The Suffolk Carbon Charter is an innovative award that recognizes carbon reduction measures in Suffolk’s small and medium businesses. 110 Suffolk businesses currently hold either gold, silver or bronze level awards which are gained through demonstrating and evidencing reduction in carbon.
Community Action Suffolk’s Brightspace site has been successful in achieving the silver level of the Suffolk Carbon Charter Award having previously held the bronze level for 2 years. Sarah Mortimer and Robert Horn undertook Low Carbon Champions training with the Green Light Trust to gain knowledge and skills across all aspects of carbon reduction which was then tailored and applied to CAS. As a result, Brightspace has achieved a huge 74% reduction in water usage, 37% reduction in electricity consumption and 57% reduction in waste. These have been achieved through making staff, visitors and tenants aware of our Environmental & Carbon Reduction Policy and encouraging them to turn lights and electrical equipment off when not needed and to decrease the amount of waste produced by increasing recycling.
The building’s heating/cooling system has been set up to ensure the best and most efficient use in terms of a comfortable environment, cost and energy efficiency. Small things such as introducing water butts and compost bins at the site mean that the grounds benefit from the harvested rainwater and compost, all help. Brightspace encourages the use of greener transport and has undercover cycle parking, local bus information and car sharing parking spaces.
As a result of achieving the bronze level award, the Brightspace site was eligible for, and was successful in securing Low Carbon Champions Funding to purchase 2 electric cycles for use by staff and tenants making short distance journeys in and around Ipswich either for work and meetings or to nip into town or to blow away the cobwebs by nipping into town or around Chantry Park at lunchtime. This is to encourage a reduction in short single occupancy car journeys.
The Suffolk Carbon Charter Award is widely recognized and can be used in funding applications where evidence is required of green and environmental credentials and can really boost an application. Community Action Suffolk is committed to working towards the gold level which will involve demonstrating and evidencing ongoing sustainability.
For further information please go to www.greensuffolk.org/charter.
Sarah Mortimer, Senior Development Officer – Rural and Community Issues
[email protected], 01473 345318.