The state of the environment in which we live is of the highest importance – without it we cannot live, and if it is not functioning normally our lives become increasingly difficult. The number of people on the planet and the accelerating rate of individual resource consumption are having negative or disruptive effects on the environment. Global warming and climate change are now global challenges attracting much media attention. Resources such as drinkable water, food and non-polluted environments are all becoming more dependent on technology and competition is growing for these resources. Thus the decisions that we need to make on our journey to becoming 'low carbon' should always be taken with environmental impacts in mind. - Description added by: David Lockie

The internet and other modern communication networks are vital to the global economy, but they are also significant consumers of electricity and carbon producers – from the construction to the ongoing consumption (data centre construction is now limited by the lack of available power to keep them running). At the same time, they offer a route to reduce carbon production from transport and buildings as people can work from home or reduce their business travel. - Description added by: David Lockie

Communities consist of homes, businesses and sometimes industrial concerns, with infrastructure like health care, transport, communications, government and utilities. Many decisions about low carbon need to be considered at the community level in order to ensure that ‘joined-up thinking’ is applied to the process. Click the picture to the right to explore our interactive community environment. - Description added by: David Lockie