January 2023: Savills Ha Noi launched its new office in October 2022, which has received two international accreditations and has solidified its position as the only green office in the city with LEED Gold and WELL certifications. The certificates demonstrate Savills commitment to improving the quality of offices in Viet Nam, minimising the environmental impact of the built environment, and promoting employee wellbeing.
With environmental protection and net zero targets on the agenda for most companies, green buildings have become increasingly popular in Viet Nam. Savills new office is one of the few workplaces in Ha Noi with a LEED Gold and WELL certification. This means it meets eco-friendly design standards that cater to wellness and environmental protection, not only in operations but also in the materials it uses.
The U.S. Green Building Council, a leader in the green building field, created LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) awards in the 1990s, to create an open and balanced green rating system. This is one of the world's most widely used green building rating systems and is a symbol of achievement and leadership in sustainability. LEED evaluates location, sustainability of the site, water consumption, processes, energy efficiency, materials and resources, indoor environment quality and design innovation.
As such, Savills new office optimises natural elements like sunshine and green materials that support reduced environmental emissions. More than 90% of the office area can utilise natural lighting rather than electric bulbs. The large windows also provide panoramic city views, which makes for an enticing workspace. The office has a light sensor system, which switches lights off automatically when they are not in use, which is key to successful energy management. The office is expected to use -23% less energy compared to other traditional offices.
The 580 m2 office delivers meeting rooms, fixed and flexible desks, and collaboration areas, which delivers greater flexibility and collaboration. Open areas encourage employee interaction. Desks with no partitions offer a more pleasant and comfortable workplace and allow for increased communication, and increased awareness. The flexible and open seating reduces stress and has been proven to be beneficial to performance.
The WELL certificate aims to promote human health and safety and measures how a building contributes to good health. It considers air, water, light, temperature, sound, materials, community, creativity, nourishment, and comfort within an office and how these interact with office users.
The new office has a CO2 sensor system, which automatically adjusts the ventilation if CO2 levels are too high. There is also an air purification system. As health also speaks to what people put into their bodies, staff have access to water that meets World Health Organization (WHO) standards, and a minibar with fruit fresh juice and healthy drinks.
Mr Matthew Powell, Director, Savills Ha Noi stated: "We are incredibly proud that our office has met the requirements for LEED Gold and WELL. These accreditations form part of our ESG (environmental, social and governance) strategy. We want to ensure our employees have a healthy, modern space that promotes professional growth and physical health while upholding our net zero commitments."
The LEED and WELL certifications also demonstrate Savills pioneering position in bringing green and sustainable development to Viet Nam. The Savills HCMC office is also a proud recipient of a LEED Gold certificate. Savills is committed to implementing these changes internally but supports other companies looking to implement these changes within their organisations.