Greening Your Congregation - 40 ideas
0 likes932 views
Greening Your Congregation provides 40 ideas for making congregations more environmentally sustainable, including ideas related to lighting, office operations, heating/cooling, landscaping, transportation, renewable energy, and worship. It also lists local and national resources for green building, energy audits, recycling/composting, and networking opportunities among faith communities working on sustainability. The document aims to equip congregations with practical steps and partnerships to reduce their environmental impact through building operations, grounds keeping, and community engagement.
Greening Your Congregation - 40 ideas
- 1. Greening Your Congregation – 40 ideas Green Building, Grounds and Operations Ideas for Congregations Lighting Office Operations 1. Form MN Energy Challenge Team! 8. Turn off computers & monitors when not in use- See www.mnenergychallenge.org www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=power_mgt.pr_power _management 2. Sign up for a Free Lighting Audit with the One-Stop Efficiency Shop to have a complete assessment of where 9. Buy recycled toner cartridges - Preferred Cartridges, Koto Amagashie, Preferred Cartridges 763-424-9280 , your congregation can save money and energy with more kamegashie@yahoo.com , www.preferredcartridges.com efficient lighting, specific recommendations, referrals to contractors, low cost financing and follow up inspections. 10. Recycle office paper & bulletins www.greenguardian.org Most congregations can pay for the improvements with 1 year’s worth of energy savings. call Kristen Funk 612-335- 11. Buy 100% Recycled Office Paper through group 3487. kfunk@mncee.org or Erik J. Ennen, 612-335-5823 purchasing each Spring and Fall with Eureka Recycling 651-222-7678 , www.eurekarecycling.org/bg_coop.cfm eebnen@mncee.org Web site. www.mncee.org/oses.htm 12. Stop receiving Junk Mail and faxes www.reduce.org 3. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact 13. Ensure proper recycling of used computers and fluorescent bulbs. Bulk purchase of of Energy Star electronics. www.greenguardian.org , www.reduce.org CFLs available at Whole Energy & Hardware Rick Parris, 952-448-7488 www.wholeenergyandhardware.com Cleaning 4. Switch your exit signs to LED lights. Available 14. Switch to non-toxic cleaning products– through www.mncee.org/oses.htm and Alice’s Wonder Spray, www.greenguardian.com www.energyfederation.org/ipl/default.php Restore Products, 612.331.5979 www.restoreproducts.com; 5. Install motion sensors for lights in bathrooms H2 Orange 2 –disinfecting www.h2orange2.com Call Eric Hagen 608-345-8827. Fundraising www.ourhouseworks.com 6. Monitor your electricity use with the SenseDat Meter 608-251-4355 www.sensedat.com or the Kill A Watt Recycling/ Zero Waste/ Composting Meter www.smarthome.com/9034.html Hennepin County Environmental Services Angie Timmons, 612-348-2477 angie.timmons@co.hennepin.mn.us www.co.hennepin.mn.us/environment (waste audits) Eureka! Recycling (waste audits) 651-222-7678 info@eurekarecycling.org www.eurekarecycling.org Heating and Cooling Kitchen 7. Sign up for a comprehensive energy audit for your 15. Discontinue using Styrofoam and Plastic by building’s heating and cooling systems through Xcel using China, recycled paper or biodegradable, cups, ConservationWise For $200 a certified Xcel energy auditor plates, utensils, paper towels, toilet paper, & would visit your congregation and assess areas for potential garbage bags. www.eurekarecycling.org energy savings both in terms of lighting and heating and cooling. www.recycleholics.com , www.seventhgeneration.com Low cost financing for energy improvement projects is also available. Call Xcel Business Solutions 1-800-481-4700 x 5 16. Compost food waste & grounds Email BSC@xcelenergy.com Web - www.xcelenergy.com and www.greenguardian.org 8. Minnesota Retired Engineer Technical Assistance 17. Use non-phosphorus Dishwasher Soap - 802-658- Program (MN RETAP) provides free energy and waste audits 3773 www.seventhgeneration.com for congregations