Going Green
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GO GREEN!
To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.
Deuteronomy 10:14
“God loves the earth fully. By loving one another and every sentient being—even the rocks who cry
out—we love God. In this love we are called to resist the poisoning of peoples and the earth.”
—Karen Baker-Fletcher, Sisters of Dust
Over the past several months FUMC has been working toward doing our part to make this church and this community a little “greener”.
We are called to be good stewards of the earth, and we can each take small steps that together will make a big difference. Look at
some of the great projects we have already begun: recycling paper (including leftover church bulletins!), recycling inkjet cartridges &
cell phones, cleaning up the streets of Covington through “On the Roads with Jesus”, encouraging people to walk more through our
Walk/Run Club, encouraging the use of reusable coffee mugs instead of slow decomposing Styrofoam, raising awareness and selling
Fair Trade Coffee to support small town farmers. And that’s just the beginning! We can still do so much more. That’s why we are
starting a new Green Team! We are looking for people who are environmentally conscious and interested in making an effort to help
FUMC be as green as we can be. If you are interested in being a part of the team, please contact Julie Schendel in the office.
Together we can look at ways of reducing the use of wasted energy (turning off those lights in unused rooms), reusing and recycling
more materials, and taking care of God’s great gift as much as possible. Please join me in this effort and join the team. It’s not about
politics; it’s not about global warming. It’s about caring for this great earth that God has so graciously given us.
Green Tips
1. If every household in the U.S. replaced just one roll of 120 sheet virgin fiber paper towels with 100% recycled ones, we could save: 1 million trees, 2.6 million cubic feet of landfill space, 367 million gallons of water, and avoid 38,000 tons of pollution!
2. Your car puts several tons of carbon dioxide in the air every year. Consider balancing your impact by funding clean energy projects like wind farms or methane capture initiatives. Check out www.terrapass.com/carbon-footprint-calculator to learn more.
3. Turning off the water while brushing your teeth will save 4 gallons per minute. That equals 185 gallons per month and almost 2200 gallons per year per person!
4. Most everything that we do costs either in resources, time and/or money. If we are to stay true to the circle of life and maintain our balance, we must find ways of replenishing, returning, reducing, and/or recycling what we expend. It is the only way towards sustainability and quality of life.
5. One concept to consider is doing less, simplifying our lives. Think of it as reducing the “clutter”. That is easy, as we think of “clutter” as physical objects, but in today’s world of multi-tasking, choices and instant messaging, there is another form of clutter—the clutter of information, activities, perceived expectations, etc. that we all feel obligated to respond to, clouding our vision for a better life. This week, dedicate some time to clearing your desk. File what needs to be kept and recycle or discard anything else. Set up a system that will reduce the likelihood of cluttering your desk again.
6. If every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 32 oz. petroleum based all purpose cleaner with a renewable resource based product, we could save 6,800 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 390 U.S. homes for a year! Look for products like GreenWorks or SeventhGeneration cleaners.
7. Buy Local. Buy Organic. Buying locally grown foods means less energy is required to drive your products to the market. Buying organic means your foods are produced without synthetic chemicals to control bugs or weeds, and organic farming usually means soil and water conservation practices are employed.
8. If every household in the U.S. replaced 1 bottle of 48 ounce chlorine bleach with non-chlorine bleach, we could prevent 8.2 million pounds of chlorine from entering our environment!
9. The U.S. Bureau of Mines estimates that roughly 1.5 million tons of clay are mined each year just to make kitty litter for the nation’s 60 million felines. Much of the clay is strip-mined, destroying land, its habitats, and creatures. Some experts claim that kitty litter accounts for more waste in landfills than disposable diapers. Consider using an alternative product that is nontoxic, biodegradable, and renewable. Many of these products can be safely composted, mulched, scooped, or flushed down the toilet; they are typically made from corn, wheat, walnut shells, peanut shells, or even recycled newspapers.
10. This week, dedicate some time to clearing your closet. Eliminate anything you don’t use and decide what can be given to others. Many organizations will accept used clothing items in good condition. Next time you shop, consider why you need it, where is it made and what it contains.
11. If every household in the U.S. replaced just one package of 20 count drawstring tall kitchen bags made from virgin plastic with 65% recycled ones, we could:
· Save 45,100 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 2,500 U.S. homes for a year;
· Save 824,800 cubic feet of landfill space, equal to 1,200 full garbage trucks; and
· Avoid 16,800 tons of pollution!
12. If you only run your dishwasher and washing machine with full loads, you can save up to 1000 gallons of water per month!
13. Find a Carpool Partner! The Atlanta Region Commission hosts an online ride-matching system to locate potential carpool partners. For more information visit www.187ridefind.com or call 1-87-RIDEFIND.
