‘Energy Park’ will push efficiency

Press, 2 April 1985, Page 16

‘Energy Park’ will push efficiency

Houses in a 130-hectare enclave of the rapidly expanding city of Milton Keynes, 85km north-west of London, will be designed to make them 30 per cent more energy efficient than building regulations require. This is one aim of the Milton Keynes Development Corporation’s £ 100 million Energy Park, which is being promoted as the first of its kind in the world. It will take seven years to build. Mr Peter Walker, the U.K. Energy Secretary, launched the project. He said that in Britain the annual £35 billion energy bill could be cut by £7 billion if known , techniques for reducing waste were The Milton Keynes Energy Park, which has already attracted inquiries from potential investors in the United States and Japan, will comprise employment, housing and

park areas planned with the aim of reducing power bills. A focal point will be the Energy Centre, which will serve as a showcase for energy-related products and services as well as a consultancy for householders and industry. The aim is to make the park both a working example of energy efficiency and an attractive centre for domestic and overseas investors. The park will also become an international showplace, starting with “Energyworld,” an exhibition of low-energy houses next year, and displays of fuel-efficient vehicles and other themes in succeeding years. Methods of reducing energy expenditure in the park’s buildings begin with their location. This starts with designing to catch the sun, and producing favourable

“microclimates” by paying careful attention to landscaping and buildings to create shelter. These measures have already cut energy use in other areas of the city by between 5 and 10 per cent. Better ventilation, insulation and heating systems are the other conservation methods. As with other developments at Milton Keynes, which is growing by 2500 new homes a year, funds for the park will come largely from private investment. Since the large-scale development of the city began in the early 19705, Milton Keynes has attracted £ 900 million worth of private investment. More than 1200 companies, including 150 from overseas, have located their headquarters in the city, midway between London and Birmingham. — London Press Service.