Do they have a written sustainability plan/policy: Yes, an enormous 27-page document that covers everything from staff transport to monitoring carbon emissions.

Has it won any other awards/has it been certified? The land is certified by Soil Association. It has been given an overall environmental impact assessment. Green Dragon Level 2 environmental management. (Welsh Assembly scheme similar to the ISO 14001 certification). All wood is FSC.

Siting and design

Tthe new residential centre is being made out of clay and brick (rather than cement). Eco/organic (non-VOC) paints, reclaimed/recycled materials, natural fibre insulation, natural renders or plaster.

Energy conservation

CAT has particularly good insulation, low energy lighting systems, intelligent lighting systems, solar photovoltaic panels, a solar hot-water (thermal) system, on-site wind turbine (x3), a biomass boiler, ground-source heat pump, mains-supplied energy from a renewable energy supplier (in fact CAT sells energy to the grid!). CAT monitors its carbon dioxide emissions and has a policy of reducing them annually.

Reducing waste

Everything: glass, plastic, paper, organic waste. All waste is sorted on site and sent to the local recycling yard. The ecocabins have a reed bed sewage system (fish are indicator of health of final stage: the pond). Ecocabins have compost toilet.

Conserving water

CAT has its own reservoir, a rainwater harvesting system and grey water recycling system for taps, showers and gardens.

Carbon offsetting

Is CAT trying to be carbon neutral? No. “absolutely not”. They don't believe in it. Alex Randall (CAT's 'head of media' who showed me round) is also the guy behind 'cheat neutral' - a swipe at the offsetting industry, which allows you to cheat on your partner and pay someone to offset the guilt! see: http://www.cheatneutral.com. I mention this because it illustrates how committed they are are at changing consumer behaviour.

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