Home

• When your boiler is next serviced, check that the temperature in the radiators is set to 60 or 65degrees.  This is more efficient, saves money and energy and you will not notice being any colder.

• Fix things rather replacing them

• Switch to LED Lighting: If you still have any, replacing incandescent and halogen bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs saves up to 80% less energy. This is worthwhile even if the bulbs are still work. Philips do an Ultra Effient LED spotlight that uses 50% less energy.

• Switch off “vampire” appliances when not is use.  Those with clocks and lights use power.  In a year most  microwaves use more power in standby than in use. 

• Opt for a Renewable Energy Supplier such as Octopus or Green Energy or a green tariff

• Draft proof your windows.  Even sticking film over over drafty windows can reduce energy consumption and keep you warmer.

• If you can, insulating your roof is one of the most cost-effective ways to keep warmer in winter and cooker in summer. 

• Install low-flow showerheads and taps

• When you are running the tap or shower and waiting for your hot water to come through, collect the water to flush loos or water plants

• Set up a compost bin or use your food waste bin.  If you put this stuff in the normal bin it goes to landfill. 

• Rinse tins, bottles and pots before putting them in recycling.  Dirty ones get put in landfill.

• Buy second-hand.  Every new thing you buy sends a signal to the manufacturer that more is wanted.

• Use natural cleaning products where possible.  Chemicals in our water can’t always be removed at treatment plants and have bad effects of all kinds of life including humas. For example lemon juice is great for descaling kettles.

• Stop using liquid in your washing machine and swap to tablets or powder in a plastic container.  Or you can try soapnuts, which can be ordered online.  They seem to be working ok for me so far!

• When they can no longer be repaired, replace your devices and appliances with the most energy efficient that you. All white goods have an energy rating. 

• Try toothpaste tablets instead of tubes of toothpaste

• Try shampoo and conditioner bars instead of plastic bottles

• Use the refill shop in West Hampstead.

Food and Kitchen

• Eat unprocessed foods.  These are generally better for you and the environment

• Eat less meat.  Replace it with plants rather than meat substitutes.  There is lots of protein in beans, lentils and mushrooms.

• If you are eating meat, it is better to eat chicken than pork, better to eat port than lamb and better to eat lamb than beef.

• From an environmental point of view, it is a lot better to eat use oat milk than almond milk. Most almonds are grown in California and the method of growing causes bee hive collapse as well as using huge amounts of water.

• Goats cheese is good, with lower carbon emissions than cheese from cows.

• Eat seasonal food.  Even if you are eating out of season, try to avoid food which is flown such as berries and green beans in winter

• It is good for our wellbeing to grow things and lovely to eat things you have grown.  Herb plants from the supermarket can be a good place to start.  

• Use leftovers.  Decomposing food releases methane which is a much more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. 

• If you can afford it, buy organic produce to avoid pesticides  which harm the environment and us.  In order to avoid eating pesticides, it is particularly worthwhile to buy organic oats and oatmilk and organic berries. 

• Bring your own bags but don’t buy lots of new “bags for life” or cloth ones.   Use ones you already have if you can.

• Use cloth napkins, beeswax wraps, and glass containers instead of disposable alternatives. 

• Support Sustainable Brands: Look for products certified by Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, or Marine Stewardship Council. 

Summer 

• When you can, choose not to fly. One return flight may be more than 10% of your annual carbon emissions. When comparing include time and cost of getting to and from airports. www.seat61.com gives great information about train travel in Europe.

• Nuy second hand. There are great charity shops in Primrose Hill, such as Mary’s Living and Giving, Fara Kids and Save the Children Boutique, as well as shops nearby in Belsize Park, Camden and Finchley Road. 

• In hot weather, please check in with your neighbours.  Social isolation can be deadly.  You can col down in the supermarket.  The church will be open as a cool space when possible.

• Growing plants helps to break up heat islands and cools us, whether in gardens, allotments, balconies, roofs or window sills.

• Painting your roof white can help your home stay cool

Heatwaves

• Heat can kill. If you want to understand this better, I recommend Tthe Heat will kill you first” by Jeff Goodell which is well researched and full of stories, much more readable than it sounds! Even 30mins in a cool place can help regulate your temperature and prevent illness.   Local cool places include supermarkets and our own church. The mayor has a website of cool spaces at https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/environment-and-climate-change/climate-change/climate-adaptation/cool-spaces

• Social isolation makes illness and death from heat more likely.  To understand this better, listen to this Cautionary Tales podcast by Tim Harford (Radio 4 and Financial Times) https://timharford.com/2022/07/cautionary-tales-chicago-when-it-sizzles/. Check in with your family, friends and neighbours, especially if they are vulnerable in any way or live in flats that are likely to become particularly hot.

• London is hotter than surrounding countryside because of the urban heat effect and heat islands. This is where manmade structures in cities absorb and then radiate heat. If you want to understand more about this, read https://climate.mit.edu/explainers/urban-heat-islands You can help break up heat islands by planting, even pots or window boxes. Painting things white instead of black or dark colours helps too, as they then reflect heat instead of absorbing it.  

• Heat comes with sunshine and that gives us solar electricity which is the cheapest form of supply. It’s brilliant that the church now has solar panels supplying immediate needs and our battery for later. Get the free NESO app to keep track of where our electricity comes from.  On a sunny day, often more than 25% of UK electricity comes from solar.  We don’t benefit from true savings from this because our electricity prices are tied to gas prices (https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/apr/21/uk-electricity-prices-gas-energy-bills) and because the taxes and levies added.  You could write to your MP and ask for these to be reformed to help people with electricity bills and to see the benefits of this green transition.