BoG Zero – Boat Hall and our Environmental Impact

Early in 2020, the trustees at the Boat of Garten Community Hall formed a new, small group and asked them to advise on improving the hall’s environmental impact. 

As a fairly recent building, the Hall has benefitted from modern construction methods aimed at saving energy. However, it’s nearly 15 years since the new hall was designed. The dangers facing our planet from climate change have become much more widely understood and new technology has moved on considerably. 

It was agreed that there was much the Hall could do. 

A new Environmental Policy was approved with the following objectives: 

  • reduce our consumption of resources by buying only what we need, using green energy and sustainable materials, and making things last longer. 
  • dispose of our waste responsibly through more re-use & repair, recycling, and composting.
  • protect the environment by working to eliminate single-use plastic, using locally sourced/ natural/ recycled materials, and taking good care of the hall and grounds.
  • engage with other local groups and individuals to promote environmental initiatives by collaborating on local projects and acting as a community resource/ hub.

It was also agreed that the Hall should be ambitious in its efforts to tackle the climate crisis. And so BoGZero was born! 

The Hall’s big goal is to become carbon neutral. This means eliminating carbon dioxide emissions altogether (or at least balancing them with carbon removal). 

Most nations are agreed – the planet needs us to do this!

Despite Covid-19, we are making progress. The Hall has purchased a new hot composter and will share the learning with anyone interested. We are working with local groups and other hall-users to find alternatives to single use plastics. An award of £xx,xxx from the Green Recovery Fund will allow us to create a new covered outdoor space so that low carbon, covid-safe events can also be dry and comfortable! The property group is working hard to address the recent heating problems and bring our system up-to-date. Our first Repair Café, postponed from March, will now run next year. At the recent car boot sale, many people stopped by the BoGZero stall to offer ideas and support. 

So we’re excited about what the community of Boat of Garten can achieve in the months and years to come. Watch this space!

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