Hubert Blanquefort, the director responsible for the EDF pavilion project, told insidethegames at the Olympic Park: "It's really good for us to be a part of that sustainability club."

He added that the pavilion (pictured top and below) has been designed to both ensure it was as sustainable as possible as well as to engage the public in the role they play powering the Games and in people's everyday lives.

"One of the things we were really keen to do is to conceive a sustainable building," he said.

"The main thing is about finding a light touch, low carbon footprint building, it is not just a box."

EDF has been involved with London 2012 from the very start as their first sustainability partner, and have undertaken a range of activities since then to promote an environmental message through their role.

"It's been a long story... the Games is the exciting bit at the end," Blanquefort said.

"It is the key bit obviously as this is when the Games happen, but I am keen to say we are not just here thinking about two weeks.

"We are here to talk about Olympics, the Paralympics, and all sorts of things we have been doing through this journey.

"Powering the Games with low carbon electricity, that is our key message."


In order to ensure their pavilion was as sustainable as possible, EDF are using natural light and ventilation through having an open entrance.

As well as showcasing the fact that they will power the Games, EDF are using their pavilion to help people to cut down their energy usage at home.

EDF's pavilion features a number of tips to cut down on every day energy use, such as half filling the kettle and turning electrical items off completely, and not just putting them on standby.

Inside is also a dynamic light installation and a special dance floor which the public can use to generate energy that will power the pavilion.

The company are also showcasing some of their more innovative ideas and initiatives, such as the POD education scheme which has reached six million children, and the world's largest microscope.

EDF will try to educate the public about what goes into ensuring that we have reliable and safe electricity, as well as showing how energy usage can be better managed.

A "tomorrow's world" style zone will be showcasing some of the energy saving products of the future to the public.

The pavilion is interactive too, with an app visitors can download to find out further information about a range of EDF's projects and contribution to London 2012.

Just outside the pavilion are life-size images of Victoria Pendleton, a British Beijing 2008 cycling gold medallist, and French swimming champion Yannick Agnel.

After downloading the app onto an iPad or iPhone, visitors can then put their device up to the images and they will come to life, and enable them to have their photo taken with the athletes.

For those who are really only interested in sport, Olympians and Paralympic stars will be popping along to the pavilion to discuss London 2012 with fans.

They could include any of EDF's 36 athlete ambassadors, such as triple Olympic silver medal-winning rower Katherine Grainger, hoping for a first gold medal this summer, adaptive rowing quadruple world champion Tom Aggar, and Beijing 2008 sprint kayak champion Tim Brabants.

The pavilion opens to the public on July 27, and runs from 9am to midnight for the duration of the Games.

Situated adjacent to the Olympic Stadium, EDF are hoping to take advantage of their location to spread their message and attract thousands of people each day of the Games to their pavilion.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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