Centre Policies & Environmental Aims
NAIRN COMMUNITY AND ARTS CENTRE – POLICIES
Environmental Aims
Here at Nairn Community & Arts Centre we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint by increasing energy efficiency, encouraging and increasing recycling, reducing reliance on packaging, and minimising waste.
Our environmental commitments are an integral part of our day to day activities, and we want to work with all our individual groups to ensure this is replicated throughout the building.
Early in 2019 we worked with Resource Efficient Scotland to look at ways of improving our efficiency and reducing our energy costs.
Zero Waste Scotland were engaged to carry out a survey of the building and its energy usage. From the report a ‘Climate Programme’ was developed to address various area that would provide the biggest return on investment and realise both ongoing cost and carbon reductions. The programme consisted of installation of an electric vehicle charging point; upgrading both internal and external building lighting to LED technology; installation of Solar PV (Photovoltaic) and battery storage to create the ability to generate green electricity; and upgrade the heating system to a modern and more efficient technology.
We recognise our responsibility to help reduce the climate emergency through our management practices – and to continue ‘Greening’ our facility to assist in the ever increasing utility costs, recycling, reducing waste etc.
We are encouraging behavioural change from our staff and with all groups to allow us to mitigate some of the increased energy costs, reduce waste and to help offset our carbon footprint. We encourage good measures of recycling to manage our waste going forward – and we are now endeavouring to be a ‘no plastic’ facility.
We are continuing to work with Business Energy Scotland – to identify any further measures that we can implement to reduce and offset our carbon footprint.
We would be delighted to hear of any suggestions you may have to help us ensure a greener future. We can only do this with the support of all our users.
Nairn Changemakers Moss Graffiti project
The Nairn Changemakers are made up of members of the Nairn Youth Forum and young people in the surrounding area who are interested in creating change locally and globally. The Moss Graffiti project was facilitated by Shona McDonald High Life Highland Youth Development Officer, and local artist Rachael Macintyre, on behalf of Highland One World’s Start the Change project.
Here is what the young people have to say about it:
The SDG’s we chose to focus on were Climate Action and Reduced Inequalities. We chose these because we felt if we did not take climate action, we wouldn’t have a habitable plant, and because we feel everyone needs to work together, no matter their skin colour or gender, in order to save our planet.
We wanted to do something that was impactful in Nairn. Something that spoke to the community as well as to our own sustainable development goals. We chose to do an artwork made from moss, “Moss Graffiti”, to create something that represented our vision of a better world, one that was cared for equally, and to make a thing of beauty to be enjoyed by the local community.
We designed an image of two hands that have grown from one tree trunk and are working together to support the earth. We wanted to choose something that could be open to interpretation, but equally clear in its’ intent.
We chose moss as the medium for our artwork because it is sustainable, and it works with our goal of advocating for climate action. Moss is a very beautiful and rich substance that allowed us to make an image that is both self-sustaining and alive. As a living organism it creates a legacy for the project, that will continue to grow and develop as it becomes part of the wall, and part of Nairn community.
“The idea of using moss was exciting because it was something that I had never seen before and it looked really cool. My favourite part was putting the moss on the wall.” Eric Ness
“My favourite part of doing this whole topic is the experience I’ve gained from working in a team and working with moss that could possibly be used for another project.” Emily Darge.
“My favourite part of the process was working together as a group. Being able to connect with like-minded people is always a gift. Especially with a group of inspiring, energetic, funny and go getting folk.” Grace Green“Facilitating this project was an incredible opportunity to work with local young people to create something that they’re passionate about, and that will hopefully benefit their local area too” Rachael Macintyre.
We are grateful to Nairn Community and Arts Centre for providing the “host” wall to help raise awareness of the climate change agenda and to complement their own measures to become a “greener” Community Centre.