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THE ENVIRONMENT AND YOU A GREENER FUTURE Not so long ago, the Isle of Dogs looked very different to how it is today. For centuries, it had been a thriving port, importing exotic goods from around the world and exporting the best of British products. But with the introduction of container ships, business moved elsewhere. In 1980, the last dock closed. Left behind was over 20km2 of derelict land, some of it poisoned with toxic chemicals after years of careless misuse. There were few jobs and prospects looked bleak. Things started to change in 1987, with a bold plan to transform the area into a city of the future. The first major building, One Canada Square, was finished in 1991. It’s still Canary Wharf’s tallest building and has been joined by some of the UK’s most environmentally friendly construction projects. It shows that with careful planning, it is possible to create something that is kind to both the people who live and work there, and the environment. This book examines some of the major environmental issues facing the world today – and what you and businesses like Canary Wharf Group can do to help. Remember, we State of the art and thriving: Canary Wharf in 2012 Abandoned docks: Canary Wharf in the early 1980s can all make a difference! P4-7 CONTENTS P16-19 P8-11 P4-7 ENERGY P16-19 TRANSPORT Energy production and use may be Changing the way you travel can make a key contributor to climate change a positive impact on the environment P8-11 WASTE P20-23 BIODIVERSITY Disposing of waste carefully is Welcome the wonder of nature into your vital for a cleaner, greener future world by encouraging wildlife P12-15 WATER P24-25 CONSTRUCTION Even in a country famous for Constructing buildings that are kind to the rain, saving water is important P20-23 environment helps create better workplaces P24-25 P12-15 TO FIND OUT MORE AND HOW YOU CAN HELP, READ ON… 4 2T HETHE ENVIRONMEN ENVIRONMENT ANDT AND YOU YOU TTHEHE ENVIRONMEN ENVIRONMENTT AND AND YOU YOU 33 ENERGY ALERT! CANARY WHARF lectricity keeps the modern world working. From mobile £40! Ephones and computers to street lighting and tube trains, all How much an GROUP AND ENERGY of them need electricity. But there’s a problem: the way we are average household Britain’s businesses are responsible for a large proportion of the UK’s energy generating electricity could cause massive climate change. wastes every year by use. Some companies, such as Canary Wharf Group, are making a real effort About three-quarters of the UK’s electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels (such leaving TVs, phone to reduce their energy consumption. as gas, coal and oil) to drive electricity generating turbines. When those fossil fuels chargers and are burned, they release carbon dioxide (CO ) into the atmosphere. So the more 2 so on, on energy we use based on fossils fuels, the more CO we put into the air. 2 standby! BETTER BUILDINGS And here’s the tricky bit – if there is too much CO in the air, it can lead to global 2 When new projects are built in Canary warming and climate change. In the last 100 years, the earth has got 0.75°C warmer. Wharf, the latest environmentally friendly It may not seem like much but, with that tiny change, sea levels have risen. In the techniques are employed. For example, the UK, it’s by 10cm. Elsewhere, glaciers and sea ice have melted, and extreme weather KPMG building (right), opened in 2010, events such as floods, droughts and storms seem to be happening more often. WHAT A WASTE uses something called Trigeneration. One of the ways we can reduce our carbon Here, a special on-site machine produces Worryingly, the amount of CO we are putting into the air keeps on rising. 2 footprint is to be energy efficient: that is, use electricity, and then reuses any extra energy Now, scientists believe major climate change is on its way – and that puts less energy to do the same thing. A good released during power generation to heat millions of people around the world at risk. example is low-energy light bulbs. They give and cool the building – all at the same time! out the same amount of light as traditional It is a really efficient way of producing light bulbs but use much less energy. electricity. Normally, electricity is generated miles away at a power station and huge FACT! amounts are lost on the way, known as transmission losses. By having a power plant There is more in the building, transmission losses are tiny. carbon dioxide in the atmosphere now than at any time during the last 800,000 FEEL THE HEAT! years! One Canada Square, the