Sustainable Living
- (Minimum of 4 projects)
- Make the campus
a "Green Campus" as part of its renovation
- Work towards a more environmentally
friendly landscaping at the Church
- Conduct
a campaign to promote earth-friendly food consumption
- Explore feasibility of installing
solar power on campus
- Conduct a campaign
on resource reduction on campus
- Revive and promote composting
on campus
- Promote use of nontoxic cleaners
on campus
- Representation on San
Diego Canyon Campaign/Coalition
- Information on improving automobile
gas mileage
- Encourage environmental action
in other First Church groups and committees
- Join California Interfaith
Power and Light
- Promote purchase of Renewable
Energy Credits
How to Help Out with an Action
Item
If you are interested in helping out with any Action
Item, please contact
our EarthSpirit Chairpersons and they will get
you in touch with our Action Item Leaders.
Make
the campus a "Green Campus" as part of its
renovation
Overview: Make the campus
a “Green Campus“ as part of its renovation.
Participate on the Campus Renovation Team to see that
environmental principles are included in planning, design
and renovation of Bard Hall, as well as other possible
changes to the campus.
Target Audience: Campus
Renovation Team, staff, project manager, and architectural
team.
Status
Update: Ongoing
- Summer 2006 developed list of desired environmental
criteria and hired architect for project who has “green”
experience (LEED certified). EarthSpirit Team members
are sitting on Campus Renovation Team (CRT).
CRT decided in January 2007 to pursue a campus master
plan before deciding on direction for Bard Hall. Environmental
focus group was held in March.
- 6/10/2007 A Campus Masterplan was submitted which
outlines the direction, and this plan takes into account environmental issues.
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Work
towards a more environmentally friendly landscaping
at the Church
Overview: Work towards
a more environmentally friendly landscaping at church
to promote xeriscape techniques overall and planting
of native plants at open space interface. Incorporate
native and native- coexistent planting and related minimal
irrigation and maintenance practices, including the
following elements.
A. Current and near-term improvements (Bard Hall and
Memorial Wall/Garden projects), including how plantings
and especially irrigation (drip, microspray, etc.,
as determined by a professional) can be staged into
the overall site irrigation system.
B. Longer range evolution toward a campus-wide native
plant environment, including considerations for maintenance
and irrigation systems.
Timeline: Bard Hall
and Memorial Garden projects have timeline dependent
upon timeline of Campus Renovation Team above.
Target
Audience: Congregation at large for education
and consensus. Staff or professional consultants for
implementation.
Status
Update: Temporarily On Hold
- Once Campus Master Plan has been accepted by congregation,
team will have to design landscaping to fit within
plan. NOTHING PLANNED YET.
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Conduct
a campaign to promote earth-friendly food consumption.
Overview: Conduct a campaign
to promote earth-friendly food consumption (locally
grown, plant-based, organic, non-genetically modified
food) at church and in members’ personal lives.
Explore becoming a drop-off for community farming co-op
or community supported agriculture.
Timeline:
- Fall 2006 conduct 2 religious education classes
on earth-friendly food.
- Spring 2007 conduct 2 more food related classes
and make signage for church potlucks or dinners indicating
vegetarian/vegan options and educate groups using
the kitchens about using signs.
- Fall - winter 2007/2008 hold tour(s) of local markets/farmer’s
markets where people can get locally grown and organic
foods.
- Summer-fall 2007 explore CSA drop-off option at
church.
Target
Audience: Members of the congregation at large,
as well as leaders of groups holding meals at church
Status
Update: Ongoing
- Fall 2006 conducted 2 religious education classes
on earth-friendly food.
- April 18 and 25, 2007 held second set of classes
- March 25, 2007 Worship service for Earth Day,
held with sermonette focused on making environmental
food choices.
- July 2007 Signs made for potlucks or dinners.
- Fall 2007 Environmentally friendly kitchen procedures are being developed for church campus.
- PROGRESS BEING MADE.
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Explore
feasibility of installing solar power on campus
Overview: Explore feasibility and opportunities for implementing a solar power (photovoltaic) program for our church community. Determine & present ecological, financial and non-tangible advantages of having solar power at church. Work with the staff to monitor and minimize electrical consumption and plan for installing a solar power system. Provide information and encouragement to congregants thinking about installing solar power on private property
1. Analyze past electrical bills for usage patterns; obtain and install a meter capable of recording usage over 15 minute intervals; determine high usage times and isolate where high usage is occurring.
2. Obtain a current energy audit from SDG&E and investigate the cost and possible value of a professional energy saving analysis from an independent source.
3. Work with the church staff and the resource reduction campaign to make recommended changes to decrease our electrical usage including roof and wall insulation, draft stops, timed switches, improved lighting fixtures and dishwasher heating methods.
