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Green Apple Award for Library...

Filed under: Sustainability  Sustainable Design & Technology 

Library's green win...

One of Havering's greenest Public Buildings has scooped a top award for environmental best practice.

Elm Park Library won the gold award in the Community Use category at the annual Green Apple Awards, held at the Tower of London. It was one of three awards which went to the Council.

The judges, who are all environmental professionals, look for projects which improve environmental performance, encourage efficient use of resources and support wider goals of sustainable development through community and staff engagement.

The award means Elm Park Library shall be put forward to represent the UK at the European Business Awards for the Environment in Brussels next year.

The Library opened in June 2009. One of its key features is solar panels, which generate more that 95% of its electricity.

It also has a 'living' roof, with Sedum plants in a soil base, which will improve insulation. All materials from the timber frame were from sustainable sources.

Havering also picked up two further Green Apple Awards.

The Council's Rainham Village Shopfront Award Scheme, a project to preserve Rainham's history and heritage by restoring shopfronts, won silver in the Local Authorities category.

And Havering Museum also got off to a great start in its first month of being fully open, by scooping silver in the Architectural Heritage category.

Cllr Andrew Curtin, Cabinet Member for Towns and Communities, with special responsibility for Culture, said: "Environmental sustainability and conservation of the historical environment of Havering are absolutely at the heart of our priorities.  "I was particularly pleased with the award for Elm Park Library as libraries are one of the most popular services which we offer and Elm Park Library is valued by everyone in the community.  "It is even better that this award comes just after the area celebrated its 75th anniversary."

Each winner was presented with a trophy and certificate from presenter, actress Carol Royle.