The Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI) building has proved that existing buildings and indeed listed buildings, can become green.

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According to heraldscotland.com, lead architect on the project, Calum Duncan, explained there is a lot to learn from the £10.5 million project.

“Compared to the standard demolish-and-new-build ‘sustainability’ model, the ECCI building represents a radical alternative and, as a general lesson, we suggest that the achievement of a low carbon economy should start with the joyful renewal of sturdy historic buildings, rather than their replacement,” he said.

The building used to be an old high school building and Malcolm Fraser Architects’ refurbishment won a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) award for the project, making it the first listed building to win such an award.

ECCI now uses 30% less energy and produces 38% less CO2 emissions

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Compared to the old building, the new design means the ECCI uses 30 per cent less energy and the new heating system produces 38 per cent less CO2 emissions. The building also makes use of energy efficient lighting and a rainwater harvesting system, which will collect water of the roof and use it to flush the toilets, greenbuildingpress.co.uk reports.

It wasn’t just the energy savings that won the ECCI the BREEAM award, the building’s location and the fact the building has been refurbished, not rebuilt, also helped push up its credentials.

Author: Laura Varley    Date Written: 04 January 2014