4. Determine optimum locations for system components (minimum cost to install and maximum efficiency),
5. Determine what kind of panels would look best, be most efficient, have the longest life and require the least maintenance over time for our application,
6. Investigate what other churches have done,
7. Research budget considerations, options for financing (including commercial loans, loans from members, special fundraising, investment opportunities)
8. Determine ecological, financial and non-tangible advantages of installing a solar power system at 1st Church and present findings to the staff, board and congregation
9. Investigate development of documentary information (such as a film, web page, or brochure) for public distribution.
10. Provide educational information at 1st Church for home and business owners about sizing a solar system, pricing, financing, current rebates and tax credits. determine where the panels could go (possibly parking
lot cover or entry, Bard Hall roof, other buildings,
covered walkway).
Target
Audience: Staff and members of First UU Church and Community at Large
1. Ministers
2. Board
3. Administration
4. Membership
5. Community (UU Publications, GA workshop (how we did it), Newspapers, TV, Magazines, Websites)
Status
Update: Ongoing
- SDG&E will install a new meter at no charge that will record usage every 15 minutes.
- A meter (available free on loan) has been arranged to monitor particular circuits during high usage times and isolate the biggest energy draws on campus.
- Shaded and sunny areas facing south have been identified (from photos taken in December 2007 and April 2008 of the campus from the UCSD Medical Center Parking Lot) for use in selecting location(s) for panel installation.
- Estimates are being requested from several contractors along with their suggestions for types of panels and locations.
- Information on rebates, tax credits and methods for funding new solar systems are being gathered.
- The committee & EarthSpirit Team recommends that solar panels not be part of the new Bard Hall Building Plan for the following reasons: 1) Rebates may run out by the time the building is completed; 2) Large portions of the Bard Hall Roof are shaded by tall trees; 3) Until solar panels are operational, we can’t benefit from the new SDG&E rate structure to reduce our electrical bill and become a model to our congregants, other non-profit organizations and the community.
PROGRESS BEING MADE.
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Conduct
a campaign on resource reduction on campus
Overview:
Conduct a campaign on resource reduction in the areas
of energy conservation, expansion of recycling, water
conservation, and paper use on campus and in the homes
of church members/friends. Develop policies to support
these efforts.
Objective: Assess, design, and implement a campus project
to reduce, reuse, and recycle resources in an environmentally
sensitive manner.
Focus: Reduction in consumption: Energy conservation,
Water conservation, Increased recycling, Use of recycled
products
Goal: Some implementation started in Spring 2007 and will continue into 2008.
Intention:
-To work with
the staff actively rather than in isolation and later
impose decision on the staff
-To work with Congregation to educate about reduction
of resource consumption and to support the actions of
the staff
-To establish Administrative/Congregational policies
for Resource Reduction.
-To demonstrate tangible evidence of Resource Reduction
by June 1, 2007
Timeline:
- Late 2006 - Organize a joint action group with EarthSpirit
and Staff
-Define the intent of the group
-Review Congregational Survey
-Define the problems
-Brainstorm solutions
-Prioritize and check feasibility of possible solutions
-Communicate with larger group (EarthSpirit and Congregation)
-Work to establish policies
- early Spring 2007-Implement solutions
- late Spring 2007 into 2008- Evaluate progress
- July 2007 - Report to Earth Spirit on progress
Target
Audience: All who use campus: staff, congregation,
visitors, pre-school.
Status
Update: Ongoing
- An article in the Window elicited good response
to our request to have Congregants switch to electronic
only editions. The staff continues to improve
recycling and reuse.
- All rooms now have recycle bins with instructions
on what can be recycled.
- Repeated announcements in the Window and forms available
on patio have decreased the amount of paper used by
increasing the numbers who receive the Window by e-mail
only. PROGRESS BEING MADE.
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Revive
and promote composting on campus
Overview:
Revive and promote composting on campus
- Establish a system of collecting compostable materials
from the places using food e.g. Bard Hall kitchen, Room
112 kitchen, Administration building, Preschool and
gardens.
- Examine and evaluate feasibility of using the present
3 bins built five years ago versus other composting
systems for campus
- Establish compost committee to collect from the kitchen
bins and layer a successful quickly composting pile,
turning and watering it regularly
- Teach kitchen users and gardeners what and what not
to compost
- Connect with the 4 other UU churches in SD especially
if they are also starting composting
-To demonstrate tangible evidence of Resource Reduction
by June 1, 2007
Timeline:
- Survey present kitchen users and gardeners for their
ideas about best way to compost and estimate how much
compostable materials could be collected weekly.
Visit the City Environmental Services Dept. to view
various composting systems and kitchen collection
bins then present this info to Earth Spirit team to
decide on either keeping present system or instituting
new one. We can also have displays on the patio Sundays
in November 2006 picturing various composting methods and
where church members can get info. to purchase composters
and attend seminars – in time for Xmas presents
– Dec 2006
Establish compost team to teach kitchen users what
and how to compost. Included is a list of good and
bad things attached to each kitchen compost collector
as well as the composting bins.
