Enric Miralles' plans for the new Scottish Parliament made sustainability a central element of the design across the site. Through careful design, selection of materials and operation the environmental impact of the Parliament building will be reduced.

"We want a Scotland that delivers sustainable development; that puts environmental concerns at the heart of public policy and secures environmental justice for all of Scotland's communities." [A Partnership for a Better Scotland, May 2003]

Environmental Awards

A detailed environmental audit of the entire building was conducted by the Building Research Establishment, an independent environmental consultancy.

The three main parts of the building complex (the MSP Building, Queensberry House and the Assembly Buildings) were rated as "Excellent" for environmental performance in the areas of health & well being, energy, transport, material selection and water usage.

In the Ecology section of the award Holyrood scored full marks, based on the indigenous species planted across the landscaping which increased biodiversity.

Full marks were awarded for Holyrood’s ozone-friendly design. For example there are no ozone-depleting chemicals used in the limited air conditioning and fire-fighting equipment.

High marks were also scored for the efficient use of water on site.  Water from bore holes on the site, which was historically used for brewing, is now used for flushing toilets.  The same water also provides cooling for the Debating Chamber, reducing energy usage still further.

MSP offices were given a high award for the low levels of predicted carbon dioxide emissions, due to their energy-efficient design.  Energy consumption is minimised through natural ventilation and lighting where possible.  Another example of energy efficiency is that the domestic hot water for Queensberry House is primarily heated by solar panels.

Credit was also given for the retention of Queensberry House’s structure and façade, and for the use of demolition material from the buildings, previously on the site, which was used as fill and hardcore.

See environmental features for more details of how the building has reduced its impact on the environment.

View BREEAM Report - Queensberry House

View BREEAM Report - MSP Building

View BREEAM Report - Assembly Building

The Keep Edinburgh Clean Awards is an Edinburgh City Council programme which allows businesses and public bodies to measure their environmental performance and to contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable city. The aim of the award is to engage organisations in their community, helping to instil a sense of pride, build a positive connection with the local area and contribute to their Corporate Social Responsibility requirements.

In July 2008 the Scottish Parliament achieved the gold award for its work towards keeping the area clean and reducing waste by reducing, reusing and recycling.