The Greenest Games Ever!

As the 2012 Summer Olympics in London draw to a close we consider it; The Greenest Games Ever. Following nine years of planning towards minimizing the carbon output it seems that the initial target; 20% of energy generated from on-site renewable sources was too ambitious for this scale of event.  Despite not having achieved this target the sustainability efforts have set new standards for large-scale events to build upon.

Sustainability was a key driver in the design and construction of Olympic Games Venues. Not only is the Olympic Park a regeneration site but all new construction was designed to embody carbon. Before works began 2 million tons of soil from the wasteland was decontaminated and reused to create the lush park that you see today with trees, flowers and wetlands supporting biodiversity. 

Temporary structures were built from materials that will be reused/ recycled after the games. Such as; The baseball arena, which is essentially a huge tent. The steel frame and PVC cover can be dismantled and reused. Permanent structures have also been designed to be used for many years after the Olympics and they too contain embodied energy, for example;

·        The Copper Box (used for handball, martial arts and wheelchair rugby) is equipped with 88 light pipes, filling the inside of the building with natural light during the day. The outside is made from largely recycled copper cladding, and the sloped roof collects rainwater for the toilets, reducing the building's water consumption up to 40%.

·        The Aquatics Centre was constructed with 50% recycled material. It has two removable wings to accommodate up to 17,500 people and will be used as a public facility after the games.

·        The Velodrome contains sustainably sourced timber. The passive solar design allows the building to utilize natural light during the day to reduce energy consumption. The building also uses natural ventilation eliminating the need for air conditioning and collects rainwater to reduce water consumption by up to 70%.

Sustainability was also a priority for the London 2012 organizing committee and all efforts were made to minimize the environmental impact during the Olympics, including;

·        Ticket-holders receive a one-day pass for public transportation, had access to trails in the Olympic Park and reduced rates for England's coach and train services.

·        All food packaging at the events is recyclable which will considerably reduce waste as an expected 14 million meals are to be served at the events. Overall, the 2012 Summer Olympics aims to recycle 70% of the anticipated 8,000 tons of waste produced at the events.

·       Biomass boilers, solar panels and wind turbines are used throughout the park. Although these technologies have not produced the original target of 20% they are now expected to produce about 9% of the overall energy consumption.

The concept of the Olympic Games is not very eco-friendly but given its rich historical, cultural, and political significance throughout the world, the Olympic Games will continue for many years to come. All London’s efforts combined will only amount to a 40% reduction of carbon output but despite this shortcoming, London has established a model for future Olympic Games to improve upon.