Evaluate the effectiveness of chosen compost method
and if changes are needed – by June 2007.
If successful, open composting up to church members
unable to compost at home.
Decide what to do with finished compost – July
2007
Target
Audience: Users of the various kitchens: Bard
Hall, Room 115, Admin building, preschool and gardeners.
Church members interested in starting composting at
their homes.
Youth to see if they want to help “manage”
the compost as a social action project (layering, turning,
watering).
5 other UU churches in SD especially if they are also
starting composting
Status
Update: Ongoing
- 11/06 Started having a table on patio after services
to hand out composting info. and to answer questions.
Champions met at the compost bin to look at the watering
situation for the 3 bins. They purchased collection
containers and made signs with a list of things that
people can and can’t be put into the one bin
to put it up by the bins and with each kitchen collector.
- 5/1/07 Met with church administrator to clarify composting process
to take into account health dept. restrictions.
- 5/30/07 Included composting encouragement in draft
policy for environmentally friendly kitchen use.
PROGRESS BEING MADE.
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Promotoe
use of nontoxic cleaners at First Church
Overview:
Promote use of nontoxic cleaners at First Church of
San Diego currently uses cleaning products which have
varying levels (some high, some low) of toxicity to
humans/living beings. Such products include: dishwasher
soap, detergent soap, floor cleaner, window shiner,
disinfectant spray, and hand soap. The action is to
promote the use of alternative, less toxic cleaners.
This promotion will be done in concert with church staff,
and will include use of bulk discounts to save money
on the products, or buying the products ourselves (EST).
Timeline:
- First, a list of products, then their alternatives
is needed. This can
be provided by October 2007, as an inventory is needed
of
the church kitchen, bathrooms, and janitorial cleaners.
The task can be completed by January 2008, depending
on various factors including
cleaning product availability, shipping and handling
times, and staff
approval.
Target
Audience: The target is those individuals using
cleaning products at church, covering nearly everyone
if soap is considered.
Status
Update: Ongoing
- Staff and EarthSpirit Team member are investigating
possible products.
PROGRESS BEING MADE
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Provide EarthSpirit Team representation on the Canyons Coalition
Overview:
Provide EarthSpirit Team representation on the San Diego
Canyons Campaign/Coalition, a local Sierra Club body
consisting of Friends of Canyon groups, to protect habitat,
flora, fauna of local canyons
Timeline:
- Join coalition in the Fall of 2006.
Target
Audience: EarthSpirit Team member sitting on
coalition and providing information to the team or to
the congregation.
Status
Update: Ongoing
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Create
educational information about improving autombile gas
mileage
Overview:
Create educational information about improving
car gas mileage and share it with the congregation.
Timeline:
Target
Audience: Members and friends of the Congregation
Status
Update: On Hold
- No steps taken, team decision to delay action until new volunteer wishes to work on this.
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Reach
out to other Church committes to invite environmental
action
Overview:
Reach out to all First UU Church committees and
groups to invite them to do one Earth-centered action
or activity related to their area of interest during
2008. Offer to have a member of EarthSpirit Team meet
with them to help decide on an activity.
Timeline:
- Send out invitations by October 2008.
Target
Audience: Leaders of committees and groups at
First Church
Status
Update: On Hold
- No steps taken, team decision to delay action until more progress has been made on other actions.
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Join
California Interfaith Power and Light
Overview:
Join California Interfaith Power and Light and
attend the meetings of the San Diego chapter to learn
more about energy conservation efforts and to participate
with other community groups/churches in environmental
efforts.
Timeline:
- November/December 2007 start attending meetings.
Target
Audience: EarthSpirit member will attend and
share information/ideas/resources with participants
from other faith communities.
Status
Update:
- New EarthSpirit Team representative identified. He is contacting group to find out about meetings.
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Promote the purchase of Renewable Energy Credits
Overview:
Educate the congregation about and promote the
purchase of Renewable Energy Credits. Provide education
via newsletter and patio table on the concept of energy
certificates and promotion of their purchase by individuals.
Challenge members of the congregation to make a directed
donation to the church to purchase energy certificates
to offset the pollution generated by the church's use
of electricity. Prior to that action, we will
have an assessment made of the church’s energy
use and proposal presented by renewable energy companies
that we can use to conduct the challenge. For
instance, assume the church uses 4000kwh of electricity
per month. The offset for this might be about
$50 to purchase the equivalent energy certificates. The
action involves finding a number of people who would
be willing to donate that $50, either one time, or for
several months.
Timeline:
Target
Audience: Anyone in congregation who pays an electric
bill. People in the congregation who believe in
renewable energy and have the means and willingness
to subsidize purchase of energy certificates to offset
church electricity use.
Status
Update: On Hold
- No steps taken, team decision to delay action until volunteer wanting to do this action is available.
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