Eco Church

Environmental Policy of the Methodist Church

This policy seeks to identify principles to assist the Methodist Church in translating into action its affirmation that mission includes 'caring for the earth' in the life of the Church at national and local level.

 

Caring for the Earth.

1. The Methodist Church affirms that Christian mission includes caring for God's earth and will endeavour to develop both the theology and practical implications of this on a continuing basis

2. The Biblical creation stories give human beings privilege and responsibility in relation to the earth and every living creature. We are called to be partners with the rest of creation and co-partners in the ongoing creative and renewing activity of God. Such partnership goes wrong when human beings act as if the whole earth were simply for their present benefit. God's way, revealed in the Bible and particularly in the life, death and resurrection of Christ, is a generous sharing of the divine love to serve the needs of God's creation until it reaches its fulfilment.

3. Christian mission includes sharing in putting right the relationships within God's creation that have gone wrong, and growing towards the balance and good stewardship envisaged in the Biblical vision of the world as it is meant to be.

4. The Methodist people are challenged and encouraged to care for the earth by following sustainable practice and taking into account global and local environmental considerations for present and future generations

 

Awareness and Commitment

To help us achieve these objectives the areas we have been looking at or will be looking at are.

Energy and Water

Waste

Materials and Resources

Natural and Built Environment

Travel

 

Things we have done.

Changed our ordinary electric light bulbs for low energy bulbs. This resulted in a reduction in electricity use of 2190 units (26.52%) over the previous year.  Because we are now using less on average than 33 units a day we pay VAT at the domestic rate of 5% not the 17.5% business rate as before so keep up the good work. (Low energy light bulbs can be bought locally for less than £1 each)

Changed our electricity to a green tariff. This will cost approximately £5 more per year than using ordinary electricity. But the good thing is we will produce 2730kg less greenhouse gases and be exempt from the climate change levy.

Fitted thermostats and timers in every room at the church.

Offered energy saving tips.

Tried to make people aware of using light and heat only if necessary.

Made people aware of the need to conserve water, offered water saving devises that goes in the toilet cistern.

Fitted hippos and hogs in the church toilets.

Fitted a water butt to be used for watering the garden.

Started a plastics recycling site for use of the church and wider community.

Weekly notices now printed on recycled paper.

Hand towels we use are made from recycled paper, which then goes to be recycled again.

 

Thing to do.

Consider the installation of a suitable form of renewable energy (wind turbine/Solar panels)

Put reflective foil behind radiators.

Travel plan.

Monthly newsletter to be printed on recycled paper.

Use room, which are of a suitable size for the meeting.

Use rooms, which have been heated for a previous meeting wherever possible.

Draught proof the doors and windows where possible.

Insulate the roof space above the Wesley Room.

Use environmentally friendly cleaning materials.

 

Visit our environmental display at the flower festival where we will have 100 low energy light bulbs to give away (by courtesy of the energy saving trust)

 

Household Energy Consumptions
The table below gives you an idea of which appliances in your household are contributing the most to your carbon footprint. We have highlighted the low energy light bulb in yellow to show you that it could save you £12 per year in electricity costs if used instead of a standard 100W bulb.

The energy saving could therefore pay for the initial cost of replacing the bulb within the first year, as well as reducing your carbon footprint.

Appliance	Power (W)	Usage/day (hours)	Cost/day (pence)	Cost/year (GBP)	Notes
1x 100W Standard Light Bulb	100	4	4	14.60	.
1x 18W Low Energy Light Bulb	18	4	0.7	2.68	.
Washing Machine	930	1.5	14	7.25	1 wash per week
Tumble Drier	2667	0.8	20	10.40	1 wash per week
Standard Size Fridge Freezer	35	24	8.4	30.66	.
Kettle	2200	0.2	3.7	13.40	5 boils per day
Electric Oven	1800	1	18	65.70	.
Microwave Oven	1700	0.2	2.8	10.34	.
Television	290	4	11.6	42.34	.
Digital TV box	23	24	5.5	20.15	If continuously on
Video Games Console	45	1	0.5	1.64	Not including the TV
Computer	250	2	5	18.25	.
Vacuum Cleaner	630	0.5	3.2	3.28	Twice a week
CD Player	85	1	0.9	3.10	.
Clock Radio	15	24	3.6	13.14	If continuously on
Hair dryer	2000	0.1	1.3	4.87	.
.	.	.	TOTAL	261.7	.