Recycled Construction Materials Part of Embarrassing Story

October 16, 2009 at 9:19 am | Posted in News | 6 Comments

Ouch! This scavenging-related project in London’s Islington district is cringeworthy:

“Red-faced council realises ‘G’ doesn’t always stand for green,” reads the headline in today’s Islington News:

“It was hailed as ‘another green first for Islington’ when it opened to a fanfare two years ago.
Celebrity experts in ‘urban eco chic’ used recycled water bottles, floorboards and natural paints to create Islington’s Green Living Centre [depicted at left] –- a shining beacon of the borough’s green credentials.

“So there were red faces amongst council politicians last week as it was revealed the centre is housed in the worst building in Islington for energy efficiency. … 222 Upper Street, where the Green Living Centre is situated, has topped the government’s new energy ‘Sin list.’ …

“Blustin Heath Design, set up by ITV presenter and writer Oliver Heath, won the contract to design the Green Living Centre’s interior in 2007.

“The team used recycled floorboards for the exhibition panelling, recycled plastic tables and natural paints. The pièce de résistance was the low energy light, made from 1,200 recycled water bottles, lit by ‘gently twinkling fibre optic lights’ to attract visitors inside.”

But “all public buildings have now been issued with Display Energy Certificates (DECs) that rate the operational energy efficiency of a building on a scale from A to G,” and the old building housing the Green Living Centre “is rated G, the lowest rating possible on the scale. It scored 264, nearly doubling the G rating threshold of 150.”