The Muslim Khatri Association has transformed an old shoe warehouse into a thriving community centre over the last 20 years. But the premises needed a complete make-over to earn its prestigious status as an Environment City Building.
The centre, in Connaught Street, Highfields, serves the Kutchi community and their friends from many cultures. Once the building was only used for weekends and weddings. But now it is busy throughout the week for a wide range of activities, from computer lessons to cake decorating.
After years of serving the community, the building desperately needed a major refurbishment. But the association wanted more than a lick of paint, they decided to make the premises as environmentally-friendly as possible.
Association spokesman Yahya Thadha said: “We had to start by changing people’s perceptions, which can be very difficult if the environmentally-friendly option costs more. We realise we cannot change everything overnight, but slowly, slowly we are moving towards our green goals.”
The association spent a year raising funds for a £250,000 make-over with many energy-efficient features. The crowning glory of the three-storey premises is a photo-voltaic system. The roof was redesigned to be south facing for the PV panels, which generate electricity from the sun’s rays. The system cost £60,000 but will save money on fuel bills in the long-term.
Green building also involves attention to detail. Electricity is saved on low-energy lighting with intelligent controls. Water is conserved with waterless urinals and push taps with restricted flows. The walls have been insulated with sheep wool and decorated with low-VOC paints. The floors are covered with natural marmoleum, made from linseed oil.
The refurbishment will take more than a year to complete, but it is already setting an excellent example for Leicester, Britain’s first Environment City.
For further details call Yahya Thadha on 0116 221 0010 or visit the Muslim Khatri Association’s website at www.mka.org.uk .
Outstanding environmental features:
Photo-voltaic system
Other green features:
Heat recovery ventilation system, insulation, low-energy lighting, intelligent lighting controls, draught lobby entrance, specific design for passive solar gain, flow restricted tap jets, push taps, waterless urinals, alternatives to PVC, natural floor coverings and low-VOC paints