New Group Headquarters
In 2008 QTS Group completed work on new headquarters at our head office in Drumclog. The new headquarters are low carbon in design and not only meet our functional operating requirements but also provide both a tangible statement of intent and a significant demonstration of our environmental ethos; an ethos that permeate across all of our business practices.

Project Aims
Construction project aims were multi-faceted in terms of reducing our environmental [and carbon] footprint, whilst delivering long-term economic benefits and societal gain. Beyond the architectural and design elements, we have sought and procured materials and labour/contractor provision from local sources wherever possible during the construction phase.

Finally, we targeted staff commitment toward environmental management through our day-to-day operations via improvements to the local biodiversity and recycling waste amongst others.

Renewable Energy
We have integrated a number of renewable energy devices into the building fabric in order to both minimise our reliance on grid energy and reduce our carbon footprint. The construction phase has demonstrated how socially responsible construction can be delivered through well organised local material procurement and contractor labour provision. As such, these approaches integrate Corporate Responsibility without compromising the integrity of the final built product.

Promotion of biodiversity has been achieved in the area surrounding the QTS headquarters through simple yet effective land management. Use of raptor poles and the reintroduction of native tree species to create a significant young forest have acted as a catalyst for improvements in the local  ecosystem through the reintroduction of flora, fauna and wildlife. Whilst this forest is a necessary component of our business plan – the  horticultural training division of QTS - environmental benefits dovetail seamlessly with economic development.

The main elements of the headquarters construction are :

• A Klargestor 40,000L greywater rainwater harvesting system
• Ground source heat pump and solar panels for hot water heating
• Planning permission achieved for an onsite micro-wind turbine and a borehole for drinking water extraction
• Use of local cedar timber for the external cladding and Scottish softwood timber for the internal frame; all from FSC-approved sources
• 100% self cleaning glass windows from Pilkington, cutting down on water use.
• Natural daylighting is integrated into a BMS that automatically controls roof-velux glazing
• Natural ventilation is combined with mechanical heat recover. 
• Specification of low energy lighting design and bulbs
• Underfloor heating supplied by Ecosse in tandem with tiles that maximise conduction of heat.
• 40% improvement on U-values against Building Regulations for the flooring and roofing insulation.
• Wall construction using extra-thick over-specified blocks (with a high thermal mass) which creates a highly insulated building fabric to minimise the need for heat input.
• 100% reclamation of the demolished farmhouse stone for reuse as cladding in the new office development; thus, a high recycled content is achieved for a major building element
• Use of onsite crushed stone whinned onsite, saving on transport and tax expenditure
• Retention of ~800 tonnes of inert waste onsite in borrowpits.
• Planting of 90,000 hardwood indigenous Scottish tree species including birch, oak, ash, rowan, alder and scots pine trees; species are mixed because of the complex soil chemistry Improvements to the biodiversity has facilitated the return of deer and hares, in addition to ducks (and younglings) to the new SUDS pond.
• Environmentally sensitive management of vole wildlife pests was achieved via the introduction of raptor poles which created an estimated 400% increase in native birds of pray such as buzzards, sparrow hawks, short eared owls, kestrels and barn owls to the area around Drumclog. The poles themselves were recycled telegraph poles (which were reclaimed from other QTS civil engineering works offsite; Furthermore, avoiding chemical treatments for the forest pests has eliminated ongoing financial burdons and pollution risk.
• Production of biomass woodchip from reclaimed timbers from QTS offsite civils projects offsite
• Reuse of soils on QTS contracts for Network Rail (e.g. moving from one site to another) rather than sending offsite to landfill
• Use of mobile plant with specialised tracks that avoided damage to vegetation when moving across Network Rail land.