A Sustainable Buddhist Centre

The MEBC Trustees have set their intention for MEBC to work towards joining the Triratna Sustainable Buddhist Centre Scheme, by making the following commitment:

“The Trustees of this Buddhist Centre have agreed that they wish to make a strong commitment towards becoming a low-carbon, sustainable community. As a spiritual community we take our practice of ethics seriously and it is a consideration in all the decisions we make. The time has now come when we recognise the need to explicitly extend our practice of ethics to include a global perspective: what we consume and buy has a direct effect on communities across the globe, what we do and how we live now has a direct effect on future generations. This Centre has therefore committed to work towards each of the steps of the New Triratna Sustainable Centre Scheme”

The scheme was set up in 2014 and requires Centres to fulfil 10 sets of criteria:

MEBC Progress Traffic Lights

Not yet Started on 3 Criteria

Work in Progress on 3 Criteria

Completed 4 Criteria

The Scheme's 10 Criteria are as follows:

BECOMING AWARE

1 We have measured the carbon footprint of our Centre and conducted an Energy Audit. MEBC Not Started.

2 We have a sustainability champion or kula reporting to the Centre Council. MEBC Completed.

TAKING ACTION

3 We are moving towards being a zero carbon Centre. MEBC Not Started.

4 We have taken steps to become a Fairtrade Centre. MEBC Started (work in progress)

5 We have changed the Centre’s electricity supplier to 100% Green Energy. MEBC Completed.

6 Our Centre is fully Vegan (this criteria refers to the Centre not the Sangha). MEBC Completed.

7 We are promoting public transport and car-sharing to the Centre and retreats. MEBC Completed.

8 We are moving towards a comprehensive recycling policy in the Centre.  MEBC Started (work in progress)

SPREADING AWARENESS

9 We are displaying this certificate proudly! MEBC Not Started.

10 We take part in BAM (Buddhist Action Month) and ask our Sangha members to take on personal ‘Green Precepts'. MEBC Started (work in progress)

For more detail on the scheme's criteria and how MEBC is implementing them, follow this link

If you have comment or questions please email

info@mid-essex-buddhist-centre.org.uk

with a subject line of:

“FAO Eric – Sustainable MEBC”