Greenprint 2020

Water scarcity is a real issue in parts of the UK, with the average Briton using 150 litres each day. South-East England has less water available per person than parts of Sudan and that just 3% of water is freshwater safe for drinking. So with the summer approaching it’s essential we use water efficiently, and there are lots of ways to do this.

Last week a team of Greenprint 2020 volunteers and interns headed to Barts Hospital in London for ‘Bust a Flush’, showing the public how easy it is to save water. We donned our hippo costumes and gave away shower timers, save-a-flush bags and water hippos.

Over the year these people will now save 965,000 litres of water and over 4 tonnes CO2!

Register here for updates about future events.

Barts building just opened in March 2012 so it is a fantastic example of new energy efficient architecture. Barts and the London NHS Trust have created an environmental programme, reducing their annual CO2 emissions by 6000 tonnes. That’s enough to fill over 31,000 double decker buses!

Way’s you can save water:

Bronze (saving up to 5,000 litres per household per year)

• Use a water hippo or save-a-flush bag
• Fit a water efficient shower head
• Install a water butt/rain barrel and use this to water your garden

Silver (5,001 to 10,000 litres per household per year)

• Fix dripping taps
• Turn off taps when your brushing your teeth
• Fit water efficient tap adapters

Gold (saving 10,001 to 15,000 litres per household per year)

• Use the plug or a bowl when washing up
• Spend less time in the shower, aim for less than 4 minutes
• Switch from baths to showers

Platinum (saving over 15,000 litres per  household per year)

• Avoid sprinklers and hoses – use a watering can

Global Action Plan Resources

Daisy Wain is a Global Action Plan intern, studying Environmental Science at the University of East Anglia.

As part of her dissertation Daisy is researching water usage, and wants to hear about your water usage.

With drought warnings already been issued for the coming weeks and months across central and southern England, changes have to be made to deal with these new pressures and these changes are only going to become increasingly important in the coming years because of mounting threat from climate change and growth in population.

So the question remains, which is the most effective method to encourage behaviour change and water consumption reduction. This is where my project comes in, and why your participation is so important.

Take part and water consumption facts and tips will be revealed!.

Greenprint 2020 volunteer, Adam Yasir, wins the London regional overall commitment to volunteering Award!

Source: vInspired

Adam arrived in London as a refugee in 2007.  Inspired by the support he had received from British volunteers in Darfur, he began volunteering at Croydon Voluntary Action.  He has supported projects ranging from youth inclusion events, inter-cultural projects, and created his own environmental campaign at his college.  

As a result of the confidence and skills gained through volunteering, he was able to complete his school exams and is now studying International Relations at university, in the hope that he may be able to help others in the way that British volunteers helped him in Darfur.

The things I get most out of volunteering are…  
Being a part of my community, as well as developing new skills, boosting my career opportunities, meeting new people, forming lasting friendships and new interests.

My volunteering has made an impact on the people I help by…
It’s opened doors of opportunities to many young people to participate by campaigning and making positive changes within their communities. My volunteering has challenged the negative image that the press and the media have about young people.

Being nominated for a vInspired National Award makes me feel…
I am deeply honoured, even though I was not seeking any recognition for my volunteering. But I just wanted to contribute to my community in a way that others contributed to my life and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lee Townsend and the team at Croydon volunteer centre and also the vInspired team; as well as my friends and colleagues during the campaign. They are equally responsible for me been nominated for the award.

If I were Prime Minister for the day, the one thing I would change would be…
If I was the Prime Minister for the day, the one thing I would change would be to found a national youth project such as vInspired, not only to provide opportunities for young people but empower and help them make positive contributions to their society through support.

Previous awards:

• Greenprint 2020 Big Kick Award, 2011
• Third Sector Excellence Award, Volunteer of the Year runner up, 2011

By Global Action Plan intern, Paul Bosworth

Whats the problem?

Families across the UK are experiencing ongoing price hikes in their energy bills, contributing to rising rates of fuel poverty as people struggle to afford to heat their homes properly. A 2011 report by Consumer Focus showed that 5 million households in England and Wales alone, or 1 in 4, were living in fuel poverty. This is up from 2 million households in the whole of the UK in 2003 - the year from which rates have steadily risen. At the same time, British buildings are amongst the most inefficient and expensive to heat in Europe, accounting for a whopping 43% of our country’s overall carbon emissions in 2009.

In spite of this, demand for energy efficient equipment in family homes remains low, as many people simply cannot afford the upfront costs. Furthermore, a lack of choice in suitable suppliers means people remain uncertain about the standard to which work on their house will be carried out. The government wants to change this in order to give householders cheaper energy bills, lift millions out of fuel poverty and reduce our country’s contribution to dangerous climate change.

What’s being done to help my family and our home, eh?

This year the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) will be launching it’s flagship green scheme named ‘The Green Deal’ in order to radically increase the uptake of energy efficient equipment in households across the country - including yours! Its the most ambitious household renovation project since World War II, and is going to help your family lower its energy costs whilst helping you do your part to reduce carbon emissions and save the environment.

