Our carbon footprint

40% of the world's energy is used by buildings - and as a community building we are committed to playing our part in fighting climate change by cutting the amount of energy we use and reducing our carbon footprint.

In 2009 we cut the energy used in our building for the fourth year in a row.

2000 - 376 (100%)
2001 - 417 (111%)
2002 - 430 (114%)
2003 - 457 (122%)
2004 - 488 (130%)
2005 - 494 (131%)
2006 - 448 (119%)
2007 - 421 (112%)
2008 - 416 (111%)
2009 - 410 (109%)
Community Base mains electricity consumption (no gas is consumed) in 1,000 kilowatt hours with 2000 as baseline for percentage comparison

We are always looking at ways of reducing our energy use while improving conditions for people at Community Base. Here are some of the practical steps we've taken to reduce our adverse environmental impact

•  We've made sure our electricity is supplied from 100% renewable energy sources

•  We encourage everyone at Community Base to set storage heaters so as not to waste energy and make efficient portable heaters available to groups during cold spells

•  We have installed automated, energy efficient lighting throughout our building

•  We provide facilities for recycling paper, cardboard, glass, aluminium, plastic and used printer cartridges

•  We provide energy efficient fridges in our kitchens, coffee room and conference room

•  We provide energy efficient kettles so that boiled water stays hotter longer

•  We have fitted the most energy efficient hand driers available in the United Kingdom in our toilets

•  We encourage people to cycle to Community Base by providing facilities for cyclists including a cycle room and shower for people working in Community Base and bike stands on the pavement outside the front of the building for visitors

•  We have put solar water heating panels on our roof to help heat our water

•  We have made our conference room a throwaway free zone by providing reusable plates, cutlery and tumblers for groups hiring our conference room and banning throwaway plates, cutlery and cups. You can read the results of our consultation on this issue here.

Our building has an energy performance asset rating of F on our Energy Performance Certificate and an energy performance operational rating of E on our Display Energy Certificate.