The Old School Building Goes Solar: A Historic Office Space Embraces Green Energy

A landmark office building in Waterloo is taking a step towards sustainability with a major energy efficiency upgrade. The Old School Building on 4 Exton Street, originally built as a primary school in 1901, has undergone a transformative project to reduce its carbon footprint while supporting tenants with lower energy costs.

Owned by the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education, the 10,000 sqft four storey office space is home to four businesses. With a strong architectural heritage, the building’s landlord saw an opportunity to invest in sustainability while preserving its historic character.

The recent works included replacing the aging roof tiles with new Welsh slate and installing 32 solar PV panels, carefully positioned to maximise sun exposure throughout the day. New double-glazed timber sash windows were also fitted in the roof space to improve insulation while staying true to the building’s original design.

The impact of the project is significant. The solar panels are expected to generate around 12,000 kWh of electricity annually, enough to power a microwave for 500 days, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 3-4 tonnes each year. The renewable energy generated is shared among the tenants, lowering energy bills.

Sally Chapman, Property Manager at the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education, explained the motivation behind the project:

“This was a significant investment for a small charity supporting young people such as ours to replace the Victorian roof tiles but it made economic sense while working on the roof to install solar panels to benefit our existing tenants and reduce the building’s carbon footprint. Having the panels helps to make the offices a more attractive proposition for new and existing tenants and supports the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education’s commitment to reducing our environmental impact and safeguarding our planet for future generations.”

This project aligns with South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us goal of creating smarter energy systems and making buildings more energy efficient. By investing in renewable energy, the Old School Building is not just preserving its past but securing a greener future for its tenants and the wider community.