Quakers and sustainability: a snapshot of Friends’ activities

Between April and June 2009, almost 200 Quaker Meetings wrote minutes supporting a corporate statement on climate change and describing the actions they are taking to live more sustainably. This report summarises those actions and the challenges Quakers still face.

Activities undertaken by Friends

1. Making sustainability a central part of activities.

This includes:
Setting up groups in Meetings working on sustainability; regularly considering sustainability in Business Meeting and annual reviews; maintaining and developing properties along principles of sustainability.

2. Changing habits of Friends or Meetings.

This includes:

2a. Encouraging different behaviour.

Conducting carbon audits for individuals and Meetings; monitoring personal sustainability in small groups and encouraging improvements; making personal ‘eco-pledges’; sharing ideas through discussion groups, events, displays and Meeting newsletters; meeting with expert and inspiring individuals and movements.

2b. Heating.

Heating houses/Meeting Houses only when in use; wearing warm clothes indoors; holding committee meetings at Friends’ houses to avoid heating Meeting House.

2c. Energy.

Buying energy from renewable sources; turning off devices on standby; using email to circulate minutes and notices.

2d. Water.

Taking showers instead of baths; reusing ‘grey’ water; not flushing toilet after urination.

2e. Food.

Using less animal produce; becoming vegetarian or having a weekly vegetarian day; serving only vegetarian food at Meeting House shared meals; composting; growing food on allotments.

2f. Consumer goods.

Buying locally or organically produced products; reducing use of air-freighted goods; reducing use of packaging and carrier bags; freecycling (free donation of unwanted goods to others); recycling.

2g. Transport.

Using public transport or bicycles; giving up cars or reducing car use; providing lifts/car pooling; altering time of Meeting for Worship to match with local bus timetable; holding Area Business Meetings in a central location easily accessible by public transport; not having car parking on site to reduce car use; supporting introduction of congestion charges; reducing or giving up flying; campaigning on aviation issues.

2h. Other.

Planting trees; knitting and weaving; becoming an eco-congregation; engaging with political representatives on sustainability; holidaying closer to home; having sheep graze Meeting House burial ground instead of hiring a gardener to mow and strim grass.

3. Using alternative and appropriate technologies.

This includes:

3a. Heating.

Improving insulation; installing thick-lined curtains; double or triple glazing; using economy boilers; using fuel-efficient heating systems; installing an air-to-heat exchange system; using wood-burning stoves; fuelling buildings with locally grown wood; zoning central heating.

3b. Energy.

Monitoring energy use with energy monitors and controlling energy use with time clocks; installing solar heating or photovoltaic panels; using low energy lightbulbs; installing low energy hand dryers.

3c. Water.

Harvesting rainwater; having a reed bed waste treatment system; using dual flush toilets.

3d. Building development.

Designing building renovations/redevelopments to be sustainable; using materials sustainably when renovating (using sustainable wood, reusing building materials); creating wildlife areas in gardens.

3e. Materials.

Using eco-friendly cleaning products; using low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint.

4. Working with others.

This includes:

4a. Working with other Quakers.

Joining the Living Witness Project (the Quaker network working on sustainability); jointly set up, with other Quaker Meetings, an eco-centre giving advice on living sustainably.

4b. Working with other groups.

Joining or donating to groups working on sustainability; undertaking interchurch or interfaith work on sustainability; holding public meetings on sustainability; renting eco-friendly premises; financially investing in renewables and ethical banking.

4c. Supporting other groups.

Providing premises for groups involved in sustainability; encouraging Meeting House user groups to recycle and limit their energy use.

Support Friends want

There are three main types of support that Friends want.

• Ideas and good practice from other Friends, Meetings and non-Quakers.
• Guidance on which advice and experts to trust, reliable specialist advice on appropriate improvements and on making listed buildings sustainable.
• Financial support for making improvements.

Problems

Meetings that meet in rented premises often find it difficult to make changes.

Some Friends struggle with living as sustainably as they would like. The negative impacts of giving up cars were particularly problematic.