Swansea Eco Homes Plan for SA1

Coastal Housing Group has acquired a prime site overlooking Swansea’s Prince of Wales Dock and has submitted plans for an ecodevelopment of 69 affordable twobedroom apartments for rent.  The new building will have a ‘brown’ naturally seeded roof and has been designed to achieve a Sustainable Homes 4 star rating. A 44% reduction in energy use for heating, lighting and hot water will cut CO2 emissions, and low-flow taps and showers to reduce water usage will be installed. The timber framing will come from sustainable sources. Residents will also benefit from the use of City Wheels Car Club vehicles and cycle storage facilities.  Coastal say that it will be the first apartment building in Wales to achieve this level of sustainability.  Greenlight February 2010

FAIRTRADE WALES

Fair Trade Wales exists to grow the Fair Trade movement in Wales. They do this by:
•Leading on the Fair Trade Nation campaign
•Supporting and developing grassroots Fair Trade activity- from town and county groups, to schools
•Producing a bilingual website and materials
•Working with the Welsh Assembly Government to influence pro Fair Trade change

For the last three years Fair Trade Wales has been funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.

On June 6th 2008 Wales made history and became the first ever Fair Trade nation. The announcement followed a two-year campaign by Fair Trade Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, to increase the availability of Fair Trade products in towns, cities and counties across Wales, and encouraging schools, businesses and other organisations to switch to Fair Trade.
 To find out more about Fairtrade in Wales click on www.fairtradewales.com

IDEAS TO THINK ABOUT

Have you thought about all the chemicals that there are in toiletries, food safety, excess packaging, climate change and pollution the visit www.wen.org.uk and find out more from a womans perspective.

The Real Nappy project - providing fair choice for parents www.realnappy.com

Sundance Renewables - local manufactureres of biodiesel from recycled vegetable oil and much more kick the fossil fuel habit visit www.sundancerenewables.org.uk

The Energy Savings Trust has a search by post code facility on their website to find grants available for cavilty wall insulation, loft insulation, draught proofing, heating, applinaces, energy saving light bulbs, renewables and radiator panels.  Go to www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Low carbon buildings programme - Phase 1 provides grants for the installation of microgeneration technologies in a range of buildings to include households, community organisations, public, private and not for profit sectors up yo April 2011  Go to www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk

One in five wildflowers is threatened with extinction, 98% of Britains flower rich meadows has been destroyed in the last 60 years, 50% of our ancient woodlands has been lost sice 1945 - go to www.plantlife.org.uk

Swansea Waste Forum are interested in your views www.swanseawasteforum.org.uk 

     

SEF 

Swansea Environmental Forum (SEF) is an association of organisations and individuals working together to initiate, develop and co-ordinate environmental action in Swansea.  The Forum recognises that the protection and enhancement of the environment is best achieved by working together in the context of sustainability. The principles of sustainable development are at the heart of the Forum's work.  In Spring 2004 the Forum became the lead partner for all aspects of the natural and built environment for Swansea's community plan. In this plan Sustainability is a cross-cutting theme and the Environment is one of the main themes.   Go to http://www.swanseaenvironmentalforum.net to find out how you can make a difference