14. Cool your hot water heater down by 10 degrees. This change would save 660 pounds of carbon dioxide per household from being emitted into the air!
15. Are you or your kids looking for great resources online for environmental information? Check out http://www.kidskonnect.com/content/view/73/27/ for great ideas and games.
16. Towards a simpler life: this week, dedicate time to clearing your magazines and bookshelf. Select items you can share with a friend, donate to a library or recycle.
17. Considering a new washing machine? The newest, most-efficient washers use four times less energy than the least-efficient machines and save up to $70 a year in energy costs.
18. If every household in the U.S. replaced one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), it would prevent enough pollution to equal removing one million cars from the road.
19. Some compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs use 66% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing a 100-watt incandescent with a 32-watt CFL can save you at least $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.
20. Low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators can reduce your home water consumption as much as 50% - and reduce your energy cost of heating the water also by as much as 50%.
21. Turn the air conditioner thermostat up a single degree. That avoids 220 pounds of carbon dioxide from being emitted per household per year.
22. Did you know that keeping your car tires properly inflated avoids 250 pounds of carbon dioxide from being emitted per household per year?
23. Washing 4 out of 5 loads of laundry in cold water eliminates 460 lbs. of carbon dioxide from being emitted per household per year!
24. Replacing a car that gets 20 miles /
gallon with one that gets 30 miles / gallon might not seem that
significant, but it amounts to two tons difference in carbon dioxide
pollution each year. Visit
GreenerCars.org for information on automobile fuel efficiency.
Source:
Earthshare.org.
25. Plant leafy trees or shrubs that shade air conditioning units but do not block the flow of air. An air conditioning unit operating in the shade can use as much as 10% less electricity than the same unit operating in the sun. Source: Earthshare.org.
26. Greywater is non-industrial wastewater generated from domestic processes such as washing dishes, laundry and bathing. You can collect your greywater and use it to water your outdoor plants and landscaping—especially in these drought conditions. Just keep a bucket in your kitchen and in your shower and collect the water as you wait for hot water, as you shower, etc.
27. Now more than ever, water conservation is critical. Install a water dam or water displacement device in your toilet to save up to 15 gallons per day and 5500 gallons per year.
28. At this time of year, your mailboxes are probably stuffed with catalogs that you never requested. Think about this:
· Over eight million tons of trees are consumed each year in the production of paper catalogs.
· Nearly half of the planet’s original forest cover is gone today. Forests have effectively disappeared in 25 countries, and another 29 have lost more than 90% of their forest cover.
· Deforestation contributes between 20% and 25% of all carbon pollution, causing global climate change.
· More than one billion people living in extreme poverty around the world depend on forests for their livelihoods.
· There are other significant environmental impacts from the catalog cycle. The production and disposal of direct mail alone consumes more energy than three million cars.
· The manufacturing, distribution, collection and disposal of catalogs generates global warming gases as well as air and water pollution. Reducing the number of unwanted catalogs that are mailed will help the environment.
To remove your name from the mailing lists for these paper catalogs, go to www.catalogchoice.org, a free online service. It's quick & easy.
29. Towards a Simpler Life: This week dedicate time to clearing your calendar. Select one activity you don’t really have to participate in for the next three weeks. Dedicate that time to the following reflection as a three step process:
· Step One: Find out what really gives you joy and what you are good at. This is your passion.
· Steps 2 and 3 will follow over the next two weeks.
30. OH CHRISTMAS TREE. Tree farms have positively impacted the environment by reducing the number of trees taken from forests. You can also shop for a live tree or large bush this year. Follow its directions and plant it later. Or decorate a tree in your yard with weatherproof stuff for everyone to enjoy and keep presents inside to decorate a mantel or use as a table centerpiece. Artificial trees consume natural resources in production but they are reusable for many years. By the way, LED lights are way more efficient than traditional tree lights.
31. RECYCLE. Check with your city to see if it recycles trees, turning them into mulch for city parks or erosion prevention barriers after the holidays.
32. GREEN GIFTS. Many gifts are environmentally friendly ... concert, sporting events, museum and movie tickets, gift cards and certificates, battery-free gifts, even a homemade dinner.
33. SWEET CHARITY. Add a local charity to your gift list; even one dollar is a gift that helps and is truly appreciated. Alternates: Ask a local charity for its holiday wish list and give something they really need, or send a card with your pledge to volunteer an hour a month of your time.
34. MINIMIZE MAIL. Sort through all those mail order catalogs and cancel the ones you don't need. You'll save paper, ink and fuel for shipping. To remove your name from the mailing lists for paper catalogs, go to www.catalogchoice.org, a free online service. It's quick & easy.
