Community buildings are at the heart of local life — but they can also be a big source of carbon emissions as they are often large, sometimes aging and it’s a challenge to stay on top of the upkeep. The good news? Small changes can make a big difference. Here’s how you can reduce its footprint while protecting nature. ACRE have produced a free design guide to help you start. Action in Rural Sussex have a dedicated Village Hall team and a free Energy Action plan. And the Centre for Sustainable Energy have a DIY building energy survey alongside their paid for services.
You can start with low-cost easy wins to start your journey towards a greener building. Start by switching to LED lighting – this uses 90% less energy than traditional bulbs. Draught-proof windows/doors you can seal gaps yourself with self-adhesive strips or curtains. You can always hire a thermal imaging camera to see where you are losing heat. Another quick win is the turn your thermostat down by 1°C and install thermostatic radiator valves.
A longer term goal might be to switch to green technologies. Solar panels are ideal for south facing roofs on community buildings. Heat pumps can replace boilers. Although there are currently no government funding schemes for making these changes, there might be funds available through non-government grants. You can also switch to a 100% renewable electricity provider such as Octopus or Bulb.
You could make your Community Building the place where change in the community starts. You could start your own Green Fair in your community building highlighting all the great work going on in the community or start a monthly repair café. If you host a community cafe you could invite representatives from green initiatives to come and chat with attendees. Or create a wildflower patch, hedgehog friendly holes in our fences or host a Pollination Education Station.