features LED lighting throughout, with motion-activated controls installed in meeting rooms and offices to cut down on energy use. Our heating and cooling systems run entirely on air source heat pumps, with automatic shut-off features to save even more energy.

To support sustainable transport, we installed four EV chargers on-site and introduced an electric pool car for staff use. These changes are to encourage greener commuting and help reduce emissions from daily travel.

Construction accounts for 30% of the total annual carbon emissions for the UK, with 23% caused by buildings in operation (RICS). By improving our own offices, providing flexibility and appropriate technologies we are determined to lead the way in reducing our own carbon (scope 1 & 2 emissions) and those of our supply chain operations (scope 3) to meet our overarching target of being net-zero by 2045.