Ground zero project to become first US eco-mosque

Organisers of the controversial 'Ground Zero Mosque' have announced plans to turn it into the first green-certified mosque in the US.

The mosque, which has been renamed 'Park51' to reflect its green status, has been at the centre of a heated debate since organisers announced it would stand only two blocks from the site of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The plan to build the mosque in lower Manhattan faced opposition from day one and a host of conservative pundits have attacked the project. US Senator John Cornyn said, "It's unwise to build a mosque at the site where 3,000 Americans lost their lives as a result of a terrorist attack."

US President Barack Obama recently came under fire for supporting the developers' rights for placing the mosque there, saying Muslims "have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country."

Now the organisers have announced the project will be the first to be certified by the Leadership in Energy and Design (LEED) scheme and will not only build bridges between different communities but also spread the green message of Islam.

Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, who first broke news of the project's environmental aspirations has said, "The only information I have is that the organizers are committed to ensuring that this building is built according to LEED standards.

What I do know now is that there are few green houses of Worship in NYC or around the country – so this would be a very pioneering effort and a model for all people of faith."

Abdul-Matin was keen to emphasise the often overlooked connection between the religion of Islam and environmental concern. He claimed that Islam called for followers to act as 'stewards of the Earth' but that this message was not widely known amongst modern Muslims. This project, he said, would help to spread the word and encourage environmental awareness.

"The new name also reflects a desire to emphasize the intricate connections between Islamic teachings and environmentalism."

Questions have been asked as to what extent the mosque will adhere to the LEED certification. Abdul-Matin commented,

"Right now, they are trying to dodge all this negative media attention and ensure that no other barriers are put up to the building plans. As soon as all of the building issues are cleared and actual construction begins, I will have more information about the efforts they plan to take and will be happy to share at that time."

The LEED scheme, which was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, is intended to provide a concise framework within which developers can incorporate efficient energy and water usage as well as utilising sustainable building materials and renewable energy.

Since its inception in 1998, LEED has established more than 14,000 projects in the US and 30 other countries covering 1.062 billion square feet of development area. The scheme has, however, come under criticism in the past for its failure to take into consideration the building site's location. A central, well-connected building will be inherently greener than one located in an expansive, car-intensive region.

'Park51' is not the first green project of recent months. In July this year, it was announced that Cambridge would be the site for a £13 million eco-mosque and a similar project was established in Manchester in 2008.
 

Author: Tom Watts | Climate Action

Images: MauritsV | Flickr