Olympic Delivery Authority releases green principles for 2012

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has released its draft sustainability principles for delivering infrastructure for the 2012 Olympic Games.

The 12 principles, which will be followed by a detailed Sustainability Strategy next spring, will need to be embraced by contractors looking to pick up ODA contracts.

These principles, supporting the five themes of climate change, waste, biodiversity, inclusion and health living, will be monitored by the ODA and its delivery partner – due to be announced this month.

The 12 proposed principles are:

• Energy: maximise opportunities for carbon efficiency using Combined Cooling, Heat and Power solutions;
• Waste: finding opportunities to design out waste and provide new waste infrastructure. To reuse materials and reduce waste from the demolition process;
• Materials: identify, source and use environmentally and socially responsible materials. To use rail or water to transfer materials rather than roads;
• Biodiversity and ecology: protect and enhance the wildlife and its habitat. To use green walls, brown roofs, vegetated modular sections and bury items of infrastructure;
• Land, water, noise and air: minimise averse impacts on land, water, noise and air quality. To reduce construction noise, dust and emissions;
• Culture, heritage and built form: preserve and improve heritage of Lower Lea Valley;
• Transport and mobility: create accessible, pedestrian-friendly Olympic park and venues with good connectivity;
• Education and employment: provide new employment and business opportunities locally, regionally and nationally;
• Housing and amenity: create new safe, mixed-use public space, housing and facilities;
• Health and well-being: provide new health, recreation, sport-ing and cultural facilities. Key Performance Indicators to be set up to monitor workers’ health
• Global, local and internal environments: design and build in a sensitive manner for internal and local environments; and
• Inclusion: involve, communicate and consult effectively bwith stakeholders, communities surrounding the olympic park.

ODA chief executive David higgins said: "We want to deliver the Olympic Park site in the most sustainable way possible.

"The ODA will work collaboratively with the industry, using its influence and purchasing power to encourage and enable the delivery of an economically socially and environmentally responsible Games".