Creation Care for the Environment

Our church promotes the idea that people should be encouraged to work together to make our environment a better place by the following suggestions:

• Engaging with local environment and wildlife groups, for example:

Wild Roseland https://www.wildroseland.org/

REACT https://cornwallclimateactionnetwork.earth/members/roseland-environment-action-community-team-react/

Go to events, join in activities or volunteer to do surveys.

• Attending meetings on local issues, i.e. air pollution, water quality and plastic pollution. Local council meetings.

• Encouraging car sharing where possible or picking up items for others to save on car emissions.

• Using the local recycling boxes/bags that are left by the council. These can be used for certain plastics, metal, glass, cardboard, paper and food waste.

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling-and-waste/recycling

Plastic bags, crisp packets etc can be recycled at the supermarket (ASDA has a bin by the exit door).

• Before taking items to the dump, seeing if anyone local can reuse them. This can be advertised on the local community group. Get them repaired at the Local repair Shop in Tregony.

• Composting garden waste as much as possible and using water butts on rainwater for use in the garden. Garden waste can be collected by the council. https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling-and-waste/recycling-and-rubbish-collections/garden-waste-collections/

• Make your garden more wildlife friendly. You could install bird, bat or hedgehog boxes, or make a bug hotel. Leave an area for wildflowers or make a small pond.

• Using locally sourced food, Fair Trade goods or bulk goods whenever possible.

• To reduce your home’s carbon footprint, focus on energy efficiency (insulation, LEDs, smart thermostats, energy-star appliances), renewable energy (switching suppliers or installing solar or a heat pump), water conservation (low-flow fixtures, shorter showers, cold washes), and waste reduction (recycling, composting, buying less, avoiding single-use plastics). You could change from oil/gas to electric for your heating.

• Reducing your carbon footprint. You can check your current carbon footprint by going online and using Climate Stewards https://app.ecochurch.org/user-guide/register-and-login and then going to 360 Carbon.

• Reducing the electricity, you use. To help reduce usage you could change to a smart meter (not currently suitable for our village due to lack of mobile signal).

Here are some suggestions:

Switch Off Standby: Turn off power points for TVs, chargers, etc., rather than leaving them on standby.

Use Smart Strips: Use smart power strips to cut vampire energy drain.

Efficient Washing: Wash clothes at 30°C, run full loads, and avoid the tumble dryer. Dry clothes outside if possible.

Dishwasher & Kettle: Run full dishwashers at lower temperatures; only boil the water you need in the kettle.

Fridge/Freezer: Keep them full but not overstuffed for efficiency and adjust settings. 

Lights: Switch off lights when not needed.

• Reducing heat loss in the house. To reduce heat loss in homes, focus on insulation (walls, roof, floors), draught-proofing gaps around windows/doors, upgrading to energy-efficient windows, using thick curtains, and insulating pipes/tanks, which collectively create a thermal barrier to keep warmth in and lower energy bills. 

• Banking with banks that have a strong environmental policy and not investing in fossil fuels.

     Top UK Banks for Green Banking

Triodos Bank: Known for extreme transparency, funding only positive projects (people, planet, culture), and a lower carbon footprint as an app-based bank.

The Co-operative Bank: Features a customer-led ethical policy, is “beyond carbon neutral,” and supports renewable energy with green mortgages planned.

Ecology Building Society: Specializes in mortgages for eco-friendly properties and sustainable communities.

Nationwide & Coventry Building Society: Strong commitments to net-zero and no fossil fuel investments.