To help celebrate Sustain’s 10th year, staff got together to discuss all of the activities they could, would and wanted to do to mark the occasion. Many ideas and concepts were discussed before 10 were finally chosen. These incorporated activities scheduled across many different areas including – education, policy, technology and trends.
Techno Time 
As part of our 10th anniversary celebrations Sustain has developed an in-house CO2 offsetting project with RECED, our partner organisation in Nepal. Through RECED we will be investing in 6 photovoltaic lighting systems to be installed in rural Nepali households. The clean electrical lighting will displace the use of kerosene lamps which are smoky, dirty, dangerous and expensive to run. Swapping kerosene for PV releases a host of health, social and economic benefits for the recipient – and also avoids the emission of volumes of greenhouses gases which makes them good targets for an offsetting scheme.
If the scheme is a success Sustain hopes to offer offsets through RECED to clients. On current calculations they would not be the cheapest on the market but we are confident they would be amongst the most clearly ‘additional’ and would, unlike many other offsets, generate multiple social benefits in the subsistence economy of a developing country. RECED runs a variety of other energy based projects in Nepal including volunteer programs which offer a unique experience in personally installing a renewable energy system.
For more details see the RECED website at: www.reced.org.np/reced.html
Green is the new Black 
Green is the new Black, a new campaign aiming to raise awareness and encourage recycling has been launched in Wrington by Sustain as part of its ’10 Things for 10 Years’ initiative.
A cotton bag for life, pin badge and information leaflets combine to make the ‘Green is the new Black’ pack and is designed to provide information about what and where people can recycle as well as useful hints and tips. The bag is provided to reduce the use of plastic bags and will act as a visual demonstration of people supporting the campaign.
The bags are available at Amor Stores in Wrington.
For further information on recycling and waste issues try contacting one of the following:
- The Energy Saving Trust - 0800 512 012 http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/
- WRAP - 0808 100 2040
http://www.wrap.org.uk/ - North Somerset Council - 01934 888 888
http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/
Photography competition is a Big Issue in the South West
The photography competition, which is running as part of Sustain’s ’10 Things for 10 Years’ campaign, is already off to a flying start with confirmed backing from The Big Issue South West.
The competition aims to highlight issues around climate change through photography and is calling for entries from September. The Big Issue South West is a key partner in the competition and will be running regular features and updates from September until February alongside the competition guidelines and entry form.
As another boost Michael Eavis, best know for founding Glastonbury Festival, will be a guest celebrity judge of the competition.
For further information click here
Sustain Jam bust in June 
As part of one of Sustain’s '10 Things for 10 Years' activities, the Walking the Walk team signed staff up to take part in 'Jam Busting June' to encourage staff to travel by more sustainable transport to work.
The scheme is organised by local councils, including North Somerset Council, to encourage the use of sustainable transport to work and reduce the number of cars on the road. Over 26 members of staff from Sustain are taking part, pledging to lift share, walk, run and cycle to work.
On Wednesday 20 June, a breakfast was provided for all staff members who travelled in by means other than individual car journeys.
By participating in this event, staff have saved 582kg of C02.
The 10 Things groups
Shake up the system: The democratic political system allows all to participate in shaping the rules of society. By lobbying both local and central government over specific issues we can hope to force changes through the system.
Making a mark: Trees are symbolic of the carbon cycle in that they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and lock it up in their bodies. By planting trees we want to leave a permanent feature to mark our 10 years, and can be used to encourage community participation.
High tide mark: Communicating the effects of global warming is one thing, but visually showing how it is going to actually affect individuals can have a much greater impact. By marking on people's homes the actual sea level increase then they might be more inclined to act on it.
Fairs & fun: By taking part in local community events and activities Sustain will increase its brand and awareness to community members.
Seed planting: Presenting and talking at schools can help educate children about the issues of climate change and how they can do their bit to save carbon. Using projects like Wrington School’s straw building can act as a case study. Educating companies is another route to promoting change. Talking with local companies and encouraging their behavioural change through education.
Techno time: Many clean development mechanism (CDM) projects install renewable energy products and sell the ‘offsets’ to people wishing to buy the carbon savings. Sustain could do a low-cost, small scale version of this.
Walking the walk: We can look at ways for helping staff members to reduce their carbon footprint in their homes.
It starts in the home: By providing home energy checks staff will be able to better understand the energy used in their homes and how to improve it.
Green is the new black: Status or fashion trends can be important in raising the profile and the participation in campaigns. Sustain can utilise this by encouraging people to buy into the fashion of saving energy. It is becoming more and more high profile in the news and is starting to become a new ‘status’ for people to be seen to be green.
Photography competition: Running a photography competition is another channel to get people to ‘wake up’ to climate change. Asking people to photograph the effects of climate change around them will encourage people to notice how the impacts of energy we use affects us and the environment. Showing the entries and the winners at an exhibition will then highlight the issue even further.
Visit www.sustain.co.uk/photocompetition for more information