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 | | POLYPIPE WATER MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS DONATES RAINWATER HARVESTING SOLUTION FOR AWARD WINNING LOW CARBON PROJECT | | | Polypipe Civils | | 17/09/2007 | | | Polypipe WMS, a dedicated team from within Polypipe Civils and the UK’s leading manufacturer of drainage and water management systems has donated a full rainwater harvesting solution for the recently opened Brighton Earthship Low Carbon project.
Developed by the Low Carbon Trust as an ‘off-grid’ building, the Brighton Earthship minimises environmental impact by using energy from the sun to generate electricity, harvesting rainwater and dealing with waste directly on-site. Polypipe WMS donated four Eco-Vat Rainwater Harvesting tanks, each with a 20,000 litre capacity. Since being installed on the project in July 2003, the Earthship has harvested over 50,000 litres per year, giving a total water saving of over 150,000 litres.
Through the use of the Eco-Vat rainwater harvesting system the Earthship project and Low Carbon Trust received a commendation from the Environment Agency at the 2007 Water Efficiency Awards, in the Inspiring Change and Construction & Renovation categories. Also in 2007 the Low Carbon Trust has also won two Green Apple awards for the Built Environment & Architectural Heritage and Environmental Best Practice.
As an ‘off-grid’ building, materials with low embodied carbon were used in the construction of the Earthship, with the thermal mass of the walls controlling the heating and cooling of the building. Earth-rammed tyres were principally used in the construction, as opposed to bricks and mortar to greatly reduce the carbon footprint of the development.
The Brighton Earthship is the first development in the UK to utilise rainwater for potable and non-potable uses. Together with the Eco-Vat tanks, Polypipe WMS provided all fittings and a vortex filter alongside full maintenance training.
Mischa Hewitt, Project Manager for the Low Carbon Trust and responsible for the Brighton Earthship comments: “We’re very proud of the Earthship and the standards we have achieved in reducing our impact on the environment. Polypipe WMS have been a great help in donating the Eco-Vat tanks and we’re delighted with the results. The rainwater harvesting system has enabled us to save a huge amount of water over the past 3-4 years, which is of massive significance when taking into consideration the drought situation across the South East during the summer months.”
Rachel Smith, Marketing Manager for Polypipe WMS comments: “This is a fantastic project and really drives home the message of sustainability and low carbon footprint. Our Eco-Vat Rainwater Harvesting system provides a sustainable and long term solution to reduce the need for mains water consumption and therefore a building’s carbon footprint. We’re delighted that the project has received so much attention for its innovative concept and willingness to educate the community. This is a great example of the type of project we’re keen to be involved with.”
The last building phase of the Brighton Earthship was completed in December 2006, with the building due to open as a community centre in Autumn 2007. In the last eighteen months the Low Carbon Trust has conducted tours to over 4,700 people, including the former Secretary of State for the Environment, the Rt Hon David Miliband MP. | |
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