ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

The Village Hall Edington management committee are committed to protecting and actively promoting the improvement of the local environment.

We will ensure that environmental priorities are integrated in the decisions we take on all our services and will seek to:

• Make the most use of energy. We will endeavour to use the minimum quantities of energy possible in accordance with the safe and efficient operation of its heating, lighting, plant and machinery. We will from time to time review our energy sources, energy using appliances and energy efficiency with a view to causing the least environmental impact. We will monitor consumption to hirers and staff the means by which energy may be conserved, e.g. closing doors and windows.

• Minimise all forms of pollution, users will be encouraged to avoid creating noise pollution, especially at night.

• Use the minimum quantities of water possible in accordance with our activities and ensure the water used is both supplied and disposed of in the purist condition possible, meeting statutory requirements. We will reduce leakage and eliminate excessive or unnecessary use. We will communicate to users and staff the need to conserve water, e.g. turning taps off after use.

• Avoid waste and encourage the appropriate conservation, re-use and recycling of resources. We will re-use and recycle materials as far as possible and, if this is impractical, disposal by a means which will have the least impact on the environment and conforms to statutory requirements. We will encourage users and staff to minimise waste, including the provision of disposal facilities for recycling glass, tins and paper. Users must take their own waste away with them.

• Ensure that the potential environmental impact of any renovation, maintenance or building projects will be assessed and minimised. This will include, where possible methods which make the best use of resources, designs which will result in low maintenance and high energy efficiency and the use of building materials from sustainable sources.

• Encourage volunteers, hirers, users and staff to use and operate the building correctly to conserve energy and minimise waste.

• Promote a sense of responsibility and understanding for the environment and participation in environmental issues, by raising committee and user awareness, by information provision and open consultation with the local community.

• Seek, where possible, to commission or purchase from local or regional suppliers and contractors, in order to maximise input to the local community and minimise carbon emissions from transport.

• Protect the health and well being of all committee members, staff, users and visitors and seek to improve and safeguard the quality of the Village Hall Edington.