Stories | The Forum | Saving energy at work| Fora

Decorative image — A smarter way to save energy at work
Explore how Fora is reducing energy waste by aligning heating and cooling with how people actually use space - delivering comfort where it’s needed, and cutting carbon where it’s not.

Rethinking temperature control

Previously, indoor temperatures across these buildings were controlled centrally throughout the day. Any change - whether for comfort or seasonal adjustment - affected entire floors at once. While practical, this often led to unnecessary heating or cooling, particularly in the evenings or during quieter periods when many members had already left or spaces were only partially occupied.

To address this, we rethought how temperature control works across Fora buildings. Rather than maintaining a constant temperature throughout the day, adjustments are now made only at key moments:

Early mornings, to ensure workspaces are comfortable when people arrive
Evenings, so systems aren’t running when buildings are empty

Alongside this, we introduced new thermostats within individual workspaces, giving members greater control over their thermal comfort during the day - without impacting energy use across entire floors.

Aligning buildings with flexible working

This shift allows Fora spaces to better reflect how people actually work. Whether members arrive early, work flexibly, or dip in and out across the week, heating and cooling is delivered when and where it’s needed, rather than by default.

It’s a small operational change with a meaningful impact: more autonomy for members, and less wasted energy overall.

Early results: measurable energy savings

While we’ll continue to monitor the full impact of these changes throughout 2026, early reviews of energy data already show significant reductions.

Comparing Q4 2025 with Q1 2025, we’ve seen:

25% less daily energy use at Eastcastle Street, Soho
20% less overnight energy use at 42 Berners Street, Soho
20% less energy used at weekends at Dallington Street, Clerkenwell

Across the eight workspaces involved, these improvements are expected to help avoid approximately:

388,000 kWh of energy use each year
90 tonnes of carbon emissions annually

To put that carbon saving into context, 90 tonnes of CO₂ carries real weight.

It’s the equivalent of:

Taking 20–25 passenger vehicles off the road for an entire year
The annual electricity use of around 10–15 homes
More than 15 years of heating an average home with natural gas
The carbon sequestered by around 2,000 tree seedlings grown for 10 years

Proof that small, considered changes - made consistently - can add up to something meaningful.

A saving of 90 tonnes of CO₂ carries real weight - the equivalent of over 15 years of heating an average home with natural gas.

Small changes, long‑term impact

Improving sustainability doesn’t always require radical redesigns. More often, it starts with reassessing what’s already in place - making smarter, more considered adjustments that respect how people use spaces and the resources those spaces depend on.

By aligning our buildings more closely with flexible working patterns, Fora is reducing unnecessary energy use while continuing to prioritise comfort. It’s an approach that supports long‑term sustainability - and one we’ll continue to refine as we learn more.

Learn more about Fora Future

This is just one example of the steps we took in 2025 as part of Fora Future, our sustainability strategy focused on better buildings, empowered people and a more considered environmental impact.

👉 Read the full Impact Report to explore more of what we’ve been working on - from energy and carbon to materials, design and long‑term ESG commitments.

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A smarter way to save energy at work

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