35. SHOP LOCAL. Save fuel, support local businesses, promote interest in local food, crafts, simple handmade toys and unique items while you strengthen the local economy. Another socially responsible alternative is Ten Thousand Villages—enabling artisans to earn a fair wage and provides the opportunity for a better quality of life. Check them out at www.tenthousandvillages.com to shop online.
36. The Thermostat Rules: Warm your house to 68°F on winter days, and to 55° at night or when you’ll be out. Install a programmable thermostat to change settings for you automatically. For every degree you lower the heat, you can save 3 percent in energy costs. Do your part: by one estimate, every 100 households that practice careful thermostat regulation will reduce CO2 output by more than 30,000 pounds—15 tons—annually.
37. Fabric Softener: Liquid fabric softeners may contain derivatives of ammonium chloride (harmful to some aquatic life and a trigger for allergy and asthma symptoms). Keep it out of the wastewater stream by substituting a quarter-cup to a cup of white vinegar, which leaves your clothing soft and doesn’t leave behind any scent.
38. Bleached Out: Chlorine laundry bleach degrades to water, oxygen, and table salt, but when sent down the drain it can also produce organochlorines—suspected carcinogens and reproductive, neurological, and immune system toxins. Non-chlorinated bleaches containing hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate, or sodium perborate are viable alternatives.
39. Weighty Matters: Our ecosystem’s delicate balance means that your health and that of the environment are inextricably intertwined. As if you needed another reason to shed those extra pounds: Statistics from the University of Illinois show that our cars use a billion extra gallons of gas a year transporting heavier people. The additional aircraft fuel burned annually to account for overweight passengers amounts to 350 million gallons, according to the Centers for Disease Control—producing an extra 3.8 million tons of atmosphere-warming carbon dioxide.
40. Energy Star: When buying nearly any appliance, electronic device, home heating or cooling equipment, or insulation, look for the Energy Star rating from the federal EPA and Department of Energy. To earn the rating, products must meet strict energy efficiency guidelines; choosing rated products is one way to make energy-wise choices. Do your part: The Energy Star program helped Americans save enough energy in 2005 to avoid greenhouse gases equivalent to those emitted by 23 million cars.
41. How Dry I Am? As you plan your garden this spring, select native and drought-tolerant plants. Together, these varieties can help you limit the amount of watering you'll do this summer. For more information, visit www.xeriscape.org.
42. Start a compost pile! Gardens thrive when their soil is enriched with compost. And the grass cuttings, potato peels, eggshells, hair clippings, and other organic stuff you use stays out of the landfill. Do your part: http://vegweb.com/composting/
43. An Earth Day Resolution: In the United States, Earth Day has been observed on April 22 since 1970. A great way to make the celebration your own is to volunteer with one of the many organizations working to safeguard the environment. Or you might decide to set yourself a goal, such as refraining from driving on Sundays or “greening” a particular habit.
44. Do your part: www.volunteermatch.org can help you find green work in your area. Many city governments are also beginning to implement volunteer placement branches.
43. Drip, Drip, Drip: A leaky faucet may get on your nerves, but it’d make you really crazy if you knew how much water it wastes. A calculator at http://ga.water.usgs.gov lays it out. For instance, if three faucets each dripped 20 drops a minute, 2,777 gallons would be down the drain each year. So fix the leak!
44. Skeeter Defeaters: Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying; they also transmit disease, including the potentially deadly West Nile virus. To stop them without dangerous insecticides, attack their habitat by eliminating standing water (behind clogs in roof gutters, for instance). If draining these spots isn’t an option, drop BTI pellets—which contain mosquito-targeted, larvae-killing bacteria—into the water. For a last-resort option, try a commercial spray containing eugenol, also known as clove oil.
45. The Drive to Curb Global Warming: With summer coming on, many American families think about buying a new car. If you’re among them, consider a hybrid, which cuts both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The difference in lifetime greenhouse gas emissions is startling—75 tons of carbon dioxide in 100,000 miles for a big SUV, 40 tons for a typical sedan, and 20 tons for a Toyota Prius.
46. Marginal Savings: There is more space on the page than you think. Your computer’s common default settings are probably 12-point type and 1.25-inch left- and right-hand margins. Try using 11-point type, 1-inch left-hand margins, and 0.5-inch right-hand margins. Do your part: This simple change can help you fit 27 percent more information comfortably on a page. You will save paper and still have plenty of room on the margins.
Scriptures
Genesis 1:1, 31
Genesis 9:9-10
Leviticus 25:18-19, 23
Deuteronomy 10:14
Joshua 2:11b
Nehemiah 9:6
Psalm 19:1-4
Psalm 24:1
Psalm 96:1, 11-12
Psalm 104:24-25
Isaiah 35:1-2, 6
Isaiah 40:12, 26
Isaiah 43:20
Hosea 4:1-3
John 1:3
Colossians 1:15-16, 19-20
Revelation 4:11
Revelation 11:18