Cleaning up London’s toxic air
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672 Londoners have responded | 25/10/2021 - 19/07/2023
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In 2017, 69% of you told us you are likely to reduce your own energy consumption and 81% of you told us that air pollution is a big problem in London. Since then, the London Environment Strategy was published and the Mayor has committed to make London a zero carbon city.
The Environment Team at City Hall have been working on a plan to help London meet these ambitious targets: from making all new buildings zero carbon to implementing the Ultra Low Emission Zone. There’s a lot more to be done and we can’t do this alone.
We’re keen to know if you have tried to reduce your energy consumption and greenhouse emissions in the past few years? What did you do that worked and what more would you like to do if you could?
Have your say in our discussion below.
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Log into your accountEdward87
Community Member 6 years agohttps://www.spiked-online.com/2019/04/03/pricing-poor-londoners-out-of-…
Show full commenthttps://www.spiked-online.com/2019/04/03/pricing-poor-londoners-out-of-…
Show less of commentEdward87
Community Member 6 years agohttps://www.citylab.com/solutions/2015/09/what-other-cities-can-learn-f…
Show full commenthttps://www.citylab.com/solutions/2015/09/what-other-cities-can-learn-f…
Show less of commenthasan
Community Member 6 years agoI have gotten rid of my diesel car and now walk and use public transport. We conserve energy and water in the home and recycle as much as we can.
Show full commentI have gotten rid of my diesel car and now walk and use public transport. We conserve energy and water in the home and recycle as much as we can.
Show less of commenthasan
Community Member 6 years agoWe are reaching a tipping point with our climate. By taking action to reduce emissions, London- one of the world's great capitals- is sending out a message to the world and encouraginig other governments, cities and its residents to take...
Show full commentWe are reaching a tipping point with our climate. By taking action to reduce emissions, London- one of the world's great capitals- is sending out a message to the world and encouraginig other governments, cities and its residents to take action themselves. We are not alone in this. So its wrong to complain that one cities actions are pointless. London and other cities are taling action and also raising the profile and urgency of the need to act now to save our future.
Show less of commentTerryG
Community Member 6 years agoWe have changed our electricity tariff to renewables and had a smart meter fitted, this led to switching off more appliances when not in use and filling kettles with sufficient water needed and not over filling. We have replaced as many...
Show full commentWe have changed our electricity tariff to renewables and had a smart meter fitted, this led to switching off more appliances when not in use and filling kettles with sufficient water needed and not over filling. We have replaced as many lamps with LED equivalents as possible
We have changed our gas tariff to a carbon offsetting one, our supplier has stated that a smart meter cannot be fitted. Our thermostats have been set back to 18 rather than 21 degrees.
We use public transport within Greater London and only use the car for longer journeys mainly due to the number of changes required on public transport.
Some subsidies with installation of solar PV and solar thermal would help make change affordable. Promise of long term savings doesn’t help with finding the initial capital outlay
Whealie
Community Member 6 years agoFitted solar panels (via a collective set up to bulk -buy at a discopunt), LED Lighting, new boiler and raidiators - That combination has slashed my gas and electric bills and consumption. A more efficient boiler has reduced water...
Show full commentFitted solar panels (via a collective set up to bulk -buy at a discopunt), LED Lighting, new boiler and raidiators - That combination has slashed my gas and electric bills and consumption. A more efficient boiler has reduced water consumption too, which is now metered. I have just insulated the one single-brick wall bedroom using Sempertex so hope that will make a further difference. We have spent about £10,000 over two years doing this but because we work from home, we expect to get our money back in about 10-12 years.
Show less of commentAnonymous - account deleted
Community Member 6 years agoDo not extend the ULEZ so quickly - very unfair on the less well off who cannot afford to replace with new vehicles.
The number of vehicles currently left will tail off rapidly through natural attrition.
Instead of spening millions on the...
Show full commentDo not extend the ULEZ so quickly - very unfair on the less well off who cannot afford to replace with new vehicles.
The number of vehicles currently left will tail off rapidly through natural attrition.
Instead of spening millions on the cameras needed to enforce ULEZ, spend that money on the cycling infrastructure.
Show less of commentTK
Community Member 6 years agoAll lighting replaced with LEDs.
Loft insulated. All windows (bar three very awkward to access ones) now double glazed.
Car mileage reduced, using public transport more. Have an older diesel car, but reluctant to replace it at the moment...
Show full commentAll lighting replaced with LEDs.
Loft insulated. All windows (bar three very awkward to access ones) now double glazed.
Car mileage reduced, using public transport more. Have an older diesel car, but reluctant to replace it at the moment as electric car availabilty is limited.
Increased cycling, but roads seem too dangerous to make longer journeys by bike.
Show less of commentAnonymous - account deleted
Community Member 6 years agoI have:
- lowered my oxygen intake, through meditation, thereby making more available
- allowed more weeds/wild flowers, trees to grow in my limited front and back gardens
- applied for an electric charge point underneath our front tree...
