AGM looks to a green future
Wednesday 5 May 2004
Sustainability was the theme of this years' Ecology Building Society AGM, held on Saturday 24 April 2004 at Silsden Methodist Church, close to the Society's new headquarters in West Yorkshire.
As well as recording sustained growth for the UK's youngest building society, the day included a tour of the new "low impact" HQ building and presentations from former Friends of the Earth Director Charles Secrett on the Sustainable Communities Bill and from lecturer and Bob Harris on the Earthdome, his award winning sustainable development in London.
Due to the growth in its green lending programme, the meeting heard that the Society's total assets now exceeded £50 million. For 2003, mortgage completions topped £10million for the first time - nearly a 16% growth on 2002 - and the surplus (profit) increased by 29% to £367,000.
After lunch members were treated to a tour of the new headquarters, taking in such features as the sedum nature roof, sunpipes, high efficiency condensing boiler, heat exchanger and rainwater harvesting systems. Construction of the straw bale meeting room and installation of photovoltaics will commence later this year.
Charles Secrett then inspired members to support the campaign for the Sustainable Communities Bill. Local Works aims to support community life by protecting local services, encouraging local enterprise and protecting the local environment. The campaign already has a strong national alliance of like-minded organisations and the support of almost 200 local groups, almost 200 MPs and over 4,000 individuals nationwide.
In the final session, Ecology member Bob Harris gave a thought provoking talk on the Earthdome, London's first domestic geothermal housing development. Geothermal heating uses the Earth as a heat source, relying on the relative warmth of the earth for heat production. Bob recently visited the House of Commons to receive the prestigious Green Apple Environment Award for the project.
Reflecting on the day, Ecology Building Society Chief Executive Paul Ellis said:
"Our members take a keen interest in the Society and tend to be pretty well informed on green issues. However, I think we all learnt something about the practicalities of sustainable building and of the need to act to halt the decline of our rural and urban communities."
For further information about Ecology Building Society call Paul Thompson or Paul Ellis on 01535 650770 or for Local Works call Ron Bailey or Nikki Talbot on 020 7226 9721.
