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31 May 2007

Brent Cross goes Green

Research out today* confirms that while 92% of Brits want to make changes now - such as recycling more - to help the future environment, only 15% are currently making those changes.

The survey, by Brent Cross Shopping Centre, shows that the perception from the public is that being 'environmentally friendly' isn't as easy as it sounds.

In response to the startling statistics, the 31 year-old shopping centre is setting an example by being the first Centre in the country to take an active role in helping its customers find out how they can help tackle climate change in small, easy steps. Brent Cross' two-week exhibition, Green Matters (2 - 17 June), forms part of London Sustainability Weeks 2007.

The main exhibition is in partnership with Business in the Community (BITC) and the British Council of Shopping Centres, with an advice centre provided by Barnet Council. Additionally featuring everything from energy-efficiency products and advice to the latest in electric transport, Green Matters is also involving some of the retailers at Brent Cross who are also passionate about the environment, such as Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, John Lewis, Starbucks, Timberland and AutoValet.

Tom Nathan, General Manager for Brent Cross Shopping Centre, says, "As the first shopping centre built in Britain, Brent Cross was not originally designed to be a model of sustainability, but then neither are the majority of our customers' homes, so we have something in common! However, we recognise the importance of taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint and have been successful in starting to make the Centre a more environmentally friendly place. We hope Green Matters will help our customers achieve their own small steps at home."

Over the past three years, Brent Cross has been working towards reducing its impact on the environment, in the process winning awards for its recycling and waste management.
So far Brent Cross has:
"Installed 9,000 energy efficient lights, saving enough energy to power 200 houses for a year.
"Installed water-reduced urinals in the Centre Court men's toilets, each year saving approximately 750,000 litres of water, sufficient to almost fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
"Increased its recycling to 40% of all the waste produced at the Centre, with a target to achieve 45% by the end of 2007.
"Saved 15,984 trees thanks to its efforts in recycling cardboard.
"Introduced plans to install automatic taps throughout the centre in 2007, saving a further 365,000 litres of water a year.
"Recycled 0.7 tonnes of plastic per month, with a target of 4 tonnes per month before the end of 2007.
"Sourced its electricity from renewable sources.
"Undertaken a study to find out the best way to restrict lighting usage and maximise natural daylight while maintaining legislative requirements. The preliminary findings suggest that this will further reduce electricity usage at Brent Cross by 6%.