World Environmental Day: Old Library Newbury's Sustainable Transformation

To mark World Environment Day (Fri 5 Jun) and the launch of The Great Big Green Week, we're highlighting the ways we focused on sustainability in the Old Library development.

From recycled seating in our auditorium space using 100% post-consumer recycled polyester material to heat-recovery air systems around the building, we're taking a look at the sustainable features of our brand-new arts hub.

Here are some of the green changes that have been added to the space:

• The gas supply has been removed from the building, replacing this with heat-recovery air systems.
• The building itself has been upgraded; walls and roof voids are now insulated to meet the high thermal ratings. All heating, cooling and air handling is done using heat recovery technology.
• The auditorium's seating is now upholstered in 100% post-consumer recycled polyester.
• Every light fitting in the building, including the theatre lights themselves, has been converted to LED, managed by a programmable building-wide system with motion sensors in corridors and toilets.

• The blinds in the upstairs studio are woven from 100% recycled polyester.
• The studio floor contains up to 30% post-manufacture recycled materials.

• Sustainability runs through the smaller details as well. The Café's cold storage and dishwasher uses energy-saving technology.
• Water-saving electronic taps have been fitted in the toilets.
• Waste is handled with equal care: building waste is separated into recycling streams at source and all food and coffee grounds go in the food waste disposal.
• The Old Library Café Bar is plastic free.
• In our Café Bar we have made an effort of reusing items where possible, including crockey donated by The Vineyard and chairs donated by Boswells Café that have been upcycled by Restyled By Slc.

Each space of the Old Library has been considered with care, with the planet in mind.