UK CEED has developed a number of online toolkits which assist local authorities, businesses and individuals to make more informed decisions about sustainability.
Green Light Sustainability Appraisal Toolkit
The Toolkit is an online, open-source decision support tool in which the user is guided through various sets of questions and provided with prompts to all the relevant areas that should be taken into account. A ‘traffic light’ system provides an immediate and clear visual indication of whether sustainability targets are being met. Green Light toolkits also pull together all relevant documents and data into one place and act as a library ensuring that all information is readily available and easily accessible. They are customised to a high level and are completely bespoke to meet the specific requirements of the commissioning organisation.
Benefits
The Green Light toolkit delivers the following benefits:
- Simplification of a complicated process, resulting in increased resource efficiency and effectiveness
- A time efficient means of structuring and recording discussion
- It is an open source toolkit which aids transparency and consistency
- A high degree of customisation and flexibility
- A tried and tested tool
- A well established process to create a customised toolkit
- No third party involvement – the direct relationship allows for increased dialogue and greater understanding
- Full support and training is provided and it is regularly updated
The Development of the Green Light
In response to a request from a Regional Development Agency, UK CEED in association with Professor Peter James, University of Bradford, developed the Green Light toolkit in 2003 to aid in assessing funding applications, plans and strategies against increasingly complex background of EU, national and regional policies across the wide range of topics that comprise of sustainability.
Since then the toolkits have been developed for other Regional Development Agencies such as the Northwest Development Agency, Regional Assemblies and Local Authorities such as Perth and Kinross Council (currently in development) and been used to assess almost 3000 projects.
Significant improvements have been made to the toolkit to streamline user interface and simplify the functionality, resulting in the launch of the latest version, under the new ‘Green Light’ brand name.
Testimonials
“The Integrated Appraisal Toolkit is an invaluable resource for developing or reviewing policies and strategies. It provides a framework of issues, case studies and links which allows anyone to complete a solid sustainability appraisal without needing previous experience. The toolkit has a flexibility which enables it to be used as a quick checklist or a tool for producing detailed reports. It is a complete package which ensures all aspects of sustainability are addressed and aligned with current legislation and best practice.”
Linda Stevenson, Senior Advisor, Environment for the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
“The toolkit assisted us to identify social, economic and environmental weaknesses within the strategy. It identified areas which needed consideration on employment, access to services, housing, environmental protection and transport. We found that the toolkit particularly helpful on emerging policy directions and the PDF report useful to circulate to policy writers to foster discussion. We found Green Light’s ability to foster engagement through flexible online use one its strongest features.”
Angie Jukes, Health & Environment Advisor (Planning), Stockport Council
Download our Brochure
You can find out more about our Green Light Toolkit by downloading our brochure.
>Download Green Light Toolkit Brochure
Demonstration
>View a demo of our toolkit being utilised by Perth & Kinross Council.
Contact Us
If you would like to speak with somebody regarding the Green Light Toolkits then please call 01733 311644 and ask to speak with Sarah Weaving or Nisa Tariq.