Sustainability

Sustainability

The ss Great Britain Trust is committed to reducing its environmental impact across all its activities.  The charity continually looks at ways that it can be more environmentally efficient and how it can develop sustainably. 

The Trust faces a number of challenges as many of its buildings are old, some are listed and the site has to be treated sensitively due to its historic nature.  As a charity, it is also aware of the need to remain financially sustainable.

The ss Great Britain Trust has recently been awarded Silver for Green Tourism, by the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS).

 

The Green Tourism Business Scheme is the national sustainable tourism certification scheme for the UK. Originally developed in partnership with Visit Scotland, it is now the only certification scheme validated by Visit Britain, through the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT). 

Participants are graded every two years.  Those businesses that meet the required standard receive a bronze, silver and gold award based on their level of achievement. Businesses opting to join Green Tourism are assessed by a qualified grading advisor using a rigorous set of criteria, covering a range of areas, like energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and more. The current network of members is comprised of a wide range of business types, including accommodation providers, visitor attractions, corporate offices and others.

Recycling and reusing

One of the Trust’s key principles is recycle and reuse.  We recycle glass, paper, cardboard, cooking oil, wood, printer cartridges, batteries, tins, plastics and light bulbs and are always looking for new ways to reduce our waste and increase our recycling.  This will reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill by about 33%.  

The Trust is very adept at reusing materials for example; the Rigger’s Yard area was principally built from materials that had had other uses around the site.

Significant heat recovery and dock water cooling takes place within the dehumidification plants, and the water on the glass plate acts as an insulator, helping maintain a stable humidity in the dry dock for the least energy.  The water is also principally cleaned by UV light, rather than Chlorine.

The ss Great Britain Visitor Centre sells a reusable Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion bag and is investigating the possibility of purchasing biodegradable carrier bags.

The Trust’s Dockyard Café offers fair-trade products, as well as locally sourced and homemade food and is committed to extending its activities.  These measures include:

Saving energy

The ss Great Britain site covers a large area so energy saving is a key priority for the Trust.  Energy saving measures that are currently in place are:

1. Low energy lighting across approximately 70% of the site
2. Where possible and appropriate LED lighting is being used
3. Where possible old appliances are being replaced with low energy and energy efficient appliances (dishwashers, freezers, kettles, etc.)
4. Motion sensors and timers have been installed on the lighting in the Brunel Institute
5. Window actuators are used for temperature and air flow regulation in the Brunel Institute library
6. Dock water is used to cool the under floor heating system in the Brunel Institute
7. The main plant is cooled directly from the Dock water, saving c.20% of the energy required
8. Buildings are being progressively insulated and draught proofed
9. The humidity in the dry dock is stabilised by the layer of dock water on the glass plate
10. Additional water saving measures are in place (flow regulators, sensors, push taps, cistern dams)
11. A coach switch-off policy is in place

The Trust’s greatest challenge is to reduce the energy we consume in keeping the ship in a humidity and temperature controlled environment.  The Trust is monitoring continually what new technologies might be adopted in order to reduce our energy consumption. Currently biomass CHP is being considered. 

We are currently trialling a new range of eco friendly cleaning products from Delphis Eco. The company is the first in the UK to be awarded the EU Ecolabel (European Commission’s award for products which are a genuinely a better choice for the environment).  Their bottles and labels are 100% recyclable, unnecessary packaging is eliminated and the products are manufactured in England.

Sustainable visitor charter

Please help us to reduce the ss Great Britain Trust’s carbon footprint:

1. Conserve energy

Please close doors behind you, when visiting the Dry Dock, Dockyard Museum and the ss Great Britain. After use, please press the button once to turn off hand dryers. 

2. Give the car a rest

Please consider public transport when planning your day out. Brunel’s ss Great Britain is accessible on foot, by bus or ferry with connections to the railway station.  There are also cycle racks by the ticket office. Please ask coach drivers to switch off engines. Find out more about how to find us 

3. Reduce, reuse, recycle

Please try to recycle any waste and say ‘no’ to plastic carrier bags. Why not buy a ‘Ship Shape & Bristol Fashion’ fabric bag from the gift shop!

4. Be water-wise

Please use water carefully.  

5. Respect Brunel’s ss Great Britain and its environment 

Please help look after the ss Great Britain and the Great Western Dockyard by using the bins provided.

6. Smoke-free zone 

Brunel’s ss Great Britain is smoke-free. Fire is one of the ship’s greatest threats.  

7. Support green tourism businesses

Please see www.green-business.co.uk for information on businesses reducing their environmental impact through the Green Tourism Business Scheme.