November 2007
Leading By Example?
Like charity, it seems that environmentalism starts at home. Or at least this is the plan being considered by officials at the Palace of Westminster, who are looking to cut the carbon footprint of the parliament buildings by up to a third.
A study into "greening" the palace was commissioned by MPs and peers, and sees radical proposals to alter the parliamentary estate. In addition to obvious efficiency savings suggestions such as fitting double glazing, proposals include a 35m high wind turbine to be sited in Victoria Gardens and tidal power turbines in the Thames running along side members" terraces. A 120m deep borehole tapping into London's chalk aquifer has also been mooted so as to provide drinking water, whilst another would be used to cool air in the debating chamber in place of air-conditioning units. Most ambitiously, miniature power stations in the cellars of parliament have been mentioned in the plans.
Formal consideration of the scheme is set to take place early in the New Year by the House of Commons administration committee. The need to tackle the palace's carbon footprint is a cause staunchly supported by Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker. "We can"t afford to do nothing and that is exactly what parliament has done for too long… Parliament at the moment is extremely unfriendly to the environment. Now if we accept these measures there's a chance we could become an emblem of sustainability for the country. The measures outlined here are very welcome indeed." Baker has previously calculated that the House of Commons" electricity consumption has risen by 86% in the last decade.
Whilst appearing to be a wholly positive plan, opposition is expected to be encountered by planning bodies and aestheticists. The grade 1 listed building is also listed as a world heritage site and any additions to the surrounding area would have to be carefully scrutinised. Director of planning at Westminster City Council, Rosemarie MacQueen, made clear that any proposal "must meet very challenging criteria [and] reconcile vitally important, but potentially competing, agendas" in order to win approval.
However it is the most obvious of the suggested improvements – the wind turbine – that is proving the most contentious. Whilst the 35m tall structure would have an output of 1.65mw, generating enough electricity each year to save some 787 tonnes of CO2, average wind speeds of just 8m/s are at the lower end of the feasibility spectrum for such a turbine. Though the report states that the turbine alone would help contribute a 7.4% cut in emissions, it was also vital to make "a bold statement to the nation on government commitment to renewable energy," representing a gesture laden with symbolism rather than practicality.
In any case, Westminster palace would not be the first legislative seat to "go green". Both the Reichstag and Scottish Parliament harness renewable sources to help with their power and maintenance needs.
For example, the Reichstag has its own power plant running on wholly renewable fuels, burned in a co-generator, which upon its reopening in 1999 allowed for a 94% reduction in the building's CO2 emissions. Moreover, surplus heat generated by the power plant is stored in a natural aquifer 300metres below the building and by being passed through an absorption cooling plant, can pump warm air in winter and cool air in summer through the entire building.
Intent on providing an equally respectable model for green development, the Palace of Westminster has already set targets to see CO2 reductions by 8% by 2012 and 16% by 2020. Indeed, the feasibility study has suggested that a 29% reduction by 2020 is realistic, so watch this space.
A few facts:
- The Palace of Westminster uses enough electricity to power 6,500 households.
- It generates so much CO2 that it would take a forest of more than 2,500 to absorb it.
- It bought 18,720 bottles of water last year and created 2,252 tonnes of rubbish.
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