UCL Laws proud to increase commitment to sustainability with the redevelopment of Bentham House

19 February 2018

As part of the redevelopment of Bentham House, UCL Faculty of Laws has used the design and development of its new £24m home to reflect on and review its environmental impact and sustainability activities.

Following UCL’s sustainability agenda to reduce energy consumption and incorporate green features, the new Bentham House has now included photovoltaic arrays, LED lighting and green roofs along with its core building design to make use of natural ventilation and airflow as the foundation of its heating and cooling strategy. The Faculty is also moving towards recyclable and sustainable choices in the products, services and suppliers that are used to deliver world-class law teaching and research.

With a footprint of 78m², the photovoltaic array is predicted to generate 5.05kWh’s/m² of energy, which equates to 9,135kWhs for the total new build area or approximately 4,900KG of CO₂ which is roughly equivalent to the carbon savings of driving a car for 6000 miles. The photovoltaic payback on the new building equates to a period of 11 years.

The project has already achieved a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating, as required by Camden Council, but continues to strive for BREEAM ‘Excellent’, which represents best practice in sustainable design and construction; and takes the building performance well beyond regulatory minimum standards.

Working with UCL Estates and UCL Procurement, the Faculty has been committed to maximise the sustainability potential of everything from Data Centre footprint and IT design and purchasing standards through to the furniture, furnishings and fittings that it uses and even event management and catering.

As we approach the completion of the building, with the help of our staff and students, the Faculty believes that the Bentham House Redevelopment will leave a lasting legacy of sustainable thinking and continuing improvement in UCL Laws’ environmental plan.

As well as reducing UCL’s environmental impact, Bentham House sustainability features include:

Improved energy metering which will help to measure, manage and reduce our energy consumption more effectively
Carbon emissions will be at least 26% lower than requirements of Building Regulations (Part L 2010)
Efficient bathroom fittings will help to reduce water use by at least 25%
A green roof will help to improve biodiversity, with drought-resistant planting to eliminate the need for a separate irrigation system
Use of low impact building materials, taking into account issues including resource use, pollution and climate change impacts
Energy and water efficiency designed into all kitchen, event and catering facilities
Gradual, responsible replacement of legacy IT equipment with correctly specified, power efficient replacements

Find out more about Green UCL

Watch time lapses videos of Bentham House

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Transforming UCL

The redevelopment of Bentham House has been delivered by UCL Estates as part of Transforming UCL, the largest capital programme in the university’s history. Transforming UCL will see substantial investment of over £1.2 billion over a 10-year period to refurbish and develop some of UCL’s most iconic buildings whilst also bringing forward new world class buildings. Together these will enable and support the University’s continued growth.