Liberton Kirk is registered with Eco Congregation Scotland, which means we are committed to thinking about the challenges facing this planet and about our role as a church and as part of the community in meeting these challenges.
As part of God’s church here on earth, we believe God created this planet for us to live on, and gave it to us to take care of. We believe that when he created it everything was in balance and well-ordered, and that this balance and order are being disrupted by thoughtless human activity. We must make every effort to save this beautiful planet for future generations.
Calling everyone in and around Liberton Kirk!
We encourage everyone who belongs to Liberton Kirk, together with all those who come into its premises and grounds, to think about the things they can do:
- Turn off the lights when you are last out of a hall space small
- Turn off the taps in the toilets and kitchen after use on the
- Keep doors and windows closed when the heating is on
- Turn radiators down if the room is too hot
- If you can’t adjust the heating, let our Facilities Team know so that he heating can be adjusted for your next visit
- Use the correct litter bins, and recycle everything you can
- Don’t leave litter in the halls or gardens or car park – use litter bins, or take it home
Fair Trade
Liberton Kirk is also a Fair Trade Congregation, which means that the church and its organisations (including the Kirkgate Café) use fair trade tea and coffee and other fair-trade items where possible. There are some Fair Trade goods for sale in the Café – delicious bars of chocolate and tasty crisps. We encourage everybody to think about fair trade, helping people in other countries to make a decent living and feed their own families, and to look for the fair trade logo when they are shopping.
Do you think about the planet as you go about your normal life?
Yes, being an Eco-congregation does mean thinking about our lifestyle. It means choosing to make a difference – and we can all do that by taking a few simple steps:
Water
- Take a shorter shower
- Fill your dishwasher and washing machine before using
- Put just enough in the kettle for what you need
- Don’t use garden sprinklers
- Don’t water lawns – they will recover!
- Turn taps off when not using the water
Energy
- Change light bulbs to LED
- Turn heating thermostat down one degree
- Only use the tumble dryer if absolutely essential
- Shut doors to keep the heat in
- Don’t heat all rooms to the same level
- Wear an extra layer in the house in colder weather
- Use curtains to keep the heat in (or out in hot weather)
Gardens
- Use peat-free compost – peat lands capture carbon
- Don’t use chemical weed killers and kill insects
- Encourage wildlife with a small area of longer grass/wild flowers
- Provide water for wildlife – essential for bees and other insects as well as birds
- Plant trees and flowers which attract insects
Our use of other resources
- Recycle everything possible
- Don’t scorn second-hand items
- Watch your carbon footprint for travel
- Walk, cycle, use public transport where possible
- Watch the country of origin of the food and clothes you buy
- Reduce your use of single-use plastics
Above all, set a good example to others around you. Don’t feel that one person can’t make a difference – you are part of a large body of people who all feel the same and are doing what they can.
If you notice something anywhere on our premises or grounds that you think is not in line with our aspirations as an Eco-congregation, please let us know. Any suggestions you may have will also be welcome.
Please get in touch with our Eco Team on eco@libertonkirk.net
