Environment & Greening

The Greening Bentley campaign supports and encourages residents and businesses in taking simple, positive, local steps to reduce energy consumption and waste - whilst saving money at the same time.

Faced with the global threat of climate change, it is hard to know what we can do as individuals to make a difference. The Greening Campaign, an initiative which started in Petersfield in 2007, gives communities a way to work together to tackle climate change.

THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY !

The Greening Campaign comes to Bentley.

Residents of Bentley village gathered in the Memorial Hall on Thursday evening to hear Terena Plowright, founder of the highly successful Greening Campaign, talk about the aims and objectives of the campaign. An enthusiastic audience of over 25 people listened to Terena’s well researched and informative presentation on how a local community can respond to the challenges of Climate Change and, by working together, can make a difference to the C02 footprint of the village.

The meeting was opened by Chris Mace, Chairman of Bentley Parish Council, which supports the Greening Campaign in the village, with a few words on the benefits to the community of a more eco-friendly outlook. The newly appointed Environment Officer for Bentley, Robert Simpson, then explained the programme for the evening and introduced Terena to the audience.

After listening to how the Greening Campaign works and how it would unfold in four different phases, the audience engaged with Terena in an animated round of questions and answers. Discussions were continued during a 15 minute break for refreshments at the bar followed by the most important part of the evening, described as “Choosing the Challenges”.

The meeting split into four “break-out” groups, everyone equipped with a list of 15 simple and achievable energy saving actions. Each group had to pick three C02 reducing actions from a list of 15 “Challenges”. After a short but eager debate choices were made and then pooled to give a total list of ten Challenges for adoption by the Bentley Greening campaign.

The meeting closed with a slide show of visual display ideas for the Launch Event, proposed for early Spring 2010, when the Challenge Cards will be distributed to Bentley households. A small Steering Committee was established to carry the Greening Campaign forward. If you would like to contribute to this initiative, please contact Rob Simpson on 01420 22094

GREENING BENTLEY in 2009/10

Greening Bentley Challenge Card List. 19/03/09

Turn off lights when you leave a room

Turn off all standbys

Walk if journey is less than a mile

Top up loft insulation to depth of 270mm

Boil only the amount of water needed

Turn the thermostat down by 1deg.C

Buy Energy Saving appliances

Reduce toilet flush

Turn off taps when brushing teeth

Draught proof around doors & windows etc.