Our commitment to sustainability
A recent Island Global Research report on sustainability suggested that 60% of Islanders are 'strongly' or 'very strongly' concerned about the environment. The report noted widespread agreement that if each person makes a small change to their behaviour, as a community we can have a big impact on Guernsey's carbon footprint.
We understand that the Library has a responsibility to be part of positive change. Here's what we're doing to support the community's efforts to cut carbon and plan for a more sustainable future.
"Libraries are the original recycling centres."
By their very nature, libraries encourage us to reduce, reuse and recycle. Instead of buying a new book, borrow one that's been read before, then bring it back for the next person to enjoy. In this way, the community shares resources.
What are we doing right now?
- Recycling stations in all public and staff areas
- Litter pickers available to borrow
- A Seed Library to share opened seed packets and collect seeds for community use
- Water refill station in the Entrance Hall, reducing reliance on single use plastics
- Public toilets fitted with passive lighting, which have motion detectors and turn off when not in use
- Partnerships with like-minded organisations doing good work around sustainability (such as the Pollinator Project and La Société Guernesiaise)
What are we working towards?
- Reducing energy consumption by implementing energy-efficient technologies, such as LED lighting and programmable thermostats
- Exploring opportunities to use renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to meet our energy needs
- Incorporating sustainable design principles in any future construction or renovation projects
What are our challenges?
Our building dates to the 1780s and is Grade II listed, which does present some sustainability challenges. The single biggest obstacle relates to the windows, which are single-glazed and cannot be replaced with double or triple glazing. Constraints around the location of our building, the size of the plot, and building regulations all present challenges to future works.
On the plus side, the building has a high thermal mass due to its thick granite walls. This means that heat is retained in the winter, while in the summer it stays relatively cool.
