UCC Green Sanctuary Program

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Friday, November 21, 2008

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"A Green Sanctuary is a congregation that lives out its commitment to the Earth by creating a sustainable life style for its members as individuals and as a faith community. Sustainable living is not about our material comfort (though these choices are an important part of the overall life style); it is about choosing to live in a way that nurtures life, builds relationships, and rejects material consumption as the sole determinant of happiness." (Adopted to guide the UCC Green Sanctuary Program. Quoted from UU Ministry of Earth website: http://uuministryforearth.org/grs_overview.htm)

How Do I Recycle Stuff?

These days we are assaulted with products and packaging that are difficult if not impossible to recycle. Finding ways to recycle at least some of these items often involves a significant amount of time and can bring mixed results. There is an easier way to learn about not only the Charleston County Recycling System but how to recycle other items. Our committee chair maintains a constantly growing website on this topic. Included are some videos from our December 2007 Recycling Center tour if you're interested.

Project List

Insulation for Gage Hall
Nature-themed reading materials implemented at Meminger School.
Environmentally-themed movie showing after a church service each year.
Tour of the Charleston County Recycling Center for UU members.
Set up an electronic waste disposal drive (computers, monitors, tv's, vcr's, etc.).
Implement inkjet and toner cartridge recycling for church office and congregation.
Discontinue usage of disposable dishes and utensils in Gage Hall.
Configure rain barrel behind Gage Hall for use by Churchyard Committee.
Arrange an eco-themed speaker for Sunday Forum at least once per year.
Hold an eco-themed church service annually.
Institute policy of purchasing only phosphate and fragrance-free cleaning products.
Institute policy of purchasing only fair-trade, shade-grown coffee for church events.
Implement an electronic Gateway distribution that church members may opt-into to eliminate paper mailing.
Replace many incandescent lights with compact fluorescents.

Survey Complete!

The YRUU surveyed our members, visitors and friends about their environmental attitudes. The questions on the survey were abbreviated from the environmental footprint quiz on www.myfootprint.org. Out of 265 members, we received 106 responses, and this is what we found:

Category...Acres
FOOD... 6.2
MOBILITY... 4
SHELTER... 8.4
GOODS/SERVICES... 11.1
TOTAL FOOTPRINT... 30 ACRES
IN COMPARISON, THE AVERAGE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT IN YOUR COUNTRY IS 24 ACRES PER PERSON. WORLDWIDE, THERE EXIST 4.5 BIOLOGICALLY PRODUCTIVE ACRES PER PERSON.

IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE YOU, WE WOULD NEED 6.7 PLANETS!!

Strong Support from the Congregation:
94% of our members, friends and guests outwardly expressed their support of the NEW Green Sanctuary Program. One of our goals is to introduce ways to reduce our environmental footprint. Watch for the Carpool Board in Gage Hall this Sunday after the service; Sign up to find a Carpool Buddy!

Reduce Carbon Emissions 80% by 2050

Our world is in a state of ill health. Our temperature is rising; severe, unpredictable and unprecedented weather patterns are continually emerging; in the midst of a great extinction, species are disappearing from the earth each day; and the waters that lap up against our shores are gradually reaching further inland. The evidence is overwhelming that these changes are due to human activity, specifically the emissions of carbon gasses. And those who are well-off enough to live the most carbon producing, over-consuming lifestyles, can more easily guard against these environmental changes, while those who have access to fewer resources suffer disproportionately. As citizens of the largest carbon emissions producing country in the world, we have the responsibility and the opportunity to begin to heal our world. In both houses of Congress, legislation has been introduced that would dramatically reduce our nation's carbon emissions and help turn the tide on global warming. Tell your representative that it is past time to act. http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/UUA/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=12260

Carpooling Assistance

A new website called Carolina Commuter allows you to efficiently find people with whom to carpool. This could be for your daily commute to work, a one time trip, or even running errands across town. The engine is quite powerful and allows you to specify many different variables during the search. If you're hesitant, just think about how you would save on gas, wear and tear on your vehicle, and stress from traffic. Not to mention the reduction in ground-level air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions.

Green Sanctuary Announcements

Useful Links

Eden Keepers

Contacts

	Name	Role	Email	Telephone	Telephone 2
	Jonathan Lamb	Committee Chair		843-469-0654

The YRUU surveyed our members, visitors and friends about their environmental attitudes. The questions on the survey were abbreviated from the environmental footprint quiz on www.myfootprint.org. Out of 265 members, we received 106 responses, and this is what we found:

Category...Acres FOOD... 6.2 MOBILITY... 4 SHELTER... 8.4 GOODS/SERVICES... 11.1 TOTAL FOOTPRINT... 30 ACRES IN COMPARISON, THE AVERAGE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT IN YOUR COUNTRY IS 24 ACRES PER PERSON. WORLDWIDE, THERE EXIST 4.5 BIOLOGICALLY PRODUCTIVE ACRES PER PERSON.

IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE YOU, WE WOULD NEED 6.7 PLANETS!!

Category...Acres
FOOD... 6.2
MOBILITY... 4
SHELTER... 8.4
GOODS/SERVICES... 11.1
TOTAL FOOTPRINT... 30 ACRES
IN COMPARISON, THE AVERAGE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT IN YOUR COUNTRY IS 24 ACRES PER PERSON. WORLDWIDE, THERE EXIST 4.5 BIOLOGICALLY PRODUCTIVE ACRES PER PERSON.