Archant London Environmental Awards Environmental Business of the Year Big Yellow Self Storage PLC Barking Central, Hertford Road, Barking, IG11 8BL
Introduction Big Yellow is a local business that has made a positive contribution to improve the local environment in terms of landscape and biodiversity. We have encouraged employees and customers to act in an ecofriendly manner towards work related travel and waste disposal. Longer term strategies include energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy generation and rainwater harvesting. Our supply chains support our cause. Big Yellow is a self storage operator and developer providing space for domestic and commercial customers. We help those who need to grow from small sized business or just need to de-clutter or move home due to life time events. The local community needs self storage space We can also contribute to local regeneration and employment. Self storage is a safe and secure environment Our CSR covers all operations including the eco-labelling of cardboard boxes with 70 100% recycled content
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy The Big Yellow Group CSR policy (www.bigyellow.co.uk) covers all environmental, social and financial aspects of our activities from new store developments to storage operations. The Board has committed to comply with relevant social and environmental legislation and beyond to achieve best practice within existing management systems. Our Barking Central store was opened in November 2007 and is a good example of the Boards commitment to providing capital for sustainable development and preventing pollution. Our carbon footprint which has been measured on an annual basis since 2007 is reported in our Annual Report and Accounts. All Big Yellow Construction Company contractors sign up to the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS). In October 2007 the Barking Central store construction site gained 31.5 points exceeding the current, more onerous UK average score of 30points. Environmental strengths included waste recycling, spill kit availability and the reuse of spare materials. To enable store managers to effectively manage energy use and improve efficiency an Energy Walk Round Check list has been developed following the guidance provided by the Carbon Trust Website.
Barking Central, Brownfield Site Such sites often require some site clearance, demolition and ground works before the higher quality new build can begin. Before After Reclamation and Remediation The process of site investigation usually results in an improvement in land quality for improved landscape and biodiversity plans.
Passive Building Design Big Yellow stores are based on a large concrete slab. Structural steel work has a higher recycled content. During the lifetime of the building the concrete can provide a large thermal mass to the building, equalising daily and seasonal temperature variations. Solid rock wool insulation and steel cladding also reduce the requirement for cooling and heating. Sustainable Materials Use Other building components and materials such as aluminium window frames, breeze blocks and particle board flooring, also have high recycled contents between 50 and 100%. Large areas of steel partitioning and particle board flooring consisting of recycled bark and saw dust
Store Waste Management There are several types of waste generated at operational stores which include paper, packaging, food containers and hazardous waste such as fluorescent lamps. Employee waste guidance is provided through induction training on Duty of Care, hazardous waste and Reduce, Reuse and Recycle principles. All customers are advised on waste management through Big Yellow s Guide to Self Storage available in all stores.
Energy Efficiency by Design All Big Yellow stores have customer entry door swipe cards that activate the lights required for that customers floor level destination. All stores now have motion sensor lighting which has reduced total energy demand by about 20% Big Yellow stores, without the most energy efficient lamps, are included in a programme for re-lamping within the next 3 years. Energy efficient traction lifts and T5 lighting will reduce total energy demand by at least a further 10%.
Renewable Energy Predicted energy demand for Barking Central was 171,394 kwh / year with lighting and lifts being the significant demands. For the barking store to provide 10% of this figure would require a reduction of 7.2 tonnes of CO2 per year. The most viable option for renewable energy was a free standing 15 kw wind turbine that was specified to generate 22,500 kwh per year and save up to 13% carbon emissions. This was estimated to save about 1,800 per annum in energy bills with a payback period of 24 years. Customers can see how much renewable electricity is being generated on site in the loading bay area.
Travel and Carbon Footprint Big Yellow s transport policy is to reduce single occupancy car usage, encourage the use of public transport, walking and cycling and to reduce traffic speeds improving road safety.
Landscape and Biodiversity Barking Central was a good opportunities to improve boundary areas where no landscape and biodiversity existed previously. Planting schedules for trees and shrubs included 14 trees, 1,084 shrubs and 383 transplants, adding significant biodiversity opportunities for wildlife and habitat locally. A landscape and maintenance plan ensures the establishment of new species. Green Roof A selection of green roof species for a sedum blanket (4 species), wild flowers (8 species) and a grass mix (5 species) was planted. Some areas were left available for natural colonisation.
The green roof was established in stages with protective matting forming the foundation. 760 m2 of green roof reduces heat reflection back into the atmosphere and so helps reduce the urban heat island effect.
Rainwater Harvesting A rainwater harvesting system collects water from the roof for storage at ground level. Rainwater is used in landscape irrigation and WC s and helps retain water on site. Typically, a Big Yellow store would have a domestic scale water usage of 65 m 3 per annum. Water is drawn off for use in WC s and external standpipes. Conclusion Big Yellow self storage designs, builds and operates it stores in a sustainable way. By doing this, local communities gain the benefits of addressing the global pressures of climate change and improvements in the environment in which we work.