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West Devon building shortlisted for green award

A West Devon building which uses energy efficient measures to cut carbon dioxide emissions has made the shortlist for an environmental award.

The Okehampton Business Centre has been shortlisted for the Best Small Renewable Energy Scheme in next month's annual South West Green Energy Awards.

Built with green materials, the 16-unit centre features photovoltaic solar panels and a six kilowatt wind turbine to generate its electricity, while heat is provided by a wood pellet boiler.

The office units have natural ventilation and collect rainwater to be used in the toilet facilities.

Tracy Windemer, West Devon Borough Council civil engineer, said: "The contractors had to adhere to a strict environmental management plan. A percentage of the scoring is based on the construction phase and Rok, our contractor, has performed exceptionally well. "

The result has been a building which has already earned an 'excellent' award from the Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Assessment and Award Scheme, an award of excellence from the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Best Sustainability Project in the Local Authority Building Control Awards.

Ms Windemer added: "The building has also achieved a BREEAM excellent score from the Building Research Establishment which is the world’s leading environmental assessment method for buildings."

The building's wind turbine and solar panels could pay their own way sooner than expected. Secretary of state for energy and climate change Ed Miliband announced recently that a feed-in tariff, or above-market rates, would be paid to small scale generators of renewable energy.

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