While athletes worldwide are preparing to go for gold, CH2M Hill is preparing to go green.
The Douglas County-based global engineering firm is charged with helping make the 2012 London Olympic Games the “greenest Games in modern times,” British officials announced Tuesday.
Olympic officials unveiled a slew of environmentally friendly initiatives for the construction of sports facilities and infrastructure relating to the London Games.
CH2M, along with its pair of United Kingdom-based partners, Laing O’Rourke and Mace, created a consortium known as CLM, which was awarded a $190 million contract last year. The group is serving as project manager before and after the 2012 Games, working with English officials in selecting subcontractors to perform work worth an estimated $4 billion.
Green efforts in the works include:
Reducing carbon-dioxide emissions associated with the Olympic Park and venues by using on-site energy generation, while incorporating renewable energy sources such as wind.
Use of at least 20 percent recycled materials in the construction of permanent venues, and reusing or recycling 90 percent of demolition materials.
Aiming for a 40 percent reduction in use of drinkable water in permanent venues .
Building nearly 50 miles of walking and cycling routes to be used for the Games.
Transporting by water or rail about 50 percent of the construction materials.
“We want to ensure London 2012 is remembered not only as two weeks of fantastic sporting action but also as the ‘Greenest Games’ in modern times,” David Higgins, Olympic Delivery Authority chief executive, said in a statement.
A spokesman for the authority said the strategy unveiled Tuesday will not involve any additional costs for the consortium because such green initiatives were factored into the contract from the outset.
The bulk of the consortium’s work will focus on the environmental cleanup and construction at the future Olympic Park, a site 3 miles east of central London that will include the Olympic Stadium and Village.
The consortium also will oversee the erection of venues such as sports stadiums, swimming pools and even a white- water rafting facility.
CH2M Hill is Colorado’s largest private company by revenue and employs 18,000 people worldwide.
Staff writer Will Shanley can be reached at 303-954-1260 or wshanley@denverpost.com.
