Using the Assessment
Learn how to get the most from the Power to Change assessment toolkit.
The Power to Change Assessment helps you evaluate your community space across 8 key areas and generates a personalised action plan. Here's how to make the most of it.
What is the Assessment?
The assessment is an interactive checklist covering 8 areas of sustainability: your community space and group, energy efficiency, energy supply, insulation, water, waste, and funding readiness. It takes about 15-20 minutes to complete.
- 70+ questions across 8 sustainability areas
- Answer Yes, No, or Not Sure for each question
- Your progress is saved automatically to your device
- Complete sections in any order – come back anytime
- Get a personalised action plan based on your answers
What You'll Need
You don't need to gather everything before starting – you can mark questions as "Not Sure" and return later. However, having some information to hand will help you complete the assessment more accurately.
- Recent energy bills (electricity, gas, oil)
- Water bills or meter readings
- Your lease or rental agreement (if applicable)
- Knowledge of your heating and hot water systems
- Your group's legal documents (constitution, registration)
- Information about any previous sustainability improvements
How Recommendations Work
Based on your answers, the toolkit generates prioritised recommendations organised into three categories: Quick Wins (low-cost, high-impact actions), Medium-Term improvements (require some investment), and Major Projects (significant investment for long-term benefit).
- Quick Wins: No-cost or low-cost actions you can start immediately
- Medium-Term: Improvements requiring moderate investment or planning
- Major Projects: Significant investments for long-term sustainability
- Each recommendation links to relevant guidance in the Sustainability Guide
- Export your action plan as a PDF to share with your committee
Additional Resources
External resources to help you on your journey.