Supporting green prison initiatives with sustainable physical security
Prisons, a vital part of our national infrastructure, are increasingly affected by climate change. With their substantial environmental footprint and distinct health and safety challenges, they must overcome numerous hurdles to achieve sustainability.
Why are UK prisons becoming greener?
UK prisons are striving for greener operations for a combination of reasons. These include environmental, economic, and rehabilitative reasons. Let’s explore them:
Supporting the UK’s Net Zero Goals: as the UK government are aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2050, national infrastructure sites must support this.
Reducing operational Costs: Using energy-efficient systems can help reduce utility costs.
Enhancing Rehabilitation & Wellbeing: green spaces and nature-based activities can help those detained. The benefits of this include, improving mental health, reduce stress and anxiety, and foster a sense of responsibility.
Modernising infrastructure: the UK is investing in 18,000 new prison places. The focus on these will be around modern and sustainable designs.
What challenges come with UK prisons becoming greener?
While the positive impacts of greener prisons are clear, they do come with hidden challenges. For example, the financial and resource constraints. However, with well maintained and serviced solutions that make up the infrastructure, the return on investment is quickly restored.
Another key challenge for UK prisons becoming greener is security and logistical issues. How can sustainable physical security align with prison security protocol? The way forward is by implementing solutions that combine energy efficiency and compliance with security standards. Meesons offers the most extensive selection of LPS1175 Security Portals, known for their exceptional energy efficiency. So much so that 1 hour of kettle use is equivalent to 100 hours of a security portal. Combining the loss prevention standard, and this energy efficiency ensures you’re mitigating risks and enhancing sustainability.
In addition to security portals, the internal doors within a prison can enhance the sustainability and security. This includes Meesons range of fire and security doors that have secure and flexible seals. Having a secure or flexible seal prevents air transfer and, therefore, conserves energy. On the flip side, it prevents fire spread for a certain amount of time (depending on the door type). Having this in place also improves the safety.
The shift towards green prisons
This shift towards greener operations not only supports the UK’s Net Zero ambitions but also offers economic benefits by lowering operational costs and enhancing the wellbeing of incarcerated individuals through improved environmental conditions. As these green initiatives take root, they set a precedent for other sectors to follow, underscoring the importance of sustainability in every aspect of our infrastructure.
A more sustainable future
In conclusion, supporting green prison initiatives through sustainable physical security is not only a forward-thinking strategy but also a necessary step towards a more sustainable future. As UK prisons evolve to meet the challenges of climate change and align with national goals for carbon neutrality, the integration of energy-efficient and secure systems becomes paramount. By investing in innovative solutions like LPS1175 Security Portals and advanced fire and security doors, these institutions can significantly reduce their environmental impact while maintaining rigorous security standards.
