Greenpower

In pole position for sustainability! Greenpower is a charitable trust that runs electric car design and racing competitions for young people. Based at the Greenpower Centre in West Sussex, they hold events across the UK.

The Greenpower Centre was designed and built by Fordingbridge plc., one of the trust’s sponsors. They incorporated the latest sustainable design techniques and efficient materials. Large south facing windows flood the centre with natural light. A building management system regulates temperature, controlling the air-source heat pump powered under floor heating system. The back wall is insulated using straw bales. Even during the coldest winter the Greenpower Centre costs just £2.50 a day to heat. An awning prevents excessive solar gain during the summer months, with roof vents automatically opening to provide natural cooling. Wild pumpkins grow on the centre’s green-roof and a rainwater harvesting system provides water to flush the toilets.

Greenpower Centre
– Air source heat pump
– Building management system
– Straw bale wall insulation
– Passive ventilation
– Intelligent lighting system
– Rainwater harvesting
– Green-roof

Managing Director Jeremy Way said, ‘We have a fantastic building, but it can’t stop there. Employees switch-off equipment after use, recycle and compost waste and use public transport to travel to meetings.”

Greenpower hosted a UTILISE Workshop run by the Sustainable Business Partnership. Jeremy said, “It was fantastic to both share with local businesses the technologies we have at the Greenpower Centre as well as pick up some great news ideas to help us continue towards environmental best practice.”

Jeremy and the team have been working to minimise the impact of their events and supply chain. Not all racetracks have public recycling, so they organised a can recycling scheme for event days. Races are held across the UK to lower mileage for participants, but with dates and locations co-ordinated to help the Greenpower team reduce their own transport emissions and costs. Local volunteers help marshal each event.

For more information about the UTILISE course contact the Sustainable Business Partnership. Other free services for South East based small and medium sized businesses include environmental and renewable energy site audits.

Download as a pdf.