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Part of our commitment to reduce and offset our carbon emissions.

We funded solar photovoltaic panels, litter pickers and native trees to support Little Easton Community Association on their decarbonisation journey.

Using the £20,000 Hoare Lea decarbonisation transition fund, we funded solar panels for the roof of the Community Association’s village hall, easing the financial pressures of heating the building whilst reducing its carbon footprint. Electrical costs increased from £300 a month to £1,200 over the past two years, leading to the hall operating at a loss. The solar panels will save 3.1 tonnes of CO2 per year and an estimated £3,930 a year on electricity.

 

Our support also includes funding litter picking equipment to support the local action group that uses these sessions as an opportunity to educate young people on environmental issues. The remainder of the fund will be spent on native tree planting in the village coppice with support from volunteers from in the community. Each tree, when mature, can absorb approximately 25kg of CO2 per year.

 

Little Eaton village hall is well used by the community. Little Eaton is a small village, home to 2,500 people on the outskirts of Derby. At its heart is the village hall – a vital component to the fabric of the village. It runs initiatives that encourage better health and wellbeing, hosts local sports clubs for players of all ages, puts on social and community activities and is home to the local preschool. Our funding will help make running the hall more affordable so it can continue to operate.

Our commitment

We select an employee-nominated decarbonisation project each year to help a community organisation reduce operating costs and carbon emissions. This is part of our wider commitment to being a net zero carbon buildings organisation. We track the carbon emissions of our offices, target reducing these emissions, then offset the remainder by purchasing approved international carbon offsets and invest in community carbon reduction project in the UK.