THE BETA AWARDS SCHEME

T

he Beta Awards Scheme was established to recognise the contribution electrical techniques and services can make to the energy efficiency of commercial buildings.

The name Beta is derived from the Greek letter eta, representing efficiency, combined with the letter 'B' for buildings.

The scheme recognises particular buildings, together with their designers and operators, that have adopted a cost effective electrical service or technique which has led to one or both of the following benefits:

for new buildings

• low total energy costs to operate the building
• a high standard of environment or amenity in the building

for existing buildings

• a saving in total costs to operate the building
• improvement in the environment or amenity of the building.

The scheme is open to private and public buildings including educational premises, exhibition centres, health and leisure centres, hotels, libraries, museums, offices, places of worship and retail outlets.  It is not open to domestic, farming or horticultural buildings, or to manufacturing processes which are covered by other award schemes.

Buildings are judged in two categories according to their size.

• Category 1 - up to 600m2 in floor area
• Category 2 - 600m2 and over.