If you are a factory manager you are probably looking for ways to maximise productivity. Getting the right conditions within the working areas could be critical: the right temperature, humidity, air quality and lighting could be the answer to provide a comfortable work environment.

Is there more you could do to improve your factory’s productivity?

Television studios aren’t obvious candidates for natural ventilation, with the vast amounts of heat generated by the lights, cameras and equipment, and the need for acoustic insulation. Yet that was the choice BSkyB made for their new production centre in West London, Harlequin 1, which boasts the world’s first naturally ventilated TV studios.

An innovative box-within-a-box design

The pharmaceutical industry operates in a highly competitive environment, and one where research and development take a long time and require extremely high investments. In addition, because of the nature of their products, manufacturers have to meet stringent regulations that ensure the safety and quality of the pharmaceuticals they produce. It is crucial that they maximise the cost efficiency of all processes, from production to storage and logistics.

Conventional air conditioning systems are big fossil fuel consumers, but today there are alternatives that can deliver big savings in fuel consumption and running costs. Energy can be found in water, in the air and in the ground, and with the right technologies it can be harnessed to heat and cool buildings.