Sustainability at The Royal Horticultural Halls
21/08/08
Rome wasn't built in a day
As a Grade II listed venue, it often seems that being environmentally sustainable is an unachievable ambition. The pressure to become green is evermore palpable but the enormity of the task sometimes brings everything almost to a halt.
If only it was as simple as just clicking our fingers and descending into a sparkling clean, carbon-footprint free world. However, we've been listening to the pundits and realise that having a total venue revamp - with solar panels, wind turbines and all the latest ‘green' mod cons - is not the be-all and end-all. It's more important to look across the board and see if all our output is as ‘green' as can reasonably be expected. We thought our efforts might inspire you:
Within the limitations of our building's status, we are doing everything we can, no matter how small, to ensure we are BS8901 compliant. We have replaced our light bulbs with lower-energy, longer-life alternatives. The hand dryers in the Halls' toilets use up to 80% less energy than other types, so are much better for the environment. Even things like changing to natural, biodegradable hand soap and 100% recycled paper products will slow down deforestation and water pollution.
We also ensure that the Halls are decorated with potted rather than stem cut flowers and plants. The majority of cut flowers are grown in monocultures and treated with insecticides and pesticides and once harvested are transported - sometimes hundreds of miles by air - in temperature controlled units where they can expect a short shelf life emitting, rather than absorbing, CO².
We encourage visitors and staff to use pedestrian routes and public transport, so reducing traffic congestion and pollution. Additionally, Westminster County Council has recently installed more bicycle parking racks and free motorcycle bays in Vincent Square. Plenty of natural light and ventilation means a reduction in how much air conditioning and lighting is used. Waste separation and recycling is promoted to all staff and visitors, and we also have a policy of ensuring all floor coverings for events are recycled. For the greenhouse gases we cannot avoid emitting, we carbon offset by supporting renewable energy, energy efficiency and forest restoration.
This is by no means a complete representation of what we are doing to reduce our venue's impact on the environment, and that is exactly the point. We understand that reducing our carbon footprint is not going to happen overnight, but by building preventative measures into our mindset and that of our partners and clients now, we can benefit the environment in the long term and help our quest for sustainability.