Show full commentI have:
- lowered my oxygen intake, through meditation, thereby making more available
- allowed more weeds/wild flowers, trees to grow in my limited front and back gardens
- applied for an electric charge point underneath our front tree
- used leaves as a path cleaner, before adding to our natural garden space
- eat sustainable organic rather than petro-chemical-fertilised foods
- recycled politicians, where available/legal :-)
- learned to converse with trees, nature and other environmentalists
- walked and carried back shopping, not electric? - No home delivery ...
- zero carbon? Next step, London, the city that breathes out clean air. Radical.
Apostrophe
Community Member 6 years agoI live in a Victorian house and have done many things to insulate it better -- replacing the iron weights in the window sashes with lead weights, adding magnetic secondary glazing panels, putting chimney balloons in the chimneys and...
Show full commentI live in a Victorian house and have done many things to insulate it better -- replacing the iron weights in the window sashes with lead weights, adding magnetic secondary glazing panels, putting chimney balloons in the chimneys and reflective panels behind the radiators, adding a cover to the letterbox. Now I would like to retrofit the house to achieve lower carbon emissions, while still retaining the history of the building. For example I would like to replace the gas boiler and radiators, generate electricity in a way that is acceptable in a conservation area, have a grey water tank to save flushing the toilets with drinking quality water, insulate the walls (no cavity in 1850s buildings). But I have no idea where to start, where to find reliable specialists to advise on retrofitting, how to work with my Council (Lambeth) to help maintain the character of the conservation area while helping to lower carbon emissions.
Show less of commentdjcater
Community Member 6 years agoI tried to cycle into central London for work, but after just a couple of weeks I had to stop, because the exhaust fumes from cycling next to the traffic was having a really negative impact on my throat and also my lungs (I started getting...
Show full commentI tried to cycle into central London for work, but after just a couple of weeks I had to stop, because the exhaust fumes from cycling next to the traffic was having a really negative impact on my throat and also my lungs (I started getting asthma-like symptoms such as wheezing, even though I don't have asthma).
So by trying to reduce my own pollution by cycling, I directly increased the amount of pollution I actually breathe in, which makes it difficult to continue doing.
The ULEZ is a really good idea, and I hope that it starts to register on the air quality readings. It must be expanded, as the current plans are, to cover a wide area, and short car journeys (such as Uber trips) have to have their concessions removed unless they are truly zero-emission on the road (most of the Prius cars aren't).
Please expand the ULEZ and please crack down further on the huge diesel coaches and lorries on our roads!
Show less of commentAnonymous - account deleted
Community Member 6 years agoIf we want to reduce our emissions, we need to reduce our population and limit air travel, yet we are told we cannot reduce immigration and we must have a third runway at Heathrow, otherwise our economy will suffer. Policymakers need to...
Show full commentIf we want to reduce our emissions, we need to reduce our population and limit air travel, yet we are told we cannot reduce immigration and we must have a third runway at Heathrow, otherwise our economy will suffer. Policymakers need to decide which is more important.
We need Hammersmith Bridge to be repaired or replaced as quickly as possible, in order to reduce traffic congestion in South West London. The Mayor could make this a top priority.
Although cycling reduces traffic congestion, I am disturbed to see so many people cycling all over the pavements and through red lights. I would like to see much better enforcement of the law. Our traffic has lost space to cycle lanes, but they are so often empty, while cyclists prefer to use the pavement.
Some cycle hire schemes do seem to clutter up the pavement with abandoned bikes. This is taking away space used by pedestrians, wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
Show less of commentTerryM
Community Member 6 years agoWe have had hot water solar panels for 10 years and electrical solar panels for 7 years. Not only do we get free electricity and gas to run our hot water and our appliances during daylight hours, we get paid for every unit generated...
Show full commentWe have had hot water solar panels for 10 years and electrical solar panels for 7 years. Not only do we get free electricity and gas to run our hot water and our appliances during daylight hours, we get paid for every unit generated, every 3 months. To date we have recovered over 8,000 pounds and payments last for 20 years and are inflation proof. The most obtuse thing this governmen thas done, when it comes to pollution, was to cancel the payments made to owners of solar panels. If payments were restored to a sensible level we would see solar panels of both types appearing on roofs all over the country. Businesses would be encouraged to site these on their large roofs. Just think of the pollution that would not be generated and the free energy there to be used both day and night with a battery system included.
Show less of commentTerryM
Community Member 6 years agoForgot to mention - we had smart meters installed last year The meter indicator does help you know what you are using at any daytime period. Because we did not like the bills we were getting, we now get readings every few minutes and pay...
Show full commentForgot to mention - we had smart meters installed last year The meter indicator does help you know what you are using at any daytime period. Because we did not like the bills we were getting, we now get readings every few minutes and pay every month for what we have used in the preceeding month.
