London’s iconic “Walkie Talkie” tower has been recognised as one of the most sustainable buildings in the capital.

Officially known as 20 Fenchurch Street, it has achieved the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) rating, the global design and assessment method for sustainable buildings.

It was given an “Excellent” post-construction rating of 80.2% by the assessors at BREEAM.

Joint developers Canary Wharf Group and Land Securities employed a number of measures to reduce the carbon footprint of the 38-storey building.

It includes roof-mounted solar panels, expected to generate around 27,300MWh of electricity every year, noise and air quality monitoring systems and the UK’s largest green wall.

The companies claim the tower will become the first commercial building in London to install a hydrogen fuel cell, which produces heating, cooling and electricity, generating 300kW of low carbon electricity.

The technology is also expected to help reduce its carbon emissions by at least 270 tonnes every year.

Caroline Hill, Head of Sustainability (Energy Environment) at Land Securities said: “Together with our joint venture partners, Canary Wharf Group, we’ve worked hard to find innovative ways to enhance the building’s sustainability credentials and we’re proud that the finished product is having as positive an impact on the environment as it is on our office customers and visitors to the Sky Garden.”

• BREEAM, London, UK, Walkie Talkie