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Tackling Climate Change

 

Tackling Climate Change

Great Sankey Parish Council has recently been discussing ways in which it can be more environmentally-friendly and also encourage Parishioners to do the same. The Council is keen to be as "green" as possible whilst bearing in mind the tax-burden on its Parishioners. At the Parish Council meeting on 14th November 2007, the Council considered various ideas that had been put forward by its members.

Three lists had been collated:

  1. suggestions for individual Councillors
  2. suggestions to encourage the Community to take up
  3. suggestions for what the Council can do as a corporate body

List 1. has been taken by each Councillor for them to do what they can as individuals. Ideas for simple changes that Parishioners can make are listed below (click here) along with some useful links to other sites.

The Council made the following decisions about things it could actually do within its own Community Centres:

Proposal

Decision

1

Fit low energy lightbulbs

This is already being done in all our community centres, as & when lightbulbs need replacing

2

Use timers/sensors on lights where possible

Where fitted, timers are used if practical, otherwise Caretakers are briefed to turn lights off when Centres are not in use.

3

Replace boiler with more efficient ones

This has been done in all Centres except those with modern boilers already and savings are already being noticed

4

Recycle paper in office

Staff already re-use paper as scrap when possible, new waste firm will recycle paper

5

Consider energy suppliers - green energy

refer to Finance Committee to consider

6

Look into recycled photocopy paper

Recycled paper currently being tried to see if suitable for printers/photocopier. If it is suitable, the increased cost of using recycled paper will be considered.

7

Install water meters & monitor consumption

Properties are already metered; office to check consumption figures.

8

Monitor temperature/heating timers at CCs

Heating is already timed for bookings, Clerk will lower temp to see if viable

9

Reduce paper consumption for meetings

Correspondence will be scanned and emailed where possible with only the correspondence list being circulated. This has been trialed for the first time in Dec 07.

10

Use laptops for meetings

Not a viable option on cost grounds

11

Buy "fair trade products"

Not a viable option on cost grounds

12

Shred Cllrs papers & recycle

Office will do this if Cllrs want to leave them papers

13

Consider how far products have travelled - buy local where possible

Agreed to do this as far as possible

14

Waste recycling from Community Centres

Until now, this has been too difficult since the since it was not a viable option to have multiple bins at each Community Centre for users to separate their rubbish. Recently, however, the Council has changed its waste removal firm and the new firm sorts and recycles at their depot.

The Council decided to implement the above changes as soon as practicable.

What you can do as individuals

            Simple ways to reduce your energy use....

  • Switch off lights when not needed
  • Turn down thermostats, even by just 1 or 2 degrees
  • Check your insulation in lofts, hot water tank, and cavity walls - grants are available for some. Go to http://www.warmfront.co.uk/ to find out moreenergy logo
  • Look out for the Energy Saving Recommended logo when you buy new electrical appliances         
  • In the kitchen, fridge-freezers are our most hard-working appliances. To cut costs, don't leave the door open longer than necessary, avoid putting hot food in the fridge, check the seals, and defrost the freezer regularly.
  • Boil only as much water as you need in the kettle
  • Replace old lightbulbs with energy saving/low energy ones
  • Use public transport where possible/practical, look into car-sharing with your work colleagues or better still go by bicycle or walk and reap the benefits!  Click here for information on the new cycle guide for Warrington
  • Recycle as much as possible by using the green/blue bins supplied by Warrington Borough Council and/or taking advantage of the many recycling points to be found around Warrington. It needn't mean an extra trip - to find your nearest recycling site click here