19 September 03
“Green muffin day” for Buro Happold
The Bath office of consulting engineer Buro Happold has declared Tuesday 23rd September “Green Muffin Day”.
Buro Happold, based on the Lower Bristol Road, Bath, is holding Green Muffin Day to mark the start of the firm’s green travel plan. The plan aims to maintain high levels of walking, cycling and public transport use and reduce staff reliance on the car for commuting and business journeys.
As part of the event, staff will be given the chance to try out some alternative, greener forms of transport. Two Bath firms, Powabyke and Avon Valley Cyclery, will be demonstrating power assisted, folding and standard cycles. Bristol Honda, have provided an Integrated Motor Assist or “IMA” vehicle. The IMA uses a petrol engine and a self-charging battery in order to reduce emissions and represents the latest in production car technology.
Specially prepared green muffins will be distributed to mark the event. “We wanted to make the day memorable, and to add a bit of fun”, commented green travel plan organiser Nick Helps. “Green muffins, different methods of transport and information about re-thinking how we travel are all part of the event. We want to get everyone thinking about the environmental and health impacts of their travel decisions”.
In early 2003, Buro Happold achieved the international Environmental Management System standard, ISO 14001. This requires continual improvement of the company’s environmental impacts, including staff travel. A staff travel survey is being undertaken during green muffin day, which will identify actions that Buro Happold can take to encourage greater use of public transport, walking, cycling and car sharing.
Note to editors
The demonstration of powabykes, cycles and hybrid car will take place in the car park outside Buro Happold's Bath office on Lower Bristol Road between 1pm and 2pm on Tuesday 23rd September.
