Exchange scoops environment award

Centre Manager Lorenzo O’Reilly receiving his award from actress Carol Royle

The Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre has been presented a gold Green Apple Award in recognition of their car park energy project.

The trophy was presented by star of stage and screen, Carol Royle, at the Tower of London on Monday (14 June 2010).

The trophies are awarded annually in recognition of companies, councils and communities carrying out projects that enhance the environment, and they beat off a lot of competition to make it to the finals.

The judges commented: “Car parks are easily overlooked when management embark on an energy saving project. At Rochdale Exchange this was not the case, with lighting improvements halving their electricity bill with the same effect on CO2 production.”

Centre Manager Lorenzo O’Reilly, said: “We are really pleased to win again, last year we won a gold Green Apple Award for out waste minimising project. To win again shows our commitment to the environment.”

The award-winning project will be featured in the next ‘Green Book,’ the world’s only work of reference on environmental best practice, and they will also be presented a Green Hero wall shield in November during a special prize giving ceremony at the House of Commons.

The Green Apple Awards campaign is run by The Green Organisation, an independent, non-political, non-profit organisation that recognises, rewards and promotes environmental best practice around the world.

Their supporters include the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and various other professional bodies.

National Organiser Roger Wolens commented: “Organisations that go the extra mile and become Green Heroes are demonstrating a serious commitment to the world around them. They invest in a better future for us all and deserve to be recognised for their efforts.”