Why did the BREEAM certificate lower bills by 14%?

Intelligent lighting that doesn't shine into a void

Most old offices on Chorzowska have one problem: lights are on where no one is, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. We installed 47 precision occupancy sensors on each floor. These are not cheap toys from a hardware store, but a calibrated system that turns off LED lamps exactly 3 minutes after the last person leaves the kitchen or meeting room. Thanks to this, in October 2024 alone, electricity consumption in common areas fell by 23% compared to buildings of similar size.

Agata Nowak, our specialist, calculated that a medium-sized company renting 124 m2 saves about 310 PLN per month with this solution. This might seem like a small amount, but over a year it adds up to almost 3800 PLN, which stays in the company treasury instead of going to the energy supplier. The system also takes into account the intensity of daylight entering through our large windows. If the sun is shining brightly from the Silesian Park side, lamps near windows automatically dim by 40%, maintaining constant work comfort without wasting a single kilowatt-hour.

It is worth adding that the LED lighting we use has a color temperature of 4000K, which is closest to natural light. This ensures that after 8 hours of working at a desk, eyes are less tired. So we don't save at the expense of employee health, but we optimize what was previously just throwing money down the drain. At Epirusworld, we make sure that every bulb has a reason to shine.

47 occupancy sensors per floor mean real savings of 310 PLN per month for a small office.

Heat and cold under full systemic control

Heating is the biggest budget eater in every office building in Katowice, especially when the first frosts arrive in November. Our building has an advanced BMS system that monitors temperature with an accuracy of 0.5 degrees Celsius. We do not allow situations where air conditioning fights with radiators. Everything is tied into one network that reacts to the weather forecast 12 hours in advance. If it is going to be sunny in the morning, the system reduces heating power earlier, using the natural heat entering through the glass.

In the third quarter of 2024, we noted that our cooling costs were 14.2% lower than the market average for Class A facilities. This is the effect of special coatings on the glass that reflect thermal radiation without taking away brightness in the rooms. For the tenant, this means stable rent without sudden utility surcharges at the end of the year. We know that no one likes adjustment invoices for several thousand zlotys, so we monitor consumption daily, not once a quarter.

To avoid energy loss, we also introduced a simple rule: window sensors. If someone opens a window for more than 4 minutes, the air conditioning in that module automatically enters standby mode. This teaches good habits and ensures that money does not literally fly out the window. P.S. Our technical service checks the tightness of all seals every 6 months to ensure the system works with maximum efficiency.

Water is also a cost – how we saved 3.2 liters per flush

The BREEAM certificate forced us to look at sanitary installations. We replaced standard faucets with ones with aerators that aerate the water stream. The result? You wash your hands just as comfortably but use 31% less water. In the toilets, we installed dual-flush systems, where a smaller flush uses only 3.2 liters of water instead of the standard 6 liters. With 156 people working daily in our office building, this results in saving thousands of liters of water per month.

Additionally, we installed a leak detection system. If at night, when the office is empty, the water flow does not drop to zero, the system immediately sends an alert to security. In July 2024, thanks to this, we avoided flooding the server room of one of the IT companies because the sensor detected a hose failure in the kitchenette at 2:14 AM. The quick reaction saved the tenant probably several thousand zlotys in equipment losses and downtime.

Saving water is not just about ecology; it's pure mathematics. Lower consumption means lower sewage bills, which directly affects the level of the service charge. At Epirusworld, this fee is transparent and reliably settled. We don't hide costs in convoluted tables; we show specific meters for each office module from 45 m2 upwards.

Location at Chorzowska and transport costs

BREEAM also evaluates transport accessibility. Epirusworld lies in a spot where access by tram or bus is incredibly simple for employees from Chorzów, Sosnowiec, or other parts of Katowice. We have a stop right under our nose. This means your employees use cars less often, which translates into lower demand for paid parking spaces. We have 187 of them, but thanks to excellent public transport, companies renting from us optimize the number of parking subscriptions, which is another saving of around 250-400 PLN per car monthly.

For those who do choose the bike, we have prepared safe racks and showers. This is a BREEAM standard that real builds team loyalty. An employee who can freshen up after riding 8 km to the office is more effective from the morning. You don't have to build a gym in your company – we have fitness on-site, which is a ready benefit for your people that you don't pay extra for in rent.

An office at 150 Chorzowska St. also means proximity to restaurants and service points. Employees don't have to waste an hour commuting for lunch because they have everything at hand within a 3-minute walk. Time is money, and we give that time back to your people. Clear rental rules mean for us that you pay for space that generates value, not for empty meters in an inefficient building.

Great communication at Chorzowska allows companies to reduce parking expenses by several thousand PLN per year.

Summary: A certificate that pays for itself

All these small elements – from LEDs to aerators – add up to an average of 14% lower office maintenance costs at Epirusworld. In an era of rising energy prices, such a difference can decide the profitability of a small business or the possibility of hiring an additional person. Our team, including Agata Nowak, constantly looks for new points where we can save something from our tenants' budgets. We are not the cheapest office building in the city, but after totaling all additional fees, we turn out to be one of the most cost-effective.

If you are looking for a place where the office works like a well-oiled machine, we invite you to 150 Chorzowska Street. We currently have 3 modules available, including one with an area of 83 m2 ideal for a team of 10. We can show you exact utility settlements from previous months so you can see for yourself how BREEAM works in practice. No beating around the bush and no hidden costs – at Epirusworld, facts and hard financial data count.

Being a tenant with us is not only a prestigious address but above all, peace of mind. You know that someone is watching your bills while you take care of sales or customer service. We currently have 47 active clients who appreciate this approach. Most of them renew their contracts for subsequent years, which for us is the best proof that this strategy simply pays off for both sides.