most famous building in Canary Wharf, was built in 1991. In the years since, there have been enormous technological improvements. In 2010, Canary Wharf Group began upgrading lots of equipment and bringing in the latest energy efficient devices. For example, a new gas hot water heating system has replaced CARBON FOOTPRINT CLEAN ’N’ GREEN the old electric heating system. It uses high-efficiency boilers – and upgrades such as this have saved about The amount of CO2 (and other similar gases) Renewable energy is a way of producing energy each of us adds to the atmosphere is known as that doesn’t use up the world’s resources. The 1000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year. Hot stuff! our carbon footprint. The size of our carbon main methods are wind generators (such as the footprint depends on our lifestyle. one in Tower Hamlets’ Mile End Park, above), For example, the more you fly and drive, the solar energy panels, and hydro-electric power larger your carbon footprint. But it’s not just things stations (where water is released from a dam to LIGHTS OUT like flying and driving. It’s also how much energy turn turbines that produce electricity). There Movement sensors are used in many of Canary is used to heat your house, to make the clothes you are others, too, such as biomass where plants Wharf’s office lighting systems. They detect the wear, or to produce the food you eat, and so on. are grown to be turned into fuel. slightest movement. If nothing moves for a while, Anything that needs energy to manufacture, Back in 2010, renewable energy sources in the lights are turned out. A similar system operates transport or use will increase your carbon UK supplied just 7 per cent of our electricity. The in areas such as stairwells, which aren’t often footprint. In other words, you can make your good news is that by 2020 the UK aims to raise used. There, lighting only turns on when carbon footprint smaller just by living a more renewable energy production to an impressive someone uses the stairs. That’s energy smart! responsible lifestyle. It’s your choice… © London City Airport 30 per cent. Green energy is getting big! 4 THE ENVIRONMENT AND YOU THE ENVIRONMENT AND YOU 5 ENERGY ALERT! WHAT CAN CANARY WHARF lectricity keeps the modern world working. From mobile YOU DO?£40! Ephones and computers to street lighting and tube trains, all According to theHow Government, much an GROUP AND ENERGY of them need electricity. But there’s a problem: the way we are individuals areaverage responsible household for about Britain’s businesses are responsible for a large proportion of the UK’s energy generating electricity could cause massive climate change. 40 per cent of the UK’swastes carbon every emissions year by – use. Some companies, such as Canary Wharf Group, are making a real effort About three-quarters of the UK’s electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels (such that’s about 10 tonnesleaving of carbon TVs, per phone person. to reduce their energy consumption. as gas, coal and oil) to drive electricity generating turbines. When those fossil fuels Here are some ideas ofchargers how you canand are burned, they release carbon dioxide (CO ) into the atmosphere. So the more 2 reduce your carbon footprint.so on, on energy we use based on fossils fuels, the more CO we put into the air. 2 standby! BETTER BUILDINGS And here’s the tricky bit – if there is too much CO in the air, it can lead to global 2 HOMEWORK When new projects are built in Canary warming and climate change. In the last 100 years, the earth has got 0.75°C warmer. Wharf, the latest environmentally friendly It may not seem like much but, with that tiny change, sea levels have risen. In the Energy used in homes techniques are employed. For example, the UK, it’s by 10cm. Elsewhere, glaciers and sea ice have melted, and extreme weather accounts for about a quarter of UK KPMG building (right), opened in 2010, events such as floods, droughts and storms seem to be happening more often. WHAT A WASTE CO emissions. By making their uses something called Trigeneration. One of2 the ways we can reduce our carbon Here, a special on-site machine produces Worryingly, the amount of CO we are putting into the air keeps on rising. home energy efficient, the average 2 footprint is to be energy efficient: that is, use electricity, and then reuses any extra energy Now, scientists believe major climate change is on its way – and that puts lesshousehold energy to do could the same save thing. £250 A good a year! released during power generation to heat millions of people around the world at risk.