The Green Deal works by making it possible for private firms and suppliers to install a whole manner of energy saving equipment in your home such as double glazing, loft/wall insulation, as well as renewables (including solar panels, biomass boilers, micro-CHP and ground and air source heat pumps) at no upfront cost to your family. This is because the work done is paid for incrementally through instalments on household energy bills. And if you move house, the new occupier automatically takes over the debt, because the benefits of a more efficient and cheaper heating system have now transferred from you to them. Therefore, the money owed is not personal debt, but tied to the energy meter - making usual considerations such as credit-worthiness unnecessary.

An official body will protect consumers from cowboy builders and opportunistic energy firms. Suppliers will have to be properly accredited so your family can trust the work being done, and this will be supported by a quality mark and insurance-backed warranties to protect against rogue traders. The government are also putting together a framework in order to guarantee that the installation costs never outweigh the amount your family saves on its bills. This is called the golden rule, which promises that: “the expected financial savings must be equal to or greater than the costs attached to the energy bill”.

If you’ve moved out of home you’ll be pleased to know that the Green Deal will also be available to those who rent as well as home owners. Tenants will repay the cost of measures through their energy bill savings, enjoying warmer properties without increased fuel payments. Furthermore, the scheme will offer landlords a real opportunity to invest in the energy efficiency of their properties at no up-front cost to themselves, making their properties more attractive to rent and more eco-friendly.

The government wants to see more collaborative working - not just between Green Deal providers and local authorities - but neighbouring councils, charities, voluntary organisations and community groups, all getting involved to come up with innovative solutions to rolling out energy efficiency on a street by street basis. Global Action Plan is working to capitalise on its close ties with businesses, communities and young people to make sure that everyone can obtain maximum benefit from the Green Deal, especially those who at most risk from fuel poverty and rising energy prices.

So what does this mean for me specifically as a young person with a face and a name?

“The Green Deal presents a great opportunity for the young people of this country. The Government is strongly committed to improving the skills and employment prospects of our young people. The expansion of the market through the Green Deal will provide excellent opportunities for them to up-skill through apprenticeships and training schemes so they are ready to meet the challenge of this new job market.” Greg Barker, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change.

Rolling out the Green Deal will require a huge increase in skilled workers who are able to carry out everything from home installations to compliance work. The Department for Energy and Climate Change predicts that the Green Deal will catalyse £14bn of investment over the next decade, and support up to 250,000 jobs at its peak – including, more specifically, at least 65,000 insulation and construction jobs by 2015.

Moreover, the government plans to use the Green Deal to introduce thousands of apprenticeships across the UK, giving young people the skills and experience they need at a time when youth unemployment has reached almost 1 in 4 people aged 16 to 24. This should come as good news to those left jaded by the Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove’s recent announcement that thousands of vocational qualifications are to be stripped out of school league tables, arguing that the old system encouraged young people to take courses that led ‘”nowhere”. The proposed Green Deal measures relevant to young people so far include:

• A joint effort between the Department for Business and Department for Education to provide sufficient funding to train at least 1000 Green Deal apprentices aged 16 and over to meet employer demand.
• Sector Skills Councils (specifically Asset Skills, ConstructionSkills and SummitSkills) will work with employers to design new apprenticeship frameworks and revise existing ones, in order for workers to be trained or re-trained with the skills that the Green Deal will require.
• The Department for Energy and Climate Change will set out new standards for Green Deal installers, working with employers to encourage them to take on new trainees and up-skill their existing staff. DECC will also offer concessions on Green Deal installer registration fees for those organisations which take on young people as workers

The above package of measures hopes to teach apprentices about new green technologies and make them experts in a range of areas including cavity and solid wall insulation and new energy efficient heating systems. However, such details are still being revised as the whole Green Deal is finished off – the stakeholder consultation only concluded earlier this month, meaning it will still be a while before we can know for certain what this ambitious national scheme will mean for ourselves and our families.

The Treasury has approved £200 million for families that take up the Green Deal in it’s first year, when it begins in October 2012. For more information, see the DECC website www.decc.gov.uk or email us

This week we are delighted to introduce Jonathan, our new intern who will be with us for the next 3 months!

What were you doing before joining us at Global Action Plan?

I’m from a small town called Prospect, CT about 1.5 hours outside of New York City. I’m a third year student at the University of Connecticut currently majoring in history and this spring semester I’m studying in London at Florida State University’s campus whilst interning at Global Action Plan. I’m not yet sure what I would like to pursue after school but I have considered teaching. 

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I love to play baseball, basketball and American football as well as reading, travelling, playing gold and skiing. While I am in London I’m hoping to visit as many sights as possible and really take in the culture here.

What will you be involved in at Global Action Plan?

I’m currently interning with the Greenprint 2020 team, creating and carrying out activities for students on the v2424 programme in order to teach and inspire them to reduce their carbon footprint. 

