New Finsbury Library bench tells story of pioneering project

Posted on July 11th, 2022

A new bench and planter has been unveiled outside Finsbury Library, telling the story of the GreenSCIES project.

The installation highlights the designs for this phase of the project, which will combine a district heat network with local renewable energy production and electric vehicle charging – and the new bench provides a taste of what it could look like.

As well as giving local people an insight into the project, the bench provides seating, bicycle parking and planting, while showing that pipework can be attractive and doesn’t have to be buried underground.

A poster next to the bench, which was designed by local architects Cullinan Studios and built and installed by Islington Council, explains more about the network. There is a QR code to find out more information, or visitors can go into Finsbury Library to watch a video of how the system could work.

Rob Saunders, Challenge Director for the Prospering from the Energy Revolution programme at Innovate UK, said: “GreenSCIES is an example of using innovation to design and secure an affordable local energy supply, in this case diverting waste heat from local industry and commerce through a network of pipes to heat local people’s homes.”

Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality, and Transport, said: “Urgent action is needed to tackle the climate emergency, not least in Islington, which is one of the six London boroughs most at risk from the impacts of climate change.

“That’s why we’re taking the steps needed to cut carbon emissions and create a cleaner, greener, healthier Islington for all. Being part of GreenSCIES is at the heart of this approach, and harnessing waste heat from data centres and other urban sources is an inspired way of addressing fuel poverty while protecting our planet.

“The new bench provides an insight into just how innovative this project is, and we’d really encourage local people to visit Finsbury Library to find out more about the pioneering work of the GreenSCIES consortium.”

Islington councillor Rowena Champion and Rob Saunders of Innovate UK try the bench for size

Featured on photograph: Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Transport and Rob Saunders, Challenge Director for the Prospering from the Energy Revolution programme at Innovate UK sitting on the newly installed pipework bench. © Photograph by Steven Bainbridge, All Rights Reserved.

GreenSCIES is one of a series of innovative projects around the country trialling and demonstrating smart local energy systems, co-funded by Innovate UK (part of UK Research and Innovation) under the Prospering from the Energy Revolution challenge programme.

The GreenSCIES project is a partnership of 15 organisations.

More information is available about Islington’s Net Zero strategy.

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