|
|
|
|
Community Base is committed to reducing its carbon footprint - the amount of carbon dioxide emitted as a result of our activities - as our contribution to fighting climate change and the disastrous effect it is having on the world we live in. In line with this commitment we are implementing a Green Action Plan aimed at reducing the adverse environmental impact of our building and activities.
It has been estimated that the world needs to reduce its carbon emissions by 60% by 2030 to avoid catastrophic climate change - and that rich countries like ours need to reduce our emissions by a lot more. Unfortunately, like most other homes, businesses and buildings Community Base has increased its energy use since 2000
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%)
Community Base mains electricity consumption (no gas is consumed) 2000-2008 in 1,000 kilowatt hours with 2000 as baseline for percentage comparison
The good news is that in the last three years we have reversed this trend and managed to reduce our energy consumption.
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 from Green Energy - you can compare green and not-so-green electricity tariffs at the Green Electricity Marketplace
• 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
• In 2007 we 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.
