REAP - Environment

One of REAP's objectives is to raise environmental awareness and promote action to enhance our shared environment. We aim to do this through the following actions:

REAP has developed a new social enterprise which will use thermal imaging technology to show where heat loss is most acute in buildings. The thermal camera will allow individual homes and community buildings to identify heat loss and act as a stimulus for more energy efficient actions and a focus for where to site insulation. Combined with advice this will enable building owners to reduce their wasted energy. Funding through the Climate Challenge Fund will allow us to offer free thermal surveys to those in fuel poverty or on limited incomes. For more details of the Thermal Project click here.

Carbon Footprinting

REAP has been involved in supporting organisations to measure, reduce and offset their carbon footprints. As part of this work REAP has made The Green Diary a carbon neutral publication by measuring, reducing and finally offsetting the carbon needed to produce it. The offsetting was accomplished by local native tree planting and bog restoration with volunteers.

REAP is delivering a year long demonstration project in the town of Keith to raise awareness of climate change and put in place practical changes. This will be done through a combination of providing the thermal camera service free to community facilities, individual homes and streets.

Cosy Keith will also put on practical training sessions on how to change lifestyles to reduce energy dependency and increase the community resilience. The outcome of this will be a greater understanding of the issues by the whole community as well as individuals who are better equipped to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Green Office Audits

As part of REAP's work promoting social accounting, we have been involved in integrating easy to use green office audits into the social auditing process. This ensures that the changes are integrated into the institution rather than imposed from outside.

REAP promotes the work of Transition Towns and is involved in supporting the work of the emerging Transition Town Keith. Transition Towns is an initiative to enable communities to find their own way through the transition process to a low carbon future which is essential due to the interrelated issues of peak oil and climate change. For more information see the Transition Towns website or the Transition Scotland website.

Some background information on peak oil and Permaculture are contained in this You Tube link. There are many other resources available on the web.

An essential element of transition towns and adapting to a low carbon future is sharing skills and learning to do more with our own resources REAP facilitates Permaculture courses and other practical training events. Visit our Forthcoming Events section to see if there are any courses planned.