This Mayor's Business Energy Challenge blog series picks the brains of sustainability experts. You can find out more about the challenge by emailing [email protected].
What's your favourite sustainable London building, and why?
Justin Keeble, Accenture
A Victorian terrace on Bertram Street, N19. This is a low-carbon retrofit of a 3-storey Victorian terraced house.
The conversion reduced emissions by 77% and included fitting internal wall insulation, vacuum glazing, solar thermal and photovoltaics.
Since we have 27 million homes in the UK and need the equivalent of a war effort to drive the level of energy efficiency savings needed for our older housing stock, finding the right models for large scale domestic retrofit is essential.
Read Accenture's sustainability overview
Leilani Weier, Linklaters
It’s where the Legal Sustainability Alliance (LSA), of which Linklaters is an executive member, held the celebrations for its 2009 climate change symposium, marking the importance of sectors and corporates coming together to collaborate on climate change.
The retrofit was ahead of its time for a conference venue. It’s ISO14001 certified, has solar panels on the roof which provide 90% of the hot water requirements, all food waste goes to compost, the doormats are made from recycled tyres, clay based paint has been used which is better for human and environmental health, cushions and banquettes are made from end of the line seatbelts and the catering arm has subscribed to the sustainable fish city pledge.
It’s a good example of well rounded sustainability.
Read about Linklaters environment strategy
Richard Griffiths, UK Green Building Council
Two of the directors at my old employer, Parity Projects, turned their Victorian terrace houses into eco houses, and they’d both be pretty high up my list.
I love London’s traditional buildings, and it’s a shame that people always think of places that are a bit whacky when they think of sustainable homes.
Those two houses – and there are many others like them of course – show that any house can be an eco house.
Get further information on the Uk Green Building Council
Munish Datta, Marks & Spencer
It’s difficult to pick one specific building when there are many good examples.
I think the best is still to come – what an opportunity to make a huge retrofit statement with both the Palace of Westminster and Buckingham Palace.
Get further information on Marks and Spencer's sustainability programme
Georgios Zampas, Herbert Smith Freehills
London’s “Walkie Talkie” tower because it includes roof-mounted solar panels, expected to generate around 27,300kWh of electricity every year, noise and air quality monitoring systems and the UK’s largest green wall.
The technology is also expected to help reduce its carbon emissions by at least 270 tonnes every year.
The icing on the cake is the beautiful sky garden on the roof of the building.
Get more information on Herbert Smith Freehills
You can find out more about the Mayor’s Business Energy Challenge by emailing [email protected]