using retired engineers 612-624-1300 18. Purchase Fair Trade Food and Coffee www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/p2/retap.cfm - www.peacecoffee.com , www.equalexchange.com , 9. Centerpoint Energy energy audits http://landstewardshipproject.org http://mn.centerpointenergy.com/for_your_business/energy_infor mation/natural_energy_audit.asp 19. Replace old Refrigerators and Appliances - 10. Recommissioning Program, for larger buildings, Martha Hewett determine pay back, financing and schedule for 612-335-5865 mhewett@mncee.org replacing old coolers and appliances with energy- www.mncee.org/frame_es.htm star approved appliances www.energystar.gov/ 9. Implement your building efficiency plans. index.cfm?c=small_business.sb_congregations Resources Compiled by the Alliance for Sustainability, Sean Gosiewski,. 612-331-1099 x 1 sean@afors.org , www.afors.org , p.1
- 2. Landscaping for air & water Transportation quality 30. Organize a walk, bike, carpool to worship day and participate in the Team Challenge for the Metro Commuter 20. Replace power mower w electric or reel to reel Challenge in May/June ww.metrotransit.org 21. Avoid use of gas powered leaf blowers or edgers, 31. Organize an alternative commuter fair for church especially on ozone alert days members to consider alternative ways to get to work. 22. Avoid using phosphorus & pesticides on lawns www.metrocommuterservices.org 23. Convert some or all of the lawn to rain gardens 32. Get involved with neighborhood planning efforts for or native plantings bike and pedestrian friendly, transit oriented development 24. Replace exotic plants (buckthorn) with natives www.tlcminnesota.org www.designforhealth.net/ 25. Point down spouts away from paved surfaces 33. Encourage members of your congregation to pledge to 26. Sweep sidewalks and parking lots buy a more efficient vehicle when they buy their next car 27. Consider installing on-site storm water retention www.fueleconomy.gov , Your congregation will receive a system, rain garden, native prairie $100 donation if a member of your congregation buys a Metro Blooms - Becky Rice, (651) 699-2426 high-quality, used hybrid-electric car through the Alliance becky@metroblooms.org Rain garden Workshops and www.allianceforsustainability.net , www.idealauto.org technical assistance for Churches doing rain gardens Practice Eco Driving http://greenslowmovingvehicle.com/ www.metroblooms.org 34. Encourage members of your congregation to shop and MN Green Roofs Council Corrie Zoll, 612-423-2048 dine at local, sustainable independent businesses The corrie@mngreenroofs.org www.mngreenroofs.org Blue Sky Guide is a wonderful coupon book and City of Minneapolis Storm Water Management Paul fundraising idea for youth groups – they sell for $20 and Chellsen, 612-673-2406 paul.chellsen@ci.minneapolis.mn.us your cause earns $10 - 651-291-1989 www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/stormwater/fee/index.asp www.ecometro.com/twincities/default.aspx Each fall enjoy Dine Fresh Dine Local - www.dinefreshdinelocal.com Clean Air MN www.mn-ei.org/air Metro Independent Businesses http://metroiba.org Metro Watershed Partners www.cleanwatermn.org Renewable Energy Capital Improvement Projects 28. Sign up to purchase renewable wind power 35. When starting a capital improvement project use from your local utility. State wide programs see architects who know sustainable design http://www.me3.org/issues/wind/green.html Metro AIA MN www.aia- Congregations can participate in Xcel Energy’s mn.org/architecture_environment.cfm## Windsource Program call 1-800-481-4700 x 5 US Green Building Council www.xcelenergy.com –Accreditation with Center http://chapters.usgbc.org/usgbcmn for Resource Solutions http://www.green-e.org See Cuningham Group Architecture Brian Tempas, LEED www.moea.state.mn.us/energy/greenpower.cfm Certified, 612-379-5543 btempas@cuningham.com www.cuningham.com/portfolio/worship/index.html 29. Install solar panel on your building or assist with Center for Sustainable Building Research/ U of MN a neighborhood solar project. See Viragita Singh 