“We are very committed to reducing our environmental footprint,” says Anne Bennett, Manager of the YWCA in Hamilton. Some of the initiatives include:

• replacing an old boiler and installing interior thermostats, time switches and exterior temperature compensators that reduced gas heating consumption by 25%
• installing movement sensors for lighting in public areas which reduced the power bill by 10%
• worm farms that have resulted in close to zero waste with scraps from preparing 21,000 Mobile Meals , and 7000 desserts
• a yearly recycling programme has halved the amount of rubbish bound for the landfill
• a recently installed solar hot water system is having a huge impact on water heating bills
• installed insulation, energy efficient light bulbs and efficiency awareness programs with residents also hep with climate change activities

To add to their already impressive projects, their next goal is a water tank to capture rainwater that often floods the carpark, which will then be piped into their toilet systems.

“There's always more to do, and it's not easy to retrofit old buildings, but we've been part of this change since we installed our first eco bulb in 1999, “ says Bennett.

YWCA of Hamilton is proud of what their commitment to sustainability is achieving now many of the changes such as worm farming and energy efficiency are evident. “It’s just an everyday part of our life and work, says Bennett. ‘We've started this sustainability/climate change journey, but there's always more we can learn too.”