An Ingatestone based business is leading the way in ground-breaking eco-architecture and, as I start a new mission to visit more and more businesses around the constituency this autumn, it was fascinating to see the work of Eco Green Roofs who specialise, in their own words, in ‘Green roofs, Blue Roofs, Solar Roofs, and everything in between’.
Green Roofs, using a roof cover of soil and vegetation have been used in construction for many years, most notably in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, where the industry began in the 60s and there is now a considerable and increasing interest in establishing green roofs in the UK. They contribute to the natural environment, promote cleaner air, support biodiversity and improve the thermal performance of buildings.
As we build more homes in England there is a strong case for the further use of green roofs as part of a programme to combat climate change and support threatened insect populations – so it was very good to see such environmentally friendly work being planned and executed on our doorstep. I’m keen to hear more from local businesses about the projects they are undertaking and the challenges they are facing so if you have a business you would like me to visit, please get in touch.
Green infrastructure and green technology are going to be a major part of the future economy. How we build better and greener is going to form a larger and larger part of how society thinks and works. The major challenge of the generation is how we can afford the next generation the same opportunities we have had but without the same environmental cost. This is why, last year, the Government committed £500m investment in green tech to bring forward new, cleaner technologies.
The environment was one of the subjects on which I was grilled when I visited Brentwood County High School on Friday to speak to law and politics students about current affairs. There is a strong politics department at BCHS which plays host to my annual Mock Parliament with local sixth-formers. As ever, it was good to be back there and to hear what is on the minds of younger constituents who are learning to cope with Covid-19 restrictions in the classroom.