Welcome to
Common Green
Formerly known as Sustainable Danbury - we’re a CIC
that does sustainable stuff.
From solar panel installation to school biodiversity projects we are at the forefront of community-led environmental awareness
Join us on our journey to improve our community
What we stand for
We work in the mid-Essex region to bring a wide range of sustainability focused projects..
Aims of Common Green
To provide a local source of information and inspiration to live more sustainably covering:
Improving the energy efficiency our homes through improved insulation and low carbon heating.
Promote re-use and recycling including improved repair.
Encourage sustainable lifestyle choices such as food and travel.
Promote wildlife conservation and enhancement across the village and also in our own gardens.
Promote local food production
We aim to run educational events and provide consolidated information via a website and regular news updates via social media.
We are looking at potential local renewable energy projects such as solar panels on local schools and other buildings as well as other energy storage options. These would be funded via a Community Share offer as we are now registered as a Community Benefit Society (a type of Co-op) funded and controlled by local people with profits invested back into the community.
The Challenge
In May 2020 the UK parliament declared a climate emergency, the UK government has signed up to the Paris agreement and has set a legally binding target for the UK to be carbon neutral by 2050 and then further committed in April this year to be three-quarters of the way there by 2035. Both Essex County Council and Chelmsford City Council have also declared a climate emergency.
What can we do in Danbury to play our part in achieving these objectives?
The Carbon footprint of Danbury is nearly twice the national average when measured on a per household basis so we have a longer journey than most to make. To help the village and its residents make the transition to a sustainable future a group of local residents have formed a new organisation called ‘Sustainable Danbury’. The group is made up of volunteers who have skills and know-how to help us all make this transition.
Meet the Team
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Stuart Goode : Director
As an engineer, Stuart has always been interested in understanding how complex systems work and for the last 30 years he has been concerned about climate change. Involved in energy efficiency for most of his career, he believes that the climate emergency can be solved in large part by technical solutions that both reduce energy consumption and decarbonise energy production. Community Energy offers a way for local people to be involved in practical activities that help to tackle the climate crisis and move towards sustainability for both current and future generations.
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Mary Huntington : Director
Mary is passionate about the need to take action on what is a climate emergency, reduce our carbon footprint and live in a simpler, more sustainable way both for the benefit of those near and far – and for future generations. With a background in journalism, she writes and edits the local community magazine, Contact, and has organised local recycling initiatives in recent years as well as promoting campaigns such as No to Hammonds Farm.
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Wendy Hubbard : Director
Wendy has a scientific background, studying biology when she was younger and working in a technical role in the field of space imaging by the end of her working career. She is fascinated by the complexity and interrelations of life on our beautiful planet and is very interested in possible solutions to the challenges of the climate crisis, including community energy schemes. She believes that how we live and work together in communities can have a huge impact on tackling climate change.
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Peter Scanes : Non-Executive Director
Peter lives in West Hanningfield and has spent most of his life in / around the Chelmsford area. Having spent most of his career in the development of electric vehicles, he is passionate about decarbonisation and sustainability and improving the environment we live in through people and technology working together.
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Bob Watling
Bob has 40+ years of experience in the management of the design and development of environmental projects, from conception to project management to final hand over. His roles for large scale energy and construction companies have also involved business and people management, focusing on delivering outstanding service to meet client needs.
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Joanne Dolman
Joanne brings a wealth of experience from her corporate background to her project management role at Common Green. She believes strong communities are central to our wellbeing and values the role of nature in supporting mental and physical health. Joanne thrives on collaboration and enjoys driving meaningful projects forward.
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Laura Monaghan
Laura lives locally with her family and is committed to ensuring the area is thriving for future generations to enjoy. She brings operations and project management experience to her role as well as marketing. Laura is excited to be part of bringing community-led energy projects to the attention of the local community while protecting the integrity of the beautiful villages that surround us.
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Matilda Otiede
Matilda is a digital, data, energy and sustainability leader who has delivered transformative programmes for organisations including The Crown Estate, Arup, DEFRA and BP, focusing on digital innovation, evidence-driven decision making, and sustainable energy transition. She has played a central role in initiatives that support the UK’s Net Zero ambitions, particularly in offshore wind, heat networks, and environmental data services. Matilda brings strategic insight and technical expertise to help build a more resilient, sustainable community for the future.
Journal
