Having achieved the Green Dragon Environmental Standard Level 2 in August 2011, Pembroke 21C at Foundry House Community Centre in Pembroke, have now been able to monitor a full year of their management improvement plan.

The results show that they are certainly getting to grips with the Green Dragon Standard.

Two of the targets they set themselves were to reduce waste and increase recycling, and to reduce energy use.

At the beginning of 2012, the amount of general waste and recycling were both around 50 per cent of the total waste put out for collection. At the end of the year they had reduced the general waste to 26 per cent of the total, with recycling and food waste increased to 74 per cent of total waste.

Ken Jones, vice-chair of trustees of Pembroke 21C and a member of the Environmental Working Group, said: "This is an excellent result for the first year and demonstrates how well we have worked with staff and building users to achieve it. All our recycling and waste bins are clearly labelled and managed and the introduction of food waste bins has made a huge difference."

Since the installation of solar pv panels on the roof of Foundry House last spring, average monthly electricity usage has decreased by 25 per cent. In January 2013, usage was a huge 50.5 per cent less than that recorded in January 2012.

Other targets still being monitored are to reduce water usage and use of paper.

"The amount of water usage needs to be recorded alongside the number of people in the building and this is ongoing," said Ken Jones.

"Members of staff are now recording all paper usage, are urged to think before they print and to print documents double sided. Trustee papers are all sent out electronically and used as such in meetings."

John Hogg, a director of Pembroke 21C CIC and also a member of the Environmental Working Group, said: "We are delighted with these successes, but not complacent, and are keeping our focus on reducing our environmental impacts wherever possible."