612-625-3447 singh023@tc.umn.edu www.solarminnesota.org , www.ips-solar.com , www.csbr.umn.edu/sustainability.html MN Sustainable www.commerce.state.mn.us Energy Info Center Building Guide www.csbr.umn.edu/msdg.html Innovative Power Systems (did the PV solar systems LHB Rick Carter (612) 338-2029 x 6923 www.lhbcorp.com at St. Joan’s and Temple Israel) Ralph Jacobson, 612- Fair Trade Purchasing 623-3246 ralphj@ips-solar.com www.ips-solar.com FreeNeRG (Solar Panel Lease) Gerardo Ruiz, 612- 36. Purchase, use and re-sell fair trade products including 605-5228 gerardo@freener-g.com Offers the first-of- coffee, palm branches, etc. www.peacecoffee.com , www.equalexchange.com , www.lcppm.org its-kind solar electricity leasing opportunity initially launched to Minneapolis and St. Paul 37. Encourage use of local/ organic/ sustainable food, & customers.www.freener-g.com vegetarian menus for congregational events. 39. Buy Carbon Offsets - www.carbonfund.org 38. Encourage members to support local sustainable www.carbonfreedom.org farmers- arrange a food drop off http://wrc.umn.edu/outreach/carbon/index.html http://landstewardshipproject.org Resources Compiled by the Alliance for Sustainability, Sean Gosiewski,. 612-331-1099 x 1 sean@afors.org , www.afors.org , p.2
- 3. Worship & Ritual Shape Wise Public Policies Praying with Creation – Lectionary Prayers Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in MN Pastor Mark Dennis Ormseth, (651) 646-4096 dhotao@mninter.net Peters, 651-224-5499 peters@lcppm.org www.lcppm.org www.webofcreation.org/Worship/liturgy/praywith State Policy – www.fresh-energy.org creation.htm www.mnclimatechange.us , www.mepartnership.org , A Season of Creation www.jrlc.org www.cleanenergyminnesota.org For four Sundays in September we celebrate A Midwest Cap & Trade- www.gpisd.net Season of Creation with Christ. National Policy – www.1sky.org , www.climateprotect.org , www.seasonofcreation.com www.ucsusa.org Support Members to Take Action at Home and at Work Form an Energy Challenge Team Support families in your congregation to save money and energy and track the results for your whole congregation. A free organizing tool kit is available on line from Neely Crane Smith, 612-335-5852 ncranesmith@mncee.org www.mnenergychallenge.org/resources/communitytools/index.php Waste & Toxicity Reduction Tool Kit for Congregations www.greenguardian.com/c3toolkit Sean Gosiewski, 612-331-1099 x 1 sean@afors.org www.afors.org This resource was created by Congregations Caring for Creation (C3) and the Alliance for Sustainability. Information regarding waste and toxicity reduction was provided by Hennepin County Environmental Services and Community POWER. This resource was created to assist congregations with implementing a waste and toxicity reduction campaign. The tool kit includes: Introduction: Getting Started Calendar of Activity Ideas Activity Ideas for Congregations, Adults, Teens and Children Special Event Ideas Tracking and Evaluation Tools Waste Reduction for Internal Operations Healthy Homes, Healthy Congregations - Lynne Holman at (612) 230-3211, lynne.holman@mnchurches.org ... www.mnchurches.org/programs/education/healthyhomes/healthyhomes.html Healthy Legacy, www.healthylegacy.org/ Local Support Networks Congregations Caring for Creation (C3) www.c3mn.net Down Town Cluster, Metro Clean Energy Resource Teams, Clarence Chapin 651-695-0982 cachaplin@mac.com Alliance for Sustainability/ www.afors.org Sustainable Community Action Network www.sustaincommunity.net Sean Gosiewski, Program Director, 612-331-1099 sean@afors.org Terry Gips, President 612-374-4765 terrr@afor.org Metro Clean Energy Resource Team- www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/regions/metro Diana McKeown Metro CERTs Network Coordinator, The Green Institute 612-278-7125 dmckeown@greeninstitute.org Lutheran Earth keeping Network – Rev. Dennis Ormseth (651) 646-4096 dhotao@mninter.net http://www.webofcreation.org/LENS/contactscfc.html Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in MN, Pastor Mark Peters, Pat Benson, Creation Care 612-224-5499 