Great Big Green Week

In support of Car Free Day 2021, we’re hosting a number of events to help inspire people to leave the car at home and explore the borough. There will be nature walks in Fishponds Park and Elmbridge Meadow, a guided walk around Kingston’s Sculpture Trail, bike trials at Guildhall and the naming ceremony of the Beeline Way walking and cycling route, followed by a litter-pick. Find full details of what else is happening, on our website.

As part of Recycle Week, why not try the Veolia seven day challenge and use their tips to make small changes at home which have a big impact on the environment - look out for their team in the Ancient Market on Thursday 23 September where they’ll have a Recycle Week stall. If you’re passionate about sustainability, take a look at their sustainability fund which could help make your project idea a reality.

There are lots of things we can do at home to minimise our impact on the environment - we’ve collected some sources of information to help and make it as easy as possible.

• Consider switching to an energy supplier which offers a green tariff so some, or all of your electricity comes from renewable energy sources. Find out more about green tariffs on the Energy Saving Trust’s website. If you’re looking to switch to a green tariff, and potentially save some money at the same time, take a look at the Big London Energy Switch website.
• The Energy Saving Trust also has lots of information about how to heat your home efficiently and reduce your carbon emissions, check the energy ratings of appliances and a range of other really helpful tips to help cut your energy bills and carbon footprint.
• Making clever purchases and being mindful of what we buy is another way of reducing our environmental impact. Try to avoid products with lots of packaging and if you can, buy things which are locally sourced. Not only is it better for the environment, it also helps out our wonderful local businesses. 
• When getting rid of packaging, please recycle as much as you possibly can. If you struggle with food leftovers, take a look at the Love Food Hate Waste website for tips on how to make the most of your food, minimise food waste and learn some new recipes in the process!
• Try to take fewer journeys by car if you can. Much of the borough can be reached by bike or by walking. Not only will you be reducing your carbon emissions, you’ll be saving money and getting fitter in the process. If you don’t have a bike, take a look at the Try Before You Bike scheme where you can trial a bike for a small monthly fee.
• If you do have to drive, please don’t idle your engine unnecessarily. Not only does this waste fuel, it pollutes the air we all breathe and contributes to climate change.
• If you are considering buying an electric car, you could get a 75% contribution toward the cost of a chargepoint and installation at home
• You can also let us know where you think electric vehicle chargers should be installed in the borough, simply take our survey.

You can also pledge to make a simple change which will help the planet - simply visit the Great Big Green Week website and tag us on Twitter (@RBKingston).

Thank you for taking time to help make Kingston a Cleaner, Greener borough and protect the planet for us and future generations.