Working Towards a Greener Future

After commissioning a carbon footprint report in February 2022, and through our extensive woodland across the estate of 7 sites, we’re able to capture and offset 982.7 tCO2e/annum. This leaves us with a carbon deficit of 45 tCO2e/annum.

We’ve taken steps to address this carbon deficit, and work towards a net zero position. Our key actions have been:

• Installing replacement solar panels at the Gilwell Park offices. These’ll be ready by mid-June 2023 and will generate 38,280kWh a year. This is the equivalent to driving an electric car 5.5 times around the circumference of the earth, or making 170,000 cups of tea.
• We’re seeking planning permission for a new 1,550 panel solar array at Gilwell Park on an unused field. This’ll allow us to use self-generated energy and lower our electricity bills by around £160,000 per year. It’ll remove our current remaining carbon deficit, but as part of the next audit, we’ll look to identify all carbon emissions (not just energy).
• Switching all cooking at Gilwell Park to electric appliance only. We’ll look to expand this across the whole HQ estate during 2023.
• Upgrading lights to LED across our sites.
• All new fleet vehicle orders from April 2023 will be hybrid or electric.
• Ending gas connections for all new build projects and using green technology to make the building as self-sufficient as possible.
• Demolishing end of life redundant buildings to lower carbon footprint, making sure the five Scout Adventure sites operated by UK Scouts are as efficient and sustainable as possible.
• Appointing a group sustainability manager to oversee the UK Scouts’ estate and our route to carbon reduction. A key priority over the coming year will be to develop a sustainability strategy, audit the HQ estate, and create a plan to map our progress to Carbon Net zero.
• The Programme Team working with ARUP (sustainability consultants) to develop and share useful guidance and best practice to the movement on how they can lower the carbon footprint of their local premises and make them more sustainable. This’ll also cover sustainability guidance for when a local group wants to refurbish or replace their premises.