I’m hoping to make a difference in the lives of the young people I work with and help create a more sustainable environment through teaching and mentoring them. I’m looking forward to working with all of the workers and volunteers in Global Action Plan and participating in the different opportunities they have to educate others and promote environmental sustainability.

What’s your top green tip?

When you have to travel, always carpool, mass transit or even better, walk or cycle if possible!

Favorite biscuit?

Chocolate chip cookies!

Image source: Guardian

By Heather Poore

Sainsbury’s has launched an exciting, promising sustainability plan that will hopefully lead the way to setting high and ambitious environmental standards across the board. 

The plan includes doubling the amount of British food on the shelves, decreasing energy use in stores, increasing sales of fairtrade products and the welfare standards of dairy, meat, poultry and eggs… 

…all of which we were hoping for in our Greenprint 2020 vision of a sustainable future!

With food being an essential part of our lives, supermarkets are in a great position to influence consumer behaviors. It’s great to see another supermarket joining Tesco and M&S in taking a long term view and breaking the mold of short-termism that is so widely practiced; something which young people who created the Greenprint 2020 vision have been desperate to see happen.

As Sainsbury’s chief executive, Justin King, puts it, ”This will change the agenda in our industry.” We hope he is right and look forward to seeing what happens next!

Read the Guardian article; “Sainsbury’s launches sustainability plan”.

In 2009 Global Action Plan launched Climate Squad, a youth volunteering programme for young people. Two years on we have created the Greenprint 2020, our vision of a sustainable future. We are now working towards achieving this vision, so have changed our name to Greenprint 2020 - we think think its the simplest way for people to know what we are about!

(Source: globalactionplan.org.uk)

By Neelam Shah

We as humans have the rights to be law-abiding citizens to our country; we should carry the same duties and principles when caring for our own environment. These are simple minor obligations that would make the earth a lot greener.

Over the past few months we have seen images in the news of the shocking riots and fires starting across the UK. These fires are damaging for communities, for the air we breathe and for the environment as they create harmful carbon monoxide gases. Plumes of smoke can endanger innocent lives particularly ones who are asthmatic.

Communities have demonstrated incredible leadership and duty to their environment through the riot clean ups, and each of us can play small role in recycling rubbish, reusing materials and rebuilding what has been destroyed.

I have come across many exhibitions that have been showcasing some really well crafted and designed objects, clothes and accessories constructed from all types of recyclable materials such as paper scarves, cardboard, newspaper hats, tin cans and straws to make bins. There were also videos played showing counties like Tanzania recreating tire rubber material to make more tires.

This demonstrates that there are many ways mankind can use creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial skills to build on sustainability in our societies; engaging with echo friendly mechanisms to reuse, recycle and renew which are all ways we can be active green citizens.

Find out more on reusable materials

Find out more info on what and where to recycle in UK

Joy Schlageter has been busy in Edinburgh learning about gardening and organic growing this summer. After Volunteering at Phantassie Farm and at Whitmuir Organic Farm, both on the outskirts of Edinburgh, she has kick started gardening in her own back garden. Joy has discovered a great way to approach urban gardening, especially for those who do not have huge amounts of garden space, it is called square foot gardening (Try and get a hold of the book from your local library - Square Foot Gardening: A New Way to Garden in Less Space with Less Work). 

Joy has built two raised Vegetable beds, from recycled scrap wood found on the street, and plans to use the square foot gardening technique in the coming spring. For now she has sown seeds that will work as organic fertilisers over the winter, preparing the soil for growing fabulous fruit and vegetables next year!

Joy will be with us throughout September and October!

Greenprint 2020 vision

In 2020: 

Tax has increased for two car households, which has led to an increase in car sharing schemes, pedestrianisation of some streets, and the allocation of cycling lanes as more people look for options other than driving. 

Cycling schemes are common place at work and in school, and with rewards for walking or cycling, it’s standard for people to walk distances of less than a mile. Roads are clearer and air quality is improved, lowering asthma rates.

People are able to jump on quicker, cleaner, faster trains from their local station thanks to the reopening of old stations and easier access routes. With major investments in alternative fuels, renewably powered public transport is abundant.

The census now collates green data on the routes people travel most, helping to direct public money to improving public services, extending routes, and trialling trams and new forms of transport. Where investments are made in new routes, the impact of construction is considered and recycled materials are used.

People are more appreciative of the impact of air travel. Due to a limit on air miles per person, people find other ways to commute, travel and holiday. They use technology to minimise use of travel for work and have found benefits to health and workload in doing so.

Your response* :

• 87% would like people to cycle and walk more for local travel. 

• 68% liked the idea of spending less time at work and increasingly working from home.  

• 57% of respondents disliked the suggestion of having limits placed on air mile

* All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 1053 UK 16-24 year olds. Fieldwork was undertaken between 13th - 17th January 2011.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults aged 16-24. Copies of the research are available from Global Action Plan.

Please click “Next” to see the Learning & Work section, or “Previous” to see the Food section

(Source: globalactionplan.org.uk)