Speedy, the U.K.’s largest tool and equipment rental company, was presented an environmental best practice award from The Green Organization, an independent, non-profit environmental group that recognizes and promotes environmental best practice around the world.
Speedy received the award at the U.K.’s House of Commons. The award, for its onsite accommodation unit, the EnviroCabin, makes Speedy the first rental company to receive the award.
The EnviroCabin was developed by Speedy in partnership with Simons construction, environmental specialist Frankham Consultancy and a cabin manufacturer as a way of reducing the environmental impact of the construction process. Other U.K. construction companies are now using the cabin.
Award-winning projects will be featured in the next Green Book, a reference book on environmental best practice.
“Speedy was selected for the award both for demonstrating collaborative working to achieve an environmental goal and for the impressive performance of the cabin itself,” said Roger Wolens, national organizer at the Green Apple Awards.
Mike McGrath, executive director at Speedy, described the EnviroCabin as “a temporary accommodation unit that is designed to the same environmental targets as a permanent commercial building, significantly increasing energy efficiency and therefore reducing costs for end users.” McGrath added that compared with standard onsite accommodation units, the EnviroCabin offers “significant improvements in insulation, water usage and energy efficient lighting and heating. Overall the unit reduces the carbon footprint of traditional short-term accommodation by more than 50 percent.”
