Kilcranny House
Environmental Policy Statement

Highlighted sections from Kilcranny House’s Mission Statement as provided below provide the background against which this Environmental Policy is conceived.  Through this policy we aim to consolidate the good practice that already exists at the Project and to build on this. 

Kilcranny House, Mission Statement:

Kilcranny House is a residential educational resource centre.  We are committed to healing the divisions that exist between people and exploring non-violence as a way of life and a means of working for change in our society.

We strive to live a lifestyle that cherishes and protects our environment and encourages a greater awareness of our place in the wider world.

We believe that people can grow in their relationships with each other through co-operative work, discussions and relaxation.  Kilcranny provides a safe place for groups and individuals to experiment in understanding differences and challenging boundaries.

At Kilcranny House:

We are committed to protecting our local environment and to maintaining and promoting a clean and healthy environment in the house and the grounds at Kilcranny.  We recognise a responsibility for contributing to the protection of the global environment and are committed to the promotion of environmental sustainability (i.e. development which meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.)

We believe that a sound environmental policy is of benefit to staff, user groups and funders.  Such a policy contributes to the general well being of these various individuals/organisations as well as to the economic health and well being of the communities we work with.  The policy also contributes to the enhancement of our natural surroundings. 

We will:

• Consider environmental factors in future policy decisions.  Think about acquisition, use and disposal costs in our planning, purchasing and operating.  For example, purchase goods/food stuffs that are produced locally where possible, avoid unnecessary packaging and use materials that cause minimum damage to the local environment. 
• Through our buying, aim to support third parties (suppliers/shops/etc.) that promote a similar ethos to our own.
• Protect our natural environment through the responsible use of natural resources such as water, fuel and energy.  Use the minibus as efficiently as possible.  Reuse and recycle wherever possible.  Aim to produce as little pollution as possible.  Minimise the creation of waste at Kilcranny, including energy waste.
• Work co-operatively with others to promote environmental awareness.
• Ensure that visitors to Kilcranny are made aware of Kilcranny’s environmental ethos.
• Where appropriate, include environmental awareness in the programmes Kilcranny devises and delivers.
• Ensure that individuals working at Kilcranny are adequately trained to understand the policy and have the skills to ensure that the policy is implemented.
• Develop systems to implement and review this policy on a regular basis so as to improve the environmental management of the Centre.