www.lcppm.org Catholic Global Warming Action Team. Pat Benson, 612-224-5499 www.osjspm.org/globalwarming Additional Resources Congregations Caring for Creation – www.c3mn.net • Natural Step Framework Trainings – www.afors.org • Interfaith Power and Light www.theregenerationproject.org , www.interfaithpower.org • Minnesota Environmental Partnership, www.mepartnership.org MN – Fresh Energy www.fresh-energy.org • Web of Creation www.webofcreation.org , Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life www.coejl.org • EPA's energy guide for congregations http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=small_business.sb_congregations • Earth Ministries – Greening Congregations handbook - http://www.earthministry.org/your_congregation.htm • Union of Concerned Scientists- www.ucsusa.org Center for a New American Dream –www.newdream.org • Living Green Expo – www.livinggreenexpo.org , Sustainable Communities Network, www.nextstep.state.mn.us • Eco Experience www.ecoexpeerience.org Permaculture Collaborative www.permaculturecollaborative.org/ For more information please contact: Alliance for Sustainability Terry Gips, President, 612-374-4765 terry@afors.org Sean Gosiewski, Program Dir. 612-331-1099 x 1 sean@afors.org In the Hillel Center at the U of MN 1521 University Ave SE Minneapolis, MN 55414 www.afors.org Resources Compiled by the Alliance for Sustainability, Sean Gosiewski,. 612-331-1099 x 1 sean@afors.org , www.afors.org , p.3
- 4. Networking Opportunities Educational Resources C3 Fall Networking Gathering for Congregations Natural Step Framework Seminars Sunday. Sept 21 from 2:30pm to 4:00pm - Regularly scheduled seminars - www.afors.org First Universalist Church, 3400 Dupont Ave. So. Living Green Expo, May www.livinggreen.org Minneapolis, MN 55408 (everyone welcome!) Come learn what other communities of faith are doing to care Eco Experience, State Fair www.ecoexperience.org for God’s Creation Poster www.c3mn.net Study Courses Down Town Congregations Cluster - Low Carbon Diet Metro Clean Energy Resource Teams www.empowermentinstitute.net/lcd Clarence Chapin 651-695-0982 cachaplin@mac.com - North West Earth Institute www.nwei.org www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org - Earth Ministries www.earthministry.org Neighborhood Sustainability Conferences Educational Films February, 2009 Sean Gosiewski, 612-331-1099 • An Inconvenient Truth www.climatecrisis.net sean@afors.org www.afors.org • Kilowat Ours www.kilowattours.org • The Great Warming www.thegreatwarming.com/ • The End of Suburbia www.endofsuburbia.com/ Grant Opportunities - Alliance/ C3/ Hennepin County Waste Reduction Pilot Projects 612-331-1099 x 1 www.afors.org - Community Power –www.greenguardian.com/grants - Minnehaha Creek Watershed District www.minnehahacreek.org - Mississippi Watershed Management Organization www.mwmo.org - Hennepin County – $1,000 Native Plant Grants for Restoration and Rain Garden Projects – contact Metro Blooms www.metroblooms.org - Free Recycling Bins http://bingrant.org/home.htm - Climate and Energy Partnerships http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/res_detail.cfm?id=4041 Form a Creation Care Team in your Congregation www.webofcreation.org • Many congregations in Minnesota have formed teams to sustain their environmental efforts from year to year. Visit www.c3mn.net and www.webofcreation.org • Inform your congregation’s leaders of your interest and commitment, and encourage their involvement. • Develop a Congregational Action Plan in the area of: o Worship o Education – children, youth, adults o Buildings and Grounds o Discipleship at Home and Work o Public Ministry • Work with the appropriate committees to carry out the Plan. • Promote your identity as a congregation that cares for creation. • Meet regularly to follow the Action Plan and to develop new projects. • Consider a project to benefit the larger community. • Work to keep the life and activities of the Green Team active Resources Compiled by the Alliance for Sustainability, Sean Gosiewski,. 612-331-1099 x 1 sean@afors.org , www.afors.org , p.4