AThens

Conservation Centers & Efforts

Specific information about its environmental impact here.

Stavros Cultural Center

This relatively new center was designed to highlight and preserve Greek culture. There are many aspects to this center dedicated to art, sports, and culture. Additionally, this center is environmentally sustainable (including dancing fountains, a green roof, expansive gardens, etc.) and has many features designed to preserve the area.

Key Initiatives at the Stavros Center

They use reverse osmosis to water plants.
Installation of curtains to block out sun from damaging older, culturally important texts.
The library has several programs designed to help improve the literacy rate among children in Greece.
They have several displays about the local history of the location that the Stavros center was built. This is to meant to pay homage to the people that have help make Athens what it is today.

The Stavros Center has platinum LEED certification. This distinction confirms that all the best practices and environmentally innovative applications (energy and water saving, recycling, sustainable mobility, indoor air quality) that were planned were executed in the building.

Green Roof Environmental Factors

Part of the roof of the cultural center is covered in substrate and Mediterranean plants. This helps manage local climate and also serves to help keep the inside of the building cooler in the summer months and warmer in the winter months. It also helps local wildlife find a home.

Education at The Stavros Center

A large mission of the Stavros center is encouraging young people to remain informed on their past, present, and future through the resources provided at the center. Stella Sofokleous is an educator and a volunteer tour guide at the Stavros Center, Stella taught us A TON on the preservation of literature and history projects in Athens.

National Library of Greece

This is at the heart of the cultural center. It houses over 1 million books, including many first editions of Greek literature. Lately, they have added several technical features added to preserve the books.

The library has an incredible collection of books written in Greek and English and many are written with side by side language translations.

PXL_20240806_073058706.TS.mp4

The Dancing Fountains are an art installation that start several times a day. They are meant to invoke inspiration and appreciation for the Stavros Center as well as the centers location near water.

Recycling Efforts in Athens

Greece has made several initiatives to help with pollution. One thing we noticed while traveling was the lack of refillable water bottles. When was asked about this, we learned that this is due to water quality. We saw most people in Athens and on the island drink from disposable because of this. Recently the entire EU, started selling plastic disposable bottles that had attached lids. This was designed to reduce the number of bottom caps that do not make it to a recycling center.

HeARTful Recycling Sculptures

It is common to see "fillable " metal sculptures like these hearts throughout Athens.

Additional Recycling Bins: See the images and captions below for additional recycling efforts in Greece.

Streamlined Process

Athen's recycling bins are EVERYWHERE. This makes it easy to recycle rather than litter.

Repurpose

Throughout the coastal side of Athens, you can see several of these trashcans. These are made from plastics picked up during beach and ocean cleanups and highlight the sheer amount of plastic pollution.

Glass Specific Recyling Bin

In addition to plastic and bottle cap recycling bins, Athens also has glass bins.

Trash Compactors

Athens has several trash compactors on the street. They help keep trash cans from overfilling and keep garbage off the city streets.

Messaging on Food Products

When you buy food products in disposable containers in Athens, they have messages about recycling and protecting turtles on them.

Waterbottle Caps

These are attached to bottles so they can't be lost and harm marine life.

Athens Airport

This is an international airport that serves over 38 million passengers a year! It has several containers to recycle specific products.

Battery Recycling

Paper, Plastic, Metal, and Trash Bin

Battery Recycling

Athens

National Garden

The goal of this park is to provide a public green space for those in downtown Athens and to help conserve Athens history. This public park is 38 acres and includes a variety of plant life, animal enclosures, and cultural artifacts.

The National Garden has a library specific for children. The goal of this center is to help educate and engage young people in environmental protection.

Page updated

Report abuse