10 November 2008
Sustainability in Practice

If you think car sharing was the latest environmentally friendly way to travel to work, think again! Ricardo Assis Rosa, 29, of Bath has taken his carbon foot print to another level, by canoeing to work! Ricardo, of Batterham Matthews Design, architects in Bath, has begun canoeing from his home near Cleveland Bridge in Bath to their offices at the Tollbridge.

"The journey is fantastic" said Ricardo "It's such a special way to travel to work you feel like you're on holiday, with the added bonus of doing sport and keeping fit! I haven't seen fellow commuters yet, but I'm sure it could become popular."

Ricardo, Nigel and Tim also cycle to work through the Government Cycle Scheme that Batterham Matthews have adopted which encourages cycling to work in an attempt to promote greener living.

The employees are now working together to reduce their carbon foot print and there are several plans to adapt to a more sustainable lifestyle, one of which is starting their own vegetable patch at their studio.

One of the directors recently converted his car to run on gas and has implemented a ground source heat pump, extracting heat from the ground to use within his home. One of its employees lives on a boat and the company also operates a lift share scheme as well as having showering facilities for after the lunch time run! The offices also use 'Green Energy' electricity which is guaranteed 100% renewable energy.

This ethos is carried through from the company's mission to create sound environmental living and work spaces. Batterham Matthews have a growing reputation for designing carefully composed sustainable buildings.