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Flushed with success

Eve Dugdale
19/ 5/2004

IT'S not often Tamesiders praise the rain.

But when it helps conserve energy and flush the toilet at the same time, it's surely a good thing.

Housing trust New Charter have just completed work on Cavendish 249, its new headquarters in Ashton.

The £5.4 million building boasts a number of environmentally friendly features.

Windows and lighting are computer controlled, heat and power are generated from a roof mounted combined heat and power unit and the toilets are flushed with rainwater collected from the roof.

As well as recycling rain water, bins separate waste paper, bottles, cans and printer consumables. Paper use and storage inside the building is being reduced by document imaging scanners which electronically deliver to worktrays.

Lighting is controlled by personal infrared detectors closing off automatically as people leave in the evenings and lighting adjusts with the daylight and nearer to windows.

Group chief executive Ian Munro said: "We have regenerated a neglected part of the Ashton renewal area and brought an entirely brownfield site back into use."

And Chairman of the group, Ged Cooney was also quick to sing the building's praises.

He said: "We've put it where it is to encourage people to use the Metrolink. It's more environmentally friendly than cars which use petrol."

"The building itself is trying to embrace its own environment and is pretty much self sufficient."

A 25m central atrium, 'The Street', runs the length of the building and provides key funnelling of air for the passive ventilation, meaning the building needs no air conditioning saving substantially on energy.