The Aberdeen Eco-Challenge started off as a two-year project run by Aberdeen Forward in partnership with Aberdeen City Council. It looked to recruit 100 householders in two areas of the city (Dyce and Torry) and to help and mentor them towards a greener way of living.

Starting with waste, the EcoChallenge took the volunteer householders through a step-by-step programme aimed at reducing their individual impact on the environment. Volunteers were issued with specially designed manuals to help them make the eco transformation. A project officer was recruited to drive the initiative forward and to coordinate activities. Once comfortable with the waste element of the project, volunteers moved on to home energy reduction before embarking upon sustainable transport.

Our targets for the project are outlined below:

Waste reduction

  Reduce waste produced by the households which goes to landfill by 50%.

  On average to improve the recycling rate of the 100 households by 25%.

  Introduce home composting or kerbside collection of green waste to 75% of households.

Energy reduction

  Half the households to have one or more energy saving measures carried out on their homes during the two years

  On average the 100 households to reduce their energy consumption by 20% over a two-year period.

Travel improvements

  Each household to see a 15% reduction in total car mileage per person per week.

  All Journeys less than 400 metres (800 metres round trip) that do not involve carrying luggage or heavy shopping to be undertaken on foot or bicycle etc rather than by private car.

  In those households from which children are taken to school by car, an alternative to the car to be used at least twice a week.

  Current single-occupancy car commuters to use an alternative at least twice a week (this could include sharing with a friend, using a bus etc).

  Households to become familiar with bus routes and bus frequencies in their area.

General

  Raise general environmental awareness within the communities.

  Hold a minimum of 6 community meetings in each area.

  Provide links with the city council and other organisations to enable the communities to lobby effectively for new facilities / change.

  Produce a website / WebPages on the project for community use.

  Produce a Toolkit for use in future communities.