Small Steps to
big Changes
Small changes do make a difference, says Luke Wilson, marketing director of A Rocha, a Christian organization that both raises green awareness and physic- ally creates conservation projects.
Organize your own Good Seed Sundays, which emphasize living and eating
lighter. A Rocha has a whole host of materials to help ( www.goodseedsunday.com).
The emphasis is on eating lighter – seasonal, local with less meat – and living lighter
by using transit, walking or carpooling to church. The unseen benefit is things like
carpooling also foster closer community connections.
Arrange for an energy audit – your money could literally be going out the window
in escaped heat. Greening Sacred Spaces does these at low cost. ( www.greening-
sacredspaces.net)
Plant a community garden – not only a good way to grow food (maybe for donating
to a local food bank), but also an effective – and natural – means of outreach.
If a new boiler is not an option, consider Intellidyne, a microprocessor that guarantees 10 per cent energy savings, and an estimated payback time of six to 24 months.
( www.intellidynellc.com). n
prehensive city-wide composting program
that provides large bins for meat, dairy and
vegetable scraps.
And on the last Sunday of each month
members are encouraged to walk, bike or
take transit, wear clothing made in Canada,
not use oil-based makeup and eat meals
made from local produce.
When leaky stained glass windows
needed repair, Resurrection investigated
green options and discovered Lexan
(a plastic sheeting commonly used on
motorcycles) effectively prevents wind
from whistling through the holes. They’ve
switched to energy efficient CFL lights.
The congregation conducted a heat audit,
and have committed to replacing doors
and adding insulation over the next 10
years. Five years ago, when the roof need-
ed replacing, they chose grey shingles,
which absorb less heat than black.
ALEx NEWmAN of Toronto is a senior
writer at Faith Today.
Things You Can Do
right Now
Green Church offers many tips ( www.greenchurch.ca) conveniently posted according to the time of year. The tips are simple:
•;Use;cloths;for;wiping;up;instead;of;paper;towels.
•;Add;environmental;charities;to;your;missions;list,;or;help;pay
for a well in Africa where dirty water is the biggest contributor
to childhood disease and death.
•;Make;Earth;Hour;a;time;of;prayer;and;reflection.
•;Buy;local;bread;and;wine,;purchase;fair;trade;coffee,;do;away
with Styrofoam coffee cups.
•;Plant;trees;in;windy;locations;for;wind;breaks;to;reduce;energy
bills.
•;Replace;regular;light;bulbs;with;CFLs;(compact;fluorescent
lights).
•;Lower;the;temperature;on;the;hot;water;heater.
•;Add;a;timer;on;the;furnace.
•;Set;your;printer;on;double-sided;–;or;better;yet,;don’t;print;at
all.
Nancy Sleeth, managing director of Blessed Earth, an American
organization with ties to A Rocha, finds “The best way for churches
to begin going green is to first dig deeply into what the Bible has
to say about caring for the earth.” The organization’s film series
might help start the discussion: www.blessedearthfilms.org. And
the tip sheet is a good guideline: www.blessedearth.org FT
