Our Surrey office has achieved a Nabers 5.5 star certified performance rating for the 2nd year running. It remains the only building in the UK to achieve NABERS 5.5 stars which makes it a UK leading achievement.
Watkins Payne’s Surrey office has made history once again — becoming the first building in the UK to achieve and sustain a 5.5-Star NABERS UK Energy for Offices Whole Building Rating under the single-occupier protocol. This verified level of energy performance has now been maintained for two consecutive years, setting a new benchmark for consistency and continual improvement.
The milestone reflects Watkins Payne’s commitment to measured performance, ongoing optimisation and evidence-based design — principles that guide both its internal operations and client projects.
“We’ve shown that outstanding results don’t always require large-scale capital investment,” explains Robert Marshall, Principal Building Performance Engineer. “With targeted measures, smart controls and staff engagement, even modest commercial buildings can align with net-zero goals.”
Watkins Payne’s journey began in October 2023, when the Surrey office achieved a 5.0-Star Whole Building rating. The team then used dynamic simulation modelling to identify practical, high-impact interventions that would deliver the greatest energy savings per pound invested.
Six key actions were prioritised:
• LED lighting with motion control
• Control-system optimisation
• Maximised natural ventilation through openable windows
• Timed shutdowns of high-energy operations during off-hours
• Restroom heating improvements for comfort and efficiency
• Secondary glazing to reduce heat loss
Each action was implemented, monitored, and refined to ensure measurable improvement — resulting in the upgraded 5.5-Star rating (Certificate N182722) achieved in November 2024.
“Performance doesn’t stop at the installation,” notes Robert. “We followed a three-step process: implement, monitor and tune.” Real-time sensors were introduced to track energy and air quality, creating a visible feedback loop for staff. Weekly ‘tune-up’ sessions with HVAC champions enabled continual fine-tuning of temperature and ventilation settings, leading to ongoing reductions in electricity use.
Staff engagement proved pivotal. Ideas such as installing smart plugs for hot-water urns and creating an internal SharePoint page for performance tracking helped build a shared sense of ownership and accountability.
“Energy efficiency became everyone’s responsibility, not just a management initiative,” says Robert.
The next phase focuses on renewables and advanced analytics:
Generating our own energy to power the building
To offset electricity demand
For deeper performance insights
By layering these initiatives onto an already optimised base, Watkins Payne is now working toward achieving 6.0-Star NABERS certification within the next 12 months.
By achieving and sustaining the UK’s highest 5.5-Star NABERS UK Energy for Offices Whole Building Rating, Watkins Payne has demonstrated that true performance excellence is repeatable and that data-driven design and behaviour can drive lasting change.
The Surrey office now serves as a live demonstration case for clients seeking to apply the same strategies across refurbishment and new-build developments.
Measured. Verified. Delivered. Twice.
That’s performance by design.