Make switching to renewable energy your New Year’s Resolution.

Here at Creative Carbon Scotland, we believe ethically-sourced* renewable energy is one of the best ways in which our arts and wider society can begin to shape a cleaner, greener future. That’s why, with some help from our energy partner, Good Energy, and other trustworthy sources like the Energy Saving Trust, we’ll be talking about renewable energy throughout January 2020.

Our aim during Renewable Energy Month is to provide some useful information, facts and figures and to answer some burning questions on the topic to help you (and your creative business / organisation) decide to make the switch. For example:

• What is renewable energy?
• What is greenwashing?
• How does the weather affect renewable energy supply?
• Why should you or your cultural organisation switch to renewable energy?

What’s your responsibility?

There is a global climate crisis.

Everyone, individually, has a responsibility to reduce their carbon footprint. There are lots of ways to do this and every change, small or big, makes a difference: invest in a reusable cup (and take it everywhere!), eat a more plant-based diet, insulate your home, use public transport, cycle or walk instead of driving, fly less or not at all, and contribute to reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels by switching to renewable energy.

Pressure to act

Scotland has ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions – 75% by 2030 and net-zero by 2045.^[1] Glasgow and Edinburgh have even higher targets with both city’s councils declaring they will become carbon neutral by 2030.

Soon, Scotland’s arts, cultural and heritage organisations will feel the pressure of these targets and need to act, if they haven’t already. They also have a responsibility to use their unique position in society to act as a role model; sourcing genuine renewable energy for theatres, galleries, museums etc. demonstrates commitment to sustainability and sends a positive and influential message to staff, contractors, visitors and audiences.

Such organisations will not only reduce their carbon footprint, they’ll be at the forefront of driving investment in new and existing renewable projects too. This, in turn, may attract like-minded sponsors or partners with the potential to contribute to the ongoing success and long-term sustainability of the organisation.

Leading the charge

The good news is that Scotland is leading the charge when it comes to renewable energy and is on track to achieve 100% renewable electricity in 2020.^[2]

In the UK, as a whole, “only around 3% of our electricity comes from coal today”^[3] and “between January and May 2019, Britain generated more power from clean energy than from fossil fuels for the first time since the Industrial Revolution.”^[4] This means it’s now easier to find authentic* suppliers of green energy, like our sponsor, Good Energy and helpful ways for organisations to make the switch, such as the Creative Energy Project.

Are you ready to make renewable energy your New Year’s Resolution?

Follow #RenewableEnergyMonth on social media to get the full story.

You can also contact Helen Franks at Good Energy if you would like further information or to request a quote for your organisation’s switch to 100% renewable electricity and carbon-neutral gas – not nuclear and not greenwashed.

m: 07791 399352

e: Helen.Franks@goodenergy.co.uk

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Below are some useful links to further information and we’ll add to these as Renewable Energy Month progresses:

• Energy Saving Trust
• Business benefits of switching to renewable energy
• Green Arts and Good Energy
• The Creative Energy Project

*Some suppliers claim their energy comes from renewable sources when it really doesn’t. This is greenwashing.

The post Are you switched on to “Renewable Energy Month”? appeared first on Creative Carbon Scotland.

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Creative Carbon Scotland is a partnership of arts organisations working to put culture at the heart of a sustainable Scotland. We believe cultural and creative organisations have a significant influencing power to help shape a sustainable Scotland for the 21st century.

In 2011 we worked with partners Festivals Edinburgh, the Federation of Scottish Threatre and Scottish Contemporary Art Network to support over thirty arts organisations to operate more sustainably.

We are now building on these achievements and working with over 70 cultural organisations across Scotland in various key areas including carbon management, behavioural change and advocacy for sustainable practice in the arts.

Our work with cultural organisations is the first step towards a wider change. Cultural organisations can influence public behaviour and attitudes about climate change through:

Changing their own behaviour;
Communicating with their audiences;
Engaging the public’s emotions, values and ideas.

Go to Creative Carbon Scotland

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