ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

While social and economic sustainability are core sustainability themes for Community Works it is also essential that we all, collectively, address environmental sustainability and look after the planet we inhabit.

For many ordinary citizens the challenge of “saving the planet” seems very remote from their everyday lives. However, increasingly local people and groups all over the country are raising awareness and playing their part in local environmental improvements – whether in and around their own homes, or as part of local initiatives.

Community Works supports local communities and groups to:-

• increase local generation and use of renewable energy
• invest in and control local “community energy” projects
• switch to renewable energy supplies and lower cost suppliers/bills
• set up local energy supply/service companies
• reduce energy, water, food and other resource use, and minimise waste ; and increase recycling/reuse of waste materials
• reduce local pollution, improve biodiversity and local physical environments
• increase the amount of locally grown and sourced food and materials
• raise awareness and understanding of our physical environment, our behaviour and treatment of it – so that people can take supportive actions in their everyday lives