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Consumer behaviour innovation fund

Zero Waste Scotland currently has a fund open that churches registered as an Eco-Congregation may be interested in. The essence of this fund is to look to change householders behaviours to increase recycling or reduce food waste from the home through delivering innovative communication engagements.

The following website has some information on this fund:
http://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/content/consumer-behaviour-innovation-fund

The fund is open until Friday 13 September 2013 and offers grants for up to £30K. This is likely to be too tight a deadline, but its possible that other funding for similar projects may be available in the future.

Edinburgh Eco-Congregation, Saughtonhall United Reformed Church, to take part in Doors Open Weekend

Eco-Congregation award winning church, Saughtonhall United Reformed Church, is open for visitors as part of the annual Doors Open weekend in Edinburgh this year. Solar PV panels were installed on the south-facing roof in October 2011 and raise income through the Feed-in-Tariff. They saved over 6.0 tons of CO2 in the first year and have exceeded the target of a 30% carbon reduction. Energy efficient lighting and video projection of service sheets reduce the energy consumption.

 

Panels

 

As well as an opportunity to view the panels ‘in action’ there will be video presentations on church involvement in environmental issues, children’s activities and a café running.

Eco-Congregation Scotland Environmental Chaplain, Trevor Jamison, will also be present on both days.

 

Saughtonhall URC

 

The church will be open for visitors, 2.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m., Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September 2013.

Saughtonhall United Reformed Church, 85/87 Saughtonhall Drive, EH12 5TR.

www.saughtonhall.com/

Pictures borrowed from Sue Kirkbride

Make 2013 the year of renewables – visit a green home or business in September

Energy Saving Trust

 

Homes and businesses across Scotland are opening their doors throughout September to showcase the renewables systems and energy efficiency measures that are saving them money every day.

Forty six buildings, from family homes with a difference to sustainable businesses, will showcase their wind turbines, solar PV systems, energy efficiency measures and wood fuelled boilers to anyone who wants to see how renewables systems and energy efficiency measures can help them.

The Green Homes Network and The Green Network for Businesses Open Days, funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by the Energy Saving Trust, will give you a unique opportunity to hear about actual costs and savings, and get free tips and advice that could help you on your way.  Some of the buildings taking part in the open days are also featuring in the Scottish Civic Trust’s Doors Open Days, a month long festival where buildings are opened up across the country and the public are welcomed in free of charge.

You don’t have to be knowledgeable about renewables systems and energy efficiency measures, just interested to find out more. Real householders and business owners will tell you about their experience of the installation, cost savings and saving energy – all for free!

For more information please visit www.greenhomesopenday.org.uk, email greenhomes@est.org.uk, or call Home Energy Scotland free on 0808 808 2282.

Edinburgh Inter Faith Association Civic Cafe on Sustainability, Mon 2nd Sept.

eifa

Civic Café 2nd of September 4.30pm- 5.30pm followed by Community Meal 6pm until 7pm at St John’s Church, Princes Street, Edinburgh.

Living Differently to Make a Sustainable Scotland

Barbara Stütz, the Policy Officer for Nourish Scotland, will join us to explain how we can create a Scotland with a healthier, wealthier, greener, smarter and fairer food system;

Our globalised food system has many adverse effects on everything from the environment, people’s health to local economies and even culture. Shortening supply chains by producing food more locally and organically is important if we are to address our societal and environmental crises. Each time we shop we decide what sort of economy we support. Admittedly it is not simply a question of choosing different products, but a question of food culture. Where initiatives for local and sustainable food have emerged, and there are many, they have largely been driven by citizens through grassroots initiatives. Join us for an evening discussion on the problems of the global food system and find out in what ways you individually, or your community or faith congregation as a whole, can be part of a positive change.

How can we make a more sustainable food system in Scotland? To find the answer to this question come along to our next civic café which will be followed by our monthly community meal.

4.30pm-5.30pm Living Differently Civic Café

6.00pm-7.30pm Community Meal

South Lanarkshire Eco-Congregation Network Meeting – 18th September 2013

The South Lanarkshire Network of Eco-Congregation Scotland invites you and members of your congregation to their next meeting on Wednesday 18th September, 7.30pm at Burnside Building of Burnside Blairbeth Church, Church Avenue, Rutherglen, Burnside G73 5BX, when the Reverend Trevor Jamison, Environmental Chaplain, Eco-Congregation Scotland will be giving a talk about “Looking at the Bible through Green-Tinted Lenses”:   reading the Bible as an inspiration for environmental action.

We would be grateful if you were able to have this meeting included in the intimations or notices which go out at your services and a poster for this event is available to download (below) for printing out and display in your church buildings/halls.

We look forward to seeing you there!

130918 South Lanarkshire Poster

 

East Lothian Eco-Congregation Network Meeting – 11th September 2013

The East Lothian Network of Eco-Congregation Scotland invites you and members of your congregation to their next meeting on Wednesday 11th September, 7.30pm at Yester Parish Church, Main Street, Gifford EH41 4QH, when the Reverend Trevor Jamison, Environmental Chaplain, Eco-Congregation Scotland will be giving a talk about “Looking at the Bible through Green-Tinted Lenses”:   reading the Bible as an inspiration for environmental action.  There will also be an opportunity to see and hear about Yester’s biomass boiler and there will be a short time in the meeting for “network business”: planning a programme for 2013-14 and looking at ways of encouraging new congregations – and each other.

We would be grateful if you were able to have this meeting included in the intimations or notices which go out at your services and a poster for this event is available to download (below) for printing out and display in your church buildings/halls.

We look forward to seeing you there!

130911 East Lothian network poster