In 2006 consultants produced detailed Energy Reports for four of our residential hostels. This was the beginning of our work to introduce a structured approach to exploring and minimising our environmental impact.
Baseline data of energy and water usage and waste generated were collated to enable subsequent benefits of environmental interventions to be assessed. ‘Carbon footprints’ were calculated for the various projects for the financial year 2006-2007 a priority list of projects was drawn up for action.
In March 2009, the UK Ambassador to Japan, together with the Japanese Consul-General, senior representatives from One North East, Yanmar and NaREC (New and Renewable Energy Centre), visited to unveil a commercial combined heat and power (CHP) system which was donated by Yanmar, the leading Japanese manufacturer of micro-CHP systems.
This unit is the first production micro-CHP unit of its kind to be installed anywhere in Europe. CHP provides an efficient way of using mains natural gas to produce electricity and capture heat generated to improve the efficiency of condensing boilers. The unit will supply efficient low carbon energy to Elliott House and excess heat will provide frost protection all year round to the greenhouses.
The installation was jointly funded by NaREC and two environmental funds managed by the Community Foundation; Local Action on Global Issues and the EAGA Community Fund.
Loft insulation has been upgraded at Elliott, Roycroft, Ron Eager and Francis Houses and cavity walls insulated. Water saving devices fitted in cisterns throughout residential projects have reduced water consumption by 63%. The Environmental Champions Group has been created with membership from both residential and non-residential projects. The group meets to share information, discuss problems and then lead by example in their respective work places.
We employ on a permanent basis an Environmental Officer, who has created an overarching environmental policy which encompasses our corporate responsibility and energy usage. .All aspects are monitored and evaluated with the view to becoming an example of best practice.
Changing the way in which The Cyrenians manages waste and resources can make an important contribution to improving the quality of life of our local communities and the vulnerable individuals we support. We need to tackle the amount of waste we produce, breaking the link between organisational expansion and increased waste. Where waste is produced, we put it to good use, through re-use, recycling, composting and recovering energy.
In all of our environmental initiatives the involvement of the local communities in which we operate and our service users are core to our success.
Our efforts to date (2009) represent savings of 40.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
