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RIBA Venues is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and becoming more environmentally friendly in all aspects of our operation and we encourage our clients to do the same. We have made all the below changes to help us to reduce our impact on the planet. Visit the RIBA Climate Change| pages to learn more about the Institute's work in this area.

• The stationery within rooms has been changed to recycled paper and pencils made from recycled video tapes.
• Watercoolers have been removed from all conference rooms. This year we are installing an in-house water purification system to reduce the impact created by offering bottled mineral water.
• 100% of our electricity supply comes from renewable sources.
• None of our waste goes to landfill from the RIBA headquarters at 66 Portland Place. Everything is either recycled or reused and any residual waste is incinerated to produce energy.
• Patio heaters have been removed from our three terraces.
• Flipcharts in rooms are made from recycled paper and we provide environmentally friendly flipchart markers.
• Lights in all event rooms are turned off when the rooms are not in use. In public areas lighting is movement activated to ensure it turns off when areas are not being used.
• All invoices are sent electronically, rather than printing and posting.
• All booking forms and documentation sent electronically, rather than printing and posting.
• Double-sided printing policy within the department.
• Electronic filing system.
• New, efficient gas boilers installed on the roof at 66 Portland Place, controlled to deliver heat only where needed saving 424 tonnes of carbon each year.
• Charlton House, our catering company, uses locally sourced and/or sustainable produce and Fairtrade tea, coffee and chocolate.
• All fluorescent lightbulbs in conference rooms are compact Fluorescent & Energy Saving GLS lamps. In the Wren Room we have fluorescent tubes.
• A company-wide climate change group has been established with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint of the whole of the RIBA.
• We have maximised the amount of in-house AV equipment to reduce equipment transportation from hiring.
• We are located near three underground stations and several bus routes allowing delegates to use public transport, thus reducing their individual carbon footprints.
• Timed control and computer monitoring of air-conditioning, to ensure efficient and timely use.
• Natural ventilation is used wherever possible rather than mechanical ventilation.
• We are educating staff on both their professional and personal role in reducing environmental impact in the workplace and at home.
• We now send electronic Christmas cards and the money saved is spent on a variety of sustainable projects:
  • 2006 - we planted one tree in Africa for each of the clients we normally send cards to.
  • 2007 - we purchased 14.5 acres of rainforest in South America.
  • 2008 - we planted 50 trees in the Trees for Cities Nairobi project.
  • 2009 - we paid for water pumps to serve 100 households in Ethiopia.
  • 2010 - we donated money towards planting 23 native trees at Woodland Trust woods.
  • 2011 - we helped to plant 20,000 new trees with Trees for Cities. Trees for Cities works with communities to plant trees in parts of cities that need it most. They grow stronger neighbourhoods, enhance urban landscapes and improve health and happiness.
• Cycle racks have been installed on Portland Place for people who wish to cycle.
• Removal of all staffs waste bins, replaced with communal recycling areas.