The stated aim of the sustainability bureau is to ensure "that new buildings and other projects deliver benefits today but don't put a burden on future generations". The bureau is headed up by Richard Linger, a Civil Engineering graduate from UCC who joined from Deloitte in the UK, and has significant experience in both industry and consulting.

"We are seeing sustainability being driven mainly through the public sector, " he said. "Indeed, we have seen a number of tenders from county councils looking at areas such as a 60% reduction in CO 2and at least 30% use of renewables. But we have also spent quite a bit of time talking to architects, developers and manufacturing businesses, helping them to understand what sustainability means, from both a technical and a holistic point of view."

The sustainability bureau at White Young Green works with both the private and public sectors, from residential to commercial to industrial building projects, as well as on major civil engineering builds.

It has worked extensively in the North, and has been involved in the new Invest NI HQ in Belfast. In the Republic, major projects were with Portlaoise VEC and the Dublin Colleges' Sustainable Energy Ireland sponsored Energy Bureau, e3, which has reduced usage in DIT, UCD, DCU and TCD by over 10%.

"Our ultimate goal is about reducing the need for energy and resources, " explained Linger. "It's not about throwing technology at a project, it is about the right advice which will help a building in the public or private sector to reduce their energy, water and raw materials needs, thereby reducing operating costs."

To this end, White Young Green has been active with industry, notably with the pharmaceutical and public sectors, providing support on how best to reduce energy bills.

"The key driver of sustainability is the ability to reduce the need for resource usage, " said Linger. "White Young Green can help anyone with that issue."