Pontrobert Tackles Climate Change

Pontrobert Community Centre is one of three centres in Wales taking part in the Welsh Assembly Government’s Climate Change Challenge 2010 to help Wales reduce its carbon footprint.

The other centres are Bridges Community Centre in Monmouth and Bloomfield Community Centre in Narberth, Pembrokeshire.

Over the next year, the three centres will be competing to find innovative and fun ways to cut their carbon footprint. The Challenge aims to demonstrate that individuals and communities can have a positive impact on reducing Wales’ carbon footprint through their everyday actions.
 

Environment Minister Jane Davidson told www.mywelshpool.co.uk: “Community centres are at the heart of local areas and can draw in people from across generations. The Challenge will be a great way of getting everyone from small children and teenagers to adults and older people, working together to learn about how easy it can be to reduce the amount of energy we use.

“The Challenge aims to get the whole community involved and hopefully take the energy-saving tips back to their own homes.”

This year’s Climate Change Challenge follows the success of last year’s efforts between three Welsh pubs. Last year’s winner, The Grove Hotel in Pembrokeshire saved more than 725,000 litres of water and £800 on its water bill, as well as cutting its energy bills and making the hotel as environmentally friendly as possible.

The Climate Change Challenge is supported by the Carbon Trust and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water who will advise on and monitor energy and water use throughout the Challenge.

The Energy Saving Trust will be supporting the Challenge by offering tips to community members on how to be more energy, water and waste efficient in the home.

The Challenge will run until July 2011 when a judging panel of experts will pick an overall winner based on their engagement of the community, carbon footprint reduction and long-term commitment to more sustainable living.