"Live more simply so that others may simply live"
We thank God for the good things in our world, but we should also consider the impact mankind has on the environment and what we are going to do about it. With this in mind, an Eco Group was set up in 2007 to encourage and co-ordinate environmental awareness in our parish life, both as a congregation and as individuals in our homes.

Ways St. James's already reduced its footprint by 2010:
• Changing the majority light bulbs to low energy in the church and the church hall - The twenty four lamps in the nave ceiling were replaced by fluorescent lamps using less than 20% of the power of the incandescent ones in 2009. Getting rid of the shades makes the ceiling lighter and brighter. Besides saving power, the cooler-running new lamps should prevent further blackening of the ceiling.
• Monitoring the use of gas and electricity - a monthly table was produced
• Monitoring the church hall heating during the Christmas and Easter holidays
• Improving the signage on the light switches in the church hall
• Putting up notices encouraging people to turn off lights
• Putting 'Green Tips' in Spire Magazine to encourage people to reduce their energy use
• Recycling paper and cardboard - new bins were put in the church car-park, provided by the council for recycling paper, cardboard and plastic bottles. These could be used by the Parish office and Nursery school and also by anyone booking the hall for an event.
• Putting a water-saving device in the toilet cistern
• Introducing car-free Sundays in the hope to cut our carbon footprint by encouraging people to walk, cycle or car share when coming to church
• Continuing the monthly Traidcraft stall proved a great success - it stocks mainly foodstuffs, but there are many more items available from Traidcraft (eg clothing and crafts). Have a look at the catalogues at the back of the church and if you would like to order anything from it, please tell Catherine or Ann. We put in regular orders and can obtain goods quite quickly.

Renewable Energy Supply
The Parochial Church Council honoured its commitment to switch to a renewable energy supply. As reported in The Spire in February, one of the themes in the Mission Action Plan for 2010-13 is Growing towards the world.

"Growing towards the world
Part of this church's approach from its very foundation has been to look outwards. Why? God sent his Son because he so loved the world.' This is in the spirit of our first vicar who expressed love for the world in his social action as well as his preaching. One example of growing towards the world is considering our responsibility for the environment in seeking a 'Green supplier' of electricity this spring. The Spire Magazine - 2011 July."

A specific commitment that the P.C.C. made was to express this through practical acts of care for creation. One such action was to switch to a green electricity supplier in Spring 2011. With advice from the Eco Group, and in particular from a paper prepared by David Taylor, the P.C.C. considered this matter with great care. As a result, St. James's electricity is now provided by LoCo2, a family-run British renewable energy and low-carbon electricity supplier, who produce electricity through a number of renewable technologies including wind, hydro and solar. "LoCO2 Energy is an independent, family-run British renewable energy and low-carbon electricity supplier. They are a young company with a fresh approach to providing electricity who believe energy should be green, cheap and delivered with prompt and cheerful customer service. Not only this but, through their sister business TLS Hydro, they own and operate their own hydropower stations throughout the UK."