ONE hundred and sixty tonnes – or the equivalent weight of 125 small cars – that is the amount of carbon dioxide saved from entering the atmosphere during construction of a pioneering warehouse built for The Wine Society in Stevenage. Construction company

ONE hundred and sixty tonnes - or the equivalent weight of 125 small cars - that is the amount of carbon dioxide saved from entering the atmosphere during construction of a pioneering warehouse built for The Wine Society in Stevenage.

Construction company Morgan Ashurst is the one of the first in the UK to use an innovative, carbon-negative construction material made from hemp and lime.

The company has used the new material, hemcrete, in the walling system of the huge wine warehouse in Gunnels Wood Road.

Despite the snow and temperatures below freezing in February, the temperature inside the warehouse has averaged 13 degrees C - without the heating system switched on!

"We are delighted with the building, which appears to be defying science," says Peter Styne, operations manager for The Wine Society.

"We know that our customers, who are all shareholders, are keen that we do our bit towards the environment and this building serves us proud in that respect, both in its construction and ongoing energy consumption."

The warehouse will store more than two million bottles of wine, and the right conditions are necessary for it to mature over years, or even decades.

The building also features Kalwall, an eco-friendly glass substitute which draws in light, helping to reduce electricity costs. The two materials work together to maintain temperatures in the range of 13dC to16dC - perfect for storing and maturing wines.