Show less of commentDodgenut
Community Member 6 years agoI have fitted high performance roof insulation, and installed both thermal and photovoltaic solar panels. I use my bicycle much more for shopping and local journeys, and I have kept my 26 year old tiny engined petrol car to save the vast...
Show full commentI have fitted high performance roof insulation, and installed both thermal and photovoltaic solar panels. I use my bicycle much more for shopping and local journeys, and I have kept my 26 year old tiny engined petrol car to save the vast amount of carbon involved in scrapping and manufacture of a replacement vehicle.
Show less of commentDodgenut
Community Member 6 years agoI have insulated my roofspace using a high performance foam product, fitted solar panels both thermal & photovoltaic. I am using a bicycle much more for local shopping and transport and I have kept my 26 year old 1 litre petrol car instead...
Show full commentI have insulated my roofspace using a high performance foam product, fitted solar panels both thermal & photovoltaic. I am using a bicycle much more for local shopping and transport and I have kept my 26 year old 1 litre petrol car instead of buying a new one because I want to avoid the carbon produced by manufacture and scrapping. In the garden I have planted many more native species, allowed grass to grow longer, and kept my front garden instead of making it into car parking like everyone else in the street seems to have done. I have secondary glazing, but have kept my original timber windows. This provides better noise insulation and preserves the environment by minimising the use of Upvc.
Show less of commentLloyd1969
Community Member 6 years agowhere I work my company is awful when it comes to energy saving. Ive managed to get the security guards to turn off the lights in offices which aren’t being used but that’s about it. It’s not policy, which I think it should be. Our...
Show full commentwhere I work my company is awful when it comes to energy saving. Ive managed to get the security guards to turn off the lights in offices which aren’t being used but that’s about it. It’s not policy, which I think it should be. Our building is old and extremely inefficient. During the winter when the heating is on, workers turn on the air con if it’s too hot in the offices rather than turn down the radiators! Most of the people who I work with simply don’t care.
I’ve had recycling bins installed though that wasn’t as easy as it should have been. I work for a government organisistion, who come under the Mayor’s Office, and its environmental credentials are woeful. I’d like to see solar panels on the roof of our building, it’s large enough. Motion censors should be installed in all offices which can turn off the lights when rooms are unoccupied.
All our fleet vehicles should be electric as we only operate in London, but they’re not. There should be more cycle lanes and more roads closed off to through traffic. I cycle to work though that isn’t easy sharing the roads with heavy goods vehicles and millions of taxis. Isn’t it about time taxi numbers were reduced, too many adding to congestion and polluting us all? Why aren’t there more parcel delivery vehicles pedal powered instead of all these white vans clogging up the roads?
The mayors office needs to do a lot more and bloody fast, time is running out.
Show less of commentptr
Community Member 6 years agoThe Mayor could single handly solve the issue if he stopped talking, the hot air he spouts on a daily basis must be the same as HGV.
The Mayor could single handly solve the issue if he stopped talking, the hot air he spouts on a daily basis must be the same as HGV.
Chummy
Community Member 6 years agoI totally agree with the comments regarding Heathrow & low flying aircraft Heathrow is a source of not only toxic chemical pollution but also intolerable noise pollution together with low flying helicopters it helps to diminish Londoners...
Show full commentI totally agree with the comments regarding Heathrow & low flying aircraft Heathrow is a source of not only toxic chemical pollution but also intolerable noise pollution together with low flying helicopters it helps to diminish Londoners quality of life until the mayor of London and other faceless public servants put the public and Londoners first your surely just going through the motions in order to justify your existence
Show less of commentdavkat
Community Member 6 years agoI have an electric car. Solar panels on the roof. Have campagned for and implemented a play street on our street. Campagned the local school where my kids go, and Camden Council to close the street outside the school for drop off and pick...
Show full commentI have an electric car. Solar panels on the roof. Have campagned for and implemented a play street on our street. Campagned the local school where my kids go, and Camden Council to close the street outside the school for drop off and pick up hours of the day, but failed. Got lost in beuocracy and bad decision making and inactice council members! But my plea is: please close more streets entirely for traffic (especially around schools), fine people who idle on the spot. Create more cycle lanes. Have car free Sundays and clean up the horrible London air pollution asap. Thanks
Show less of commentClairekestrel
Community Member 6 years agoI live on the outskirts of London and only use my car for local and out of London travel. My car is small and efficient with a 0.9 l petrol engine. Most green I can be on my budget. I live in rented accommodation and unfortunately this has...
Show full commentI live on the outskirts of London and only use my car for local and out of London travel. My car is small and efficient with a 0.9 l petrol engine. Most green I can be on my budget. I live in rented accommodation and unfortunately this has very poor insulation. My landlord is the council but this doesn't seem to help. Better maintenance on rented accommodation would help a lot.
Show less of comment