Green Aquarium; Plymouth’s National Marine Aquarium

By MATT FLEMING Herald Reporter

Plymouth’s National Marine Aquarium is hoping to become the first organisation in the city to achieve a leading environmental full accreditation by introducing new ‘green’ initiatives.

The charity has signed up to the Government-backed Acorn scheme, and has already reached phase three of a six-step process to secure Environmental Management Standard BS8555 by demonstrating its credentials. As part of the aquarium’s pounds3.6 million ‘Explorocean’ project – which focuses on renewable energy use and climate change – two wind turbines were erected outside the NMA entrance during 2006.

On average the turbines provide a combined output of 24,000 kilowatts every year. And solar panels on the roof of the Barbican building have produced more than 69,000 kilowatt hours of power since they were first installed in 2003.

The South West Regional Development Agency has invested pounds100,000 in the scheme, with the remainder of the funding coming from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, BP Solar and the aquarium itself.

Ian Thompson, area director for Devon and Somerset at SWRDA, said: "I applaud the great efforts of the team at the National Marine Aquarium in helping to reduce the facility’s overall environmental impact and the on-going successful programme of developing low-carbon initiatives.

"This is yet another great example of an organisation in the South West proactively working towards the RDA’s aim in developing a low carbon economy and our commitment to making all our investments net zero-carbon by 2013."

The aquarium’s team has also introduced other concepts – including an environmental management policy, and a commitment to sourcing more local and sustainable products.

The team is now hoping to:

trial new water-saving devices

install a hot composter to reduce food wastage

investigate alternative lighting sources

roll out a recycling scheme for traders on the Barbican

install a bicycle rack to encourage staff to cycle to work.

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