Climate action

Buildings

Energy efficient housing

Energy used to power homes accounts for 39% of Enfield’s borough wide carbon emissions.

Less energy efficient homes have an impact on the health and wealth of our residents.

We have been investing in our own housing stock to make improvements by:

• installing 400 heat pumps in 8 blocks to replace inefficient electric heating
• adding external wall insulation to over 30 properties, with funding secured for another 70
• connecting existing homes to the Energetik heat network
• delivering whole house retrofit using the Energiesprong approach

The council is joint lead for the Retrofit London programme, which is aiming for the average Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating for homes across London to be a minimum of B by 2030.

Energiesprong

In March 2021, Enfield Council agreed to do a pilot Energiesprong project.

Energiesprong retrofits existing buildings to improve their energy efficiency.

External works can include:

• applying an insulated exterior wall structure to the surface of your existing walls
• removing your existing windows and doors and replacing them with high-performance, triple-glazed windows and doors
• removing existing roof surfaces and replacing them with an insulated roof structure with integrated solar panels to generate electricity
• fitting a new electric-powered ‘air source heat pump’ and ventilation system. The air source heat pump will be connected to your existing central heating pipes, radiators, and hot water system.

The solar panels on your roof will provide electrical power for your heating and hot water. Any excess power generated by the solar panels that is not needed for your heating systems will contribute to your lighting and electricity use.

Internal works can include:

• replacing your heating system with a new low-carbon, electric-powered air source heat pump
• disconnecting your gas meter and removing all gas appliances, including your boiler, hob and oven, and replacing them with electrical appliances
• installing new energy/ventilation systems and connecting each room to the new ventilation system
• replacing any gas ovens or gas hobs with an energy-efficient electric model
• connecting electrical cables from the solar panels to the meter and consumer unit
• connecting the new heating system to your existing pipework and radiators

View the Energiesprong pilot project presentation (PDF, 536.96 KB), which includes information for residents who have been contacted about being involved.

Energiesprong have pioneered this zero-carbon retrofit system on more than 7,000 homes in Holland, and around 50 homes across England (in Nottingham, Devon and Essex) over the last 2 years.

As well as living in a warmer home, tenants will benefit from reduced energy bills and being part of the necessary change to a more environmentally friendly way of living.

Waste reduction

Our goal, as set out in our Climate Action Plan 2024 (PDF, 14056.65 KB), is that by 2040, everyone living or working in Enfield will produce less waste. No waste will go to landfill, and all waste will be used as a resource.

This means:

• all buildings in Enfield will recycle or compost their waste
• businesses in Enfield will reduce the amount of plastic they sell to customers
• everyone in Enfield will understand the importance of keeping resources in use for as long as possible, getting the most value from them, and then recovering and regenerating products and materials at the end of their use. This is known as the ‘circular economy.’
• everyone will be encouraged to buy their food locally and use local land for growing food

Our Rubbish and Recycling page provides more information on what goes into which bins and how to recycle more effectively.

Enfield Council, along with partners like the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) will sometimes host events to help residents and workers in the borough reduce, reuse, repair and recycle. You can view the latest events hosted by the NLWA.

We have also partnered with the charity retailer Traid to offer a free home clothing collection service.

Textile recycling

Traid

We work with the charity retailer Traid to offer a free home clothing collection service. This allows you to donate clothes, shoes, and accessories that you no longer wear.

Traid is a charity retailer on a mission to change fashion for the better. In the UK, they collect, sort, and resell second-hand clothes, keeping over 3,000 tonnes of clothing in use every year. They also support good causes around the world, helping the people who make our clothes, like organic cotton farmers and garment workers.

Traid’s home collection service is available to all Enfield residents.

How to book a free home collection

• Visit Traid – Book a collection
• Call 020 8733 2595

Please donate at least 1 large bag of clothing or 3 small bags. Donating more helps Traid run a more efficient and eco-friendly service.

A Traid collector will pick up your donations in a branded van during your scheduled time slot.

Items you can donate

• Clean, wearable clothes for men, women and children clothing
• Paired shoes
• Accessories
• Household linens (except duvets and pillows)

To find out more about what you can donate, read Traid's helpful donations guide.

Enfield Tool Library

Coming soon to Palmers Green Library

Join us in building Enfield's first tool library – opening in summer 2025.

Volunteer with us!

Become a volunteer at the Enfield Tool Library and help us build a sharing community. As a volunteer, you will:

• create and maintain the tool database
• hand out and collect tools
• carry out regular maintenance on the tools

Why volunteer?

• Support your community: help your neighbours access the tools they need without the expense of buying them
• Promote sustainability: reduce waste and encourage a circular economy
• Gain new skills: learn about tool maintenance and database management

How to get involved

• Donate your unused tools: free up space in your home and support your community by donating tools you no longer use. Email greg@frpuk.org to arrange your donation.
• Sign up to become a volunteer: we are looking for volunteers to get hands-on with the tools and give a few hours each week or month (whatever your availability) to staff the Tool Library. If you are interested, please fill out the form below.

Become an Enfield Tool Library volunteer

Partnering with Forest Recycling Project

Enfield Council is partnering with Forest Recycling Project to deliver the Enfield Tool Library.

For more information on the Enfield Tool Library, email climate.emergency@enfield.gov.uk.

Join us in making Enfield greener and more connected!

Working together

Schools climate action

Enfield schools make up more than a quarter of the council’s carbon emissions. We are committed to supporting schools in reducing their carbon emissions and helping to influence behaviour change beyond the school gates. Together we can become a carbon neutral borough by 2040.

Read our Enfield Schools Climate Action Handbook (PDF, 18908.93 KB) which has been created to support all Enfield schools on their climate action journey. It sets out some of the ways in which schools can take climate action, and provides information about helpful resources available from the council.

The handbook is for teaching staff, leadership teams, business managers, governors or any member of the school team working to make your school a more sustainable place.

New Schools Climate Action Hub

School's are kept updated with information on events and resources on the School's Climate Action page.

Green businesses

Green Business Accreditation Scheme

Calling for small Enfield businesses to apply for our Green Business Accreditation pilot scheme

As part of our pledge for sustainable growth, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Green Business Accreditation Pilot Scheme aimed at supporting local businesses in adopting sustainable practices.

Green Mark is a sustainability certification scheme designed to promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices. It evaluates businesses on their environmental performance, encouraging the adoption of green technologies and practices.

Achieving Green Mark certification demonstrates commitment to:

• reducing energy consumption
• minimising waste
• enhancing environmental quality leading to significant cost savings over time

Greening the local economy is a vital part of achieving our target to be a carbon neutral borough by 2040. Currently, 22% of our borough emissions come from commercial, institutional or industrial buildings. The Council is playing its role in supporting existing local businesses to decarbonise and develop sustainable business practices for the future and start the trend of greener businesses, with a provision of gradually expanding the support across the business community.

Our offer is for 15 local small businesses to participate in the pilot funded from the Council’s New Development Carbon Compensation Fund, to:

• help businesses cut their carbon emissions and lower their bills, which will contribute to reducing the borough’s overall emissions. This will also encourage other businesses to go green.
• prepare for a larger accreditation program with more local businesses when funding allows
• create an evidence base to highlight best practices and show financial savings, motivating other businesses to take action

We encourage all eligible businesses to consider this opportunity to lead the way in green business practices.

For more information and to apply, see Green Business Accreditation Scheme.

Together, we can make Enfield a greener, more sustainable place to live and work.