14 November 2008
Caerphilly county borough council has launched a new sustainability strategy which encourages everyone in the area to do their bit to help the environment by living better and using less.
Sustainable living and environmental concerns are at the top of the agenda for many people at the moment and the council is keen to lead the way in helping to make a difference.
Caerphilly county borough council is committed to continuing its efforts to make sustainable development a central guiding principle for everything it does. It wants to be cleaner and greener in the way it delivers services, deals with partners and the way it runs its many offices and public buildings etc.
The overarching aim of the strategy is to improve the quality of life for residents now without compromising the quality of life for future generations.
The strategy document was launched by Jane Davidson AM, Assembly Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing at the new Penallta House council HQ in Ystrad Mynach .
"This new document spells out our commitment to sustainable development and our ultimate aim is for all of us to live happy, healthy lives without consuming more than our fair share of the Earth's resources," said cabinet member Cllr Colin Mann. "This cannot be achieved by any one organisation working in isolation so we invite our partners, local businesses and individuals to sign up and work together for a sustainable county borough."
Ms Davidson added, "Wales' ecological footprint is the lowest of all the UK regions. But as a nation we are still using three planets worth of the earths resources. We have a shared responsibility to reduce our ecological footprint and I believe we can all make changes in our everyday lives to live more sustainably."
The new Penallta House building is an excellent example of how the council is incorporating sustainability into the way it operates. The building itself boasts many new 'green technologies' which help cut energy bills and reduce carbon emissions. Staff are also are encouraged to recycle more, use less resources such as paper and be more efficient in the way they work.
A new website has also been developed (www.sustainablecaerphilly.co.uk) which gives hints and tips on how everyone can be more sustainable. The site also features an online questionnaire to help people find out how green they really are. Visitors can also make a pledge to make a difference and achieve a more sustainable future.
For further information about the strategy contact 01495 235183 or visit www.sustainablecaerphilly.co.uk
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