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Green Party members Andrew Myer, left, and Darryl Croft outside the Green Living Centre |
Red-faced council realises ‘G’ doesn’t always stand for green
222 Upper Street, home to Green Living Centre, gets worst possible energy efficiency rating
IT WAS hailed “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 – 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.
Council building 222 Upper Street, where the Green Living Centre is situated, has topped the government’s new energy “Sin list”.
The council’s flagship site is rated G, the lowest rating possible on the scale. It scored 264, nearly doubling the G rating threshold of 150.
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.
The ruling Lib Dems looked perplexed at last week’s full council meeting when confronted with the news by Islington Green Party member Darryl Croft.
He said: “Islington’s public buildings are atrociously bad. 222 Upper Street is the worst for energy efficiency in the borough but features an
energy efficiency centre.”
He asked environment chief councillor Greg Foxsmith to spell out how Islington Council plans to improve the energy efficiency of its own buildings.
Cllr Foxsmith said: “I’d like Islington’s buildings to be exemplars.”
But, he said there was difficulty in balancing the need to “lead by example”, the pressures of the budget and responding to residents wanting funding for the same measures in their own homes.
He added: “I’d like a lot more work on energy issues in our budget.”
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.
Other Islington Council buildings have also come low on the scale.
Northway House, in 257 Upper Street, is rated G, while offices at Fieldway Crescent, Old Street and Laycock Street are rated F. Not one council building has scored an A or B.
Islington Green Party says urgent action is needed to minimise the council’s fuel bills and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.
Mr Croft said: “These new figures show how council taxes are being wasted to heat up these terribly inefficient buildings. This is not only bad for the planet but bad for our pockets – it means losing money that could go to improving schools or care services in Islington.
“The council has built an energy and recycling showroom at 222 Upper Street, while the building itself has the worst rating for energy efficiency. The council simply has to start practising what it preaches.” |
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