Reusing waste heat, The British Library’s solar project and India’s stepwells

Chapter 1

Bankside Yards: innovative heating system

A new development in London’s Southwark area is seeking to change the way that heating is used and reused. Bankside Yards aims to become the UK’s first major mixed-use development that is fossil-fuel free in operation. We discuss the site’s novel way to reuse warmth with Felicity Masefield, director at Native Land, the firm behind the project.

Chapter 2

The British Library: rooftop-solar project

This grade-one listed heritage building has recently completed the installation of a rooftop-solar project that allows the building to generate its own heat and electricity – thereby enabling the institution that houses the nation’s priceless collection of books to reduce its emissions. We meet Christophe Williams, CEO of Naked Energy, the company behind this technology.

Chapter 3

India’s stepwells

We head to an ancient stepwell in India, a common structure between the 7th and 19th centuries, in which a series of steps descends into subterranean reservoirs of pooled groundwater. Today, many believe these ancient edifices of Indian cities can teach us how to combat our modern water challenges.