Green zone launched by environmental enthusiasts (From This Is Local London)

Green zone launched by environmental enthusiasts in Barnet

7:10am Thursday 25th March 2010 in Where I Live By Kevin Bradford

ENTERPRISING environmentalists have launched an organisation to help their Barnet neighbours tackle climate change.

The volunteer-led High Barnet Green Home Zone wants to raise awareness of what the community can do to cut their energy use and increase recycling levels.

The group held an eco fair at the Hyde Room, in Chipping Barnet Library, at the weekend to promote the launch of the zone.

More than 300 people visited the event and Sarah Challice said she hoped the group's work would encourage more people to take up environmentally friendly practices.

She said: “A small group of us got together and thought it was something we could do as a community.

“We want to encourage our neighbours to take action and promote to them that these actions can help save money.

“We will keep going in the community and are keen to get schools involved. We are quite smallscale at the moment, and it is very much an ongoing project, but we would like to think we can help change people's attitudes.”

The group is supported by Barnet Council and the Energy Saving Trust and is sponsored by window company Velux.

The first areas targeted by the group include reducing carbon emissions in the 2,250 homes inside the zone, cutting the number plastic bags used and promoting public transport.

Leader of Barnet Council, Councillor Lynne Hillan said the had the opportunity to make a “real difference” to the community.

She said: “This is a fantastic example where residents can bring around far more change than if the council just purely lectured people.

“It is impossible to overstate the importance of reducing household waste and lowering our CO2 emissions, especially with the growing ethical and financial challenges facing us all in the very near future.”