09/07/2010

Chadderton Wellbeing Centre Wins Sustainability Award at 2010 LIFT Awards

The blue sky designed Chadderton Wellbeing Centre has received national recognition at the prestigious annual LIFT Awards by winning the Sustainability Award.

The LIFT Awards recognise the commitment, innovation and dedication of the LIFT industry in delivering high quality infrastructure and services to local communities, and the Sustainability Award is given to the project that can demonstrate how outstanding sustainability has been embedded in the design, construction and operation of the building.

The award recognises the sustainable features which have been incorporated into the building design and the resulting benefits in terms of carbon savings and increased energy efficiency.  Features include passive solar design, solar shading, timber frame for certain parts of the building, rainwater harvesting, dessicant de-humidification system and increased thermal insulation.

In addition to these architectural design features, the centre includes a fully integrated innovative Green2Go generating system which is powered by a bio-fuel based 100% on waste used cooking oil and provides all the heat and power requirements for the building. Uniquely, surplus power can be exported to the National Grid, allowing even greater off-setting of emissions.

Collectively, these features have resulted in an ‘A’ rated energy performance certificate, which shows how energy efficient the building is. This is one of the highest ratings available and demonstrates how the integration of architectural design and the ground breaking technologies which exist in the building are resulting in an estimated cost effective reduction in the building’s carbon emissions of approximately 450,000 kg per year.

blue sky, via its sustainable consultancy arm, blue sky environmental, are working with client Community 1st Oldham towards an ‘A+’ rating, which is the highest energy performance rating available, and are confident that the Chadderton Wellbeing Centre would be the first public building to achieve this accolade.

Chris Russell, Managing Director of blue sky, commented: “Our unique offering of architectural, environmental and engineering services under one roof meant that we could ensure sustainability was at the forefront of this project right from the very beginning. We are delighted that the judges of the LIFT Awards have recognised the innovative design and engineering features incorporated in this development.”