Co-operation Green Project is all systems go
Tenants First were recently successful in their bid to fund a new project, Co-operation Green. The project aims to help reduce the company and the members’ carbon footprint by seventy-seven tonnes.
The main aim is to help reduce energy bills, by helping people identify where they can make savings. By reducing bills, we will be reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas responsible for climate change.
Chris Hunt has been recruited as the project officer, and is looking forward to working with Tenants First members. Chris said, “Energy companies are putting up their prices leaving us paying more and more for our gas and electricity, if I can advice people how to make some savings, then hopefully everyone will be happy.”
Chris has lots of suggestions how to reduce energy consumption, and will also be able to offer a free two week trial of an energy monitor to show people what they are using and how that might be reduced. Chris said, “I am trialling a monitor at the moment at home, and it is surprising what uses the most electricity. Mobile phone chargers use up lots, so don’t put them on over night, as they will be charged up long before you get up the next day, let alone the fire hazard of leaving it on overnight.”Energy companies are putting up their prices leaving us paying more and more for our gas and electricity, if I can advice people how to make some savings, then hopefully everyone will be happy
Chris Hunt -
Co-operation Green
Project Officer
August 1st saw the launch of a new website, www.tenantsfirstCO2pledge.co.uk by Tenants First Housing Co-operative. This website is part of the Co-operation Green project,and is looking at ways to reduce the carbon foot print of the organisation and its members. The website will encourage staff and members to pledge to carry out an action, which will help reduce CO2.
Project Officer, Chris Hunt said, “the website will be a valuable tool which will let us encourage people to take small steps in reducing their carbon footprint. The hope is, by doing this, it will in many cases, help save people money as well.”
Tenants First are looking to reduce their carbon footprint by 77 tonnes, and the website will give an indication of how they are getting on by keeping a running total of all pledges made. Chris Hunt, project officer, said “the great thing about the site is, you can look at your own personal CO2 savings, and also that of the whole of Tenants First.”
Many of the pledges have extra links attached to them, so that if someone finds a particular thing of interest they can look at it a bit more.
The website will offer pledges that are relevant to the workplace and home, so hopefully everyone will find something they can get involved in.
Hopefully there will be lots of small things we can do, that will make a big difference.
Chris will be working with staff as well to offer the same kind of advice for the work place and home. Chris has already organised several speakers to come and talk to staff about various topics from sustainable transport to looking at what we buy and from where.
The project also hopes to recruit some enthusiastic volunteer champions, to help offer help to their communities with energy, transport and waste questions. Volunteers will be given full training, and any one can apply. Project Officer Chris Hunt, has previously worked with around 70 volunteers, “they are essential to our success, their energy and enthusiasm will encourage others in their communities to take positive action to reduce their energy bills. I am really looking forward to working with them.”
Volunteer Champion Opportunity
| Job Title: | Volunteer Champion (for Co-Operation Green) |
| Responsible for: | “Saving the planet!” |
| Responsible to: | Project Officer |
| Skills required: | An interest in the environment. Full training provided. |
| Main duties: | To engage members on topics such as energy, transport and waste. To help members save money through reducing their energy bills. To help make a difference! |
| Time commitment: | A few hours a month |
For more details about volunteering or the project, you can contact Chris on 01224 628400 or 07900 432702.
You may also email him directly: Chris Hunt
