FROM a distance The Beehive looks like a standard building conversion.

But inside (and outside) The Beehive – once two cottages and a barn – is an ongoing experiment to find the most efficient way of building and running an office.

The Beehive, on Longwood Road, Longwood, dates back to the 19th century.

It was used for offices over the last 30 years and was acquired by 3A consultants and construction services in 2006.

Since then, the company with the help of researchers from Leeds Metropolitan University, has been testing exhaustively on ways to use less energy.

By the time 3A moved their offices into the Beehive in 2008, the building was packed with energy saving gear.

The walls were heavily insulated and painted to reflect heat back into the rooms while lights and taps, which turn themselves off, were installed.

Monitors were installed to measure how much water, gas and electricity were being used in different sections of the building and thermal mapping was used to see where heat was escaping.

A transformer was installed to reduce the amount of electricity used. Our electricity supply runs at up to 260 volts but most domestic and office equipment use 230 volts. The unused electricity ends up wasted as heat.

Businesses renting The Beehive’s other five units had to agree to recycle and cut their energy use as part of their contracts.

Planning permission last year was granted to install photovoltaic panels (which convert sunlight into electricity) and a system to harvest rainwater and use it for the taps and toilets.

3A’s energy bill was slashed by 25% in the last 12 months.

But director Andy Aldridge says the building has a long way to go before it reaches the company’s goal of becoming carbon neutral.

Mr Aldridge said: “I hate seeing waste whatever it is, be that time, money or resources.

“We’re not happy with what we’re achieving currently. We can do better.”

So the five other units, not occupied by 3A, have been stripped in preparation for a second phase of energy saving experimentation.

The company and their research partners at Leeds Metropolitan University will be studying how to best reduce heat loss through gaps in walls, doors, roofs and windows.

There’ll be greater use of more efficient LED lighting and mechanical heat recovery technology.

But why bother with all this expensive energy saving technology – especially if the company has to pay for it?

Andy says: “It’s like my approach to business; that’s about continuous improvement. I’m not happy if we’re not improving.”

3A hopes its research will be the blueprint for more environmentally sound architecture.

Mr Aldridge adds: “It’s a tall order but we’re not doing what the big corporations are doing, which is buying carbons.

“The whole industry needs to realise we can’t build in the traditional way anymore.

“Building properties has to be like the process of building aircraft. It has to be totally efficient”.