Climate action for communities

1. Green your Festival Laois 
2. Energy efficiency
3. Waste reduction
4. Water conservation
5. Sustainable transportation
6. Community engagement
7. Local food production
8. Biodiversity and green spaces
9. Collaboration and partnerships

Green your Festival Laois 

1. Green Your Festival Kit is available for local festivals and events.
2. Training and support are available.

Energy efficiency

1. Sustainable Energy Community: Register your group as Sustainable Energy Community. A County Mentor from SEAI will support your groups through this process. 

2. If your group uses a building to meet:

• Put up posters to encourage switch off of items
• Organise an Energy Audit
• Conduct out of Hours Energy Audits of main public buildings & left switched on 

3. Organise Energy Audit. Prior to retrofit works get an independent energy audit.

Waste reduction

1. Promote Recycling: Set up clearly labelled recycling bins in public areas and educate the community on proper recycling practices. See My Waste for information on sustainability.
2. Composting: Establish community composting facilities for garden waste from public spaces and provide education on composting techniques.
3. Reduce Food Waste: Check out online self directed learning and resources on Food Cloud Academy.
4. Reduce Plastic Use: Promote the use of reusable items like coffee cups and water bottles. Run campaigns to raise awareness about plastic waste reduction.

Water conservation

1. Rainwater Harvesting: Install rainwater collection systems for gardening and other non-potable uses.
2. Efficient Water Fixtures: Encourage the installation of low-flow toilets, taps, and shower heads to conserve water.
3. Switch cleaning chemicals to eco-friendly products your group can make themselves. For simple recipes and labels:

Sustainable transportation

1. Carpooling and Public Transport: Encourage carpooling and the use of public transport to minimise car use to meetings or local events. 
2. Cycling Promotional events like Bike Week to encourage cycling or set up Bike Libraries. 

Community engagement

1. Workshops and Training: Organise workshops on topics such as energy conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable gardening. Contact climateaction@laoiscoco.ie for more information.
2. Awareness Campaigns: Use social media, newsletters, and community events to spread awareness about sustainability practices.

Local food production

1. Community Gardens: Create community gardens to grow local produce, reduce food miles, and promote healthy eating. For information and to link up with existing community gardens or allotments in Laois visit Community Gardens Ireland and Grow It Yourself website.
2. Support Local Farmers: Encourage purchasing from local producers such as farmers' markets, Laois Taste producers  and seasonal food or partner with Food Cloud.

Biodiversity and green spaces

1. Plant Native Species: Use native plants in landscaping projects to support local wildlife and reduce maintenance needs. For further information see Pollinator Plan.
2. Create Green Spaces: Develop parks and green areas to improve biodiversity and provide recreational spaces.

Collaboration and partnerships

1. Work with Local Authorities: Partner with local councils and environmental organisations for resources and support.
2. Volunteer Engagement: Motivate community members to volunteer for sustainability projects to build a sense of community and shared responsibility. For further information Laois Volunteer Centre.

By implementing these strategies, community groups can significantly contribute to local sustainability efforts, creating a healthier and more resilient environment.