Our approach to environmental sustainability

This is a summary of key findings from the Environmental Sustainability Consultation, carried out in March 2022.

Executive summary

Introduction

A resident’s survey asking about sustainability was carried out during March 2022. 

Local residents were invited to take part in the following ways:

• an email was sent to a sample of My Reigate&Banstead account holders
• promotion in the spring edition of Borough News, delivered to all households in the borough
• promotion on our social media channels  

Survey response

• 1,079 responses were received, with a good spread across genders and age groups, although the youngest age group (18 to 24 years) were under-represented (13 out of a target of 90 people)
• 71% of respondents were homeowners living in detached (37%) and semi-detached (34%) houses

Headline findings on key topics

Energy

• Good uptake of energy efficiency measures (insulation), less on low-carbon energy measures (such as green tariffs, heat pumps or solar panels)
• High awareness of heat pumps and solar energy but no plans to install and a low awareness of green tariffs
• Main barrier to most home energy measures is cost, followed by perceived lack of a return on investment (ROI) and not enough knowledge about how to make the change
• Nearly half of respondents have high levels of confidence in making changes to their home to reduce energy use

Water

• Good uptake of some water measures (for example dual-flush toilets, water butts and water-efficient shower heads)
• Limited knowledge around flow restrictors (used to reduce water usage in taps and flushes)

Travel

• 38% of respondents typically use a car (such as for shops, work or school), and 80% of cars used are petrol or diesel (9% electric or hybrid-electric)
• 33% of respondents typically use active forms of transport (28% walking and 5% cycling), with 23% of respondents usually using public transport (15% train and 8% bus)
• The main barriers to purchasing electric vehicles are cost, range and availability of charge points

Waste

• 79% of respondents recycle all they can through the council's household waste collection service
• 66% of respondents use the council's food waste recycling for all food waste (18% don’t use this service at all)

Garden

• 85% of respondents have a garden or courtyard area
• More than half of respondents already do some form of ‘green gardening’; although the barriers to 'green gardening' include cost, lack of time or someone else’s responsibility

Demographics of respondents

Gender

Age

House type

Home energy

Knowledge of home energy measures:

Contact

Email: Sustainability@reigate-banstead.gov.uk