RIBA signs up for green electricity

10 February 2009

green energy uk – power out of demolished buildings

green energy uk, supplier of 100% renewable and 100% green electricity, is pleased to announce The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) as a new customer. RIBA joins a growing number of architects and building professionals illustrating their environmental credentials and reducing carbon emissions by switching their electricity supply to green energy uk. Martin Pascoe, RIBA Head of Property and Facilities and in-house architect, said about the switch: “The RIBA has adopted a robust climate change policy. We have implemented many projects to address our corporate behaviour and reduce our own environmental impact, and are therefore delighted to have switched to green energy uk.” Much of the electricity green energy uk supplies customers is generated from waste materials, including construction and demolition waste. One green energy uk generator partner, the Enviropower Plant in West Sussex, recycles 48,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste into electricity every year, enough to power 10,000 homes. Ordinarily, this would sit in landfill, but recycling it into electricity prevents its harmful greenhouse gasses from entering the atmosphere. Green energy’s electricity also comes from wind, solar and hydro generators. green energy uk works closely with local authorities, architects and builders in bringing to market surplus electricity generated from energy development projects. In Scotland, two cleaner, greener CHP units were recently installed by Aberdeen City Council to generate subsidised heat and hot water for several large public buildings and 500 local homes, cutting residents’ heating bills by half. In addition, the CHP units are generating electricity that is fed into the national grid and made available though green energy uk. In Walsall, Caldmore Housing Association has reduced service charges for some residents by selling to green energy uk the surplus electricity generated by photovoltaic panels on five blocks of flats. green energy uk founder and Chief Executive, Doug Stewart, says the building industry has an important role to play in helping the government meet its projected target for reducing national carbon emissions. “Incorporating energy saving measures into building projects, and where possible embedded generation, is the most efficient way for the nation to conserve energy. The electricity we supply is green, but the greenest electricity of all is the electricity we don’t use. The vast majority of electricity generated in the UK is brown and comes from fossil fuels, and - this might sound mad given what we do - if we lessen our demand for electricity, it will have a positive environmental impact. It’s encouraging that as a member organisation, RIBA is taking a vigorous stance.”