Eco-Group
The Greenbank Eco-Group evolved, starting as a Board group focused on energy saving, then developing a wider agenda which is now structured on Eco-Congregation Scotland’s three key themes of Spiritual Living, Practical Living and Global Living.
The Eco-Group has recently developed the Greenbank Church Eco-Congregation Strategic Plan for 2024-2028 which can be found here together with a specific Action Plan for 2024.
Seeking to play a part in the fight against climate change the group has several regular activities:
- Moderating a Facebook Group providing a neighbourhood forum on Green Issues
- Providing an article from the group in every issue of Connections
- Maintaining the church garden and greening the front of the church
- Encouraging ethical procurement - Fairtrade consumables, flowers, sustainable products etc, raw materials for church handyman
- Encouraging church building improvements to meet ethical standards e.g. ensuring the new boiler can be converted to burning Hydrogen, insulation of buildings.
- Encouraging recycling initiatives
Eco Congregation Scotland Awards
Greenbank Church is a holder of the Gold Award of 
Eco Congregation Scotland. Our assessors were so impressed with our action within the church and in the community here in Greenbank and in the wider world that instead of giving us the Silver Award which we had applied for we were given the Gold Award.
Here is the Church of Scotland’s toolkit: A Practical Path to Net Zero Carbon for Churches
Recycling
There are a variety of collection boxes just inside the main door to the church.
Otherewise here is a summary of ways to recycle in Edinburgh.
Ethical Procurement Policy
Our policy is here.
Activities
Repair Café
The volunteers from the Repair Shop and Tools Library provide a wide range of skills. The Eco-Group provide the tea and cake.
Greening Greenbank
Five planters were installed on the North side of the church, and are now carefully maintained.
Beside the traffic lights there is a Pollinator Patch in which several fruit trees give a harvest of apples. pears and plums.
Congregational Survey and Exhibition
Members were given survey forms on entry to the church and encouraged to visit an exhibition including a computer running energy calculations. Results of the survey were published in various issues of Connections.
Film Nights
Various films have been shown with lively discussions afterwards.