Every action – big or small – can make a difference in tackling the climate emergency, which is why Ealing Council is encouraging residents and businesses to join them in making the air cleaner and healthier.
The council knows that it can’t tackle this issue alone and is asking residents, businesses and community groups to play their part in helping to create a carbon neutral borough by 2030. Find out how you can get involved during London Climate Action Week 22-30 June.
Repair, reuse or borrow
Avoid buying unnecessary items and save money by learning new skills like sewing, wearing pre-loved clothing or borrowing.
Residents can now borrow household items such as carpet cleaners and drills to tents or jet washers at the new Library of Things in Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre. It works in a similar way to a normal library – you register, reserve the item online for a small fee, borrow your item and then return it.
The free school uniform store returns to Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre 3-18 August to help families cut costs and save money as children get ready to go back to school. Shoppers can have up to four items of pre-loved school uniform for free. Unwanted uniform and sports kit can be donated in a box outside the Flying Tiger Copenhagen shop in the centre. Ealing Repair Café is on a mission to get people to value their clothes and wear them for longer by teaching them how to mend them. The group holds monthly events around the borough where people can bring along their clothes and be shown how to mend them.
Ditch the plastic
Enid Barron, who is affectionately known as ‘Eco-Granny’ by other members of Act for Ealing, is so passionate about reducing waste that she has created the ‘Cut the Crap’ exhibition coming to a venue near you. It offers tips such as buying fruit and veg not wrapped in plastic and recycling carrier bags at your supermarket.
Save energy
Improving the energy efficiency in our homes is crucial to cutting the level of harmful emissions we produce from fossil fuels like gas. It also helps to alleviate poverty by making it cheaper for everyone to keep themselves warm, reducing the risk of illnesses like asthma and pneumonia.
Suggestions to save energy:
• switch off lights and electric appliances when you are not using them – leaving them on standby still uses electricity
• change to LED light bulbs
• boil only the water that you need in a kettle
• cover the pot while cooking to cook food more quickly
• washing machine/dishwasher – start only when fully loaded
• install solar panels
• draught-proof your home (saves money and energy)
Healthy Homes Ealing Helpline
The Healthy Homes Ealing Helpline, run by the council, offers free advice on keeping your home warm, saving energy and switching energy tariffs. Call the free Healthy Homes Ealing advice line on 0800 083 2265 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm)
Food Partnership
If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about growing your own food, how to reduce food waste or how you can help people facing food poverty, Ealing Food Partnership’s Nourish Ealing event is for you.
Ealing Food Partnership, which is run by the council with individuals, businesses and community groups such as allotments and community gardens, is hosting a special event as part of Climate Action Week. SUSTAIN: The alliance for better food and farming, and the council’s waste and recycling team will be among those sharing their ideas and best practice.
A delicious vegan meal by a local eco-friendly business, The Humble Veg takeaway, will be provided.
The event is open to everyone and takes place on Tuesday 25 June, 10am-3pm at Parkside Yards, 1 Seva Drive, Southall, UB1 1GH. Sign up to the event via Eventbrite
Walk to school or work
Walking, cycling or scooting to school rather than taking the car, would cut air pollution and reduce traffic. But if you must drive to school, think about parking the car further away and walking the rest of the way.
Planting
Trees are vital in tackling the climate crisis. They help to remove pollutants from the air, cool urban temperatures and reduce the risk of flooding. In the past year, Ealing Council planted 20,500 trees.
More information
• Ealing Food Partnership has created a food map of where to find nutritious, free or inexpensive food across the borough.
• Find out if you qualify for an Energy Efficiency Grant – applications must be submitted by the end of June.
• Act for Ealing Climate Action Hub
