This page was updated 12/09/2008

This past summer the UU women’s retreat at Pokagon was centered on the theme of environmental issues reminding us to be keepers of the earth.  In order to help keep the issue at the fore front, but avoid bombarding people with too much information at once, the women would give the congregation a few tips each month in the newsletter for a year.  September is the first month of this on-line newsletter that’s dedicated to educating our congregation about simple things you can do for yourself, your family and the planet.  Each month you will receive four environmentally linked topics and tips along with a short list of resources so you can expand your knowledge on the topics beyond the space allowed in the newsletter and a check sheet so you can track the green actions you’ve instituted.  The UU women from the conference hope you will try adopting and spreading the word about these important, proactive environmental habits each month.  The author strongly suggests that you get familiar with your current energy usage and typical energy costs at the start of this project and track it as you institute new lifestyle habits and change out inefficient electrical devices in your home.  Please note that these monthly suggestions are simply that; you should always do your own research before making any purchases.  Additionally, the church does not endorse any particular brand or company mentioned here.  Finally, the author of the tips, Cyndi Lettau, would greatly appreciate it if you would e-mail her at Sequoia_46835@yahoo.com with your stories and pictures of the green changes you make throughout the year.  Cyndi hopes to inspire her high school students with your tales.  If you would like a copy of the tips each month to e-mail to the people in your e-address book please e-mail Cyndi.

The holiday season is here and with it loads of decidedly non-green habits that have been ingrained in the American public for the last several decades.  This December make it your pledge to experience a paradigm shift or two and start green holiday habits instead.

To start with, it’s time to ditch your shopping bags.  Whether you’re running to the grocery store or Christmas shopping, taking a reusable bag with you instead will save numerous gallons of petroleum from being used in the manufacturing of plastic bags.  It will also prevent bags from injuring animals who get them stuck around their heads or choke on them and it will keep them from filling up the limited landfill space that we have.  Most grocery stores now carry sturdy reusable bags with handles that are much more convenient for carrying your groceries; some even have liners that enable you to keep your frozen and refrigerated things cool until you get home.  You might also want to occasionally get double paper sacks for your groceries and then use them for your kitchen trash bags instead of petroleum based plastic sacks.

Instead of giving a holiday gift that will be soon forgotten in a pile with other plastic toys or shoved to the back of the closet with the rest of the sweaters that will never be worn, give a green gift that keeps on giving.  For the children or teachers in your life give an ecology themed book.  There are many great books available now and a quick trip on the Internet will reveal various titles and descriptions or, you can select one of the following: Judy Moody Saves the World by Megan McDonale, When Santa Turned Green by Vickie Perla, My Mom Hugs Trees by Robyn Ringgold, How to Turn Your Parents Green by James Russell, Journey for the Planet: A Kid’s Five Week Adventure to Create an Earth-friendly Life by David Gershon, A Hot Planet Needs Cool Kids: Understanding Climate Change and What You Can Do About It by Julie Hall, Bella’s Chocolate Surprise by Adam Guillane, About Habitats: Wetlands by Cathryn Sill, and the classic standard – The Lorax by Dr. Suess.  You can also purchase a subscription to Ranger Rick or Your Big Backyard from the National Wildlife Organization (www.nwf.org/kidzone/kzPage.cfm?siteId=2).  Kids love these beautiful magazines and they look forward to receiving something special in the mail once a month.  Additionally, you will be supporting a very important organization that helps wild animals and their habitats around the world.  For the adults in your life, you could give a subscription to National Geographic, Organic Gardening, or some other conservation minded publication.  For your boss you can give the award winning book Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value and Build Competitive Advantage by Daniel C. Esty and Andrew S. Winston.

Another way to give environmentally friendly gifts is to buy memberships to places like your local zoo, or land trust.  Located in northeast Indiana, Acres Land Trust sends out quarterly publications to its members or you could make a donation to help purchase additional forest.  For the person who has everything you may want to make a donation in their name to an organization that supports environmental causes (see www.crescentbloom.com/II/H/01.htm for a short list) or teaches sustainable farming practices to people in third world countries so that they can survive without further damaging their environments (see www.womenforwomen.org).

The third gift suggestion for the month is to buy energy efficient products.  If you’re looking for a gift in the thirty to eighty dollar range, purchase a low-flow shower head.  If you’re looking to spend a little more or you can pool your money for a larger gift, say for your parents, consider replacing an older appliance like a dishwasher with a new more energy efficient model.  You could even add more environmentally friendly insulation to a home.  Your loved one will thank you when they open their heating bills.

The final hint for the month asks you to rethink all the one time use products that you may normally use during the holidays such as plastic utensils, paper or Styrofoam plates, and wrapping paper.  Plastic utensils, plates, and cups stay in the ground for thousands of years and emit deadly toxins; use your regular dinner wear and load up your Energy Star dishwasher instead.  If you really can’t kick the throwaway habit, Google biodegradable tableware and you’ll find numerous sites that sell it online.  Additionally, save your wrapping paper and re-use it or find other creative things to wrap with such as newspaper.  You can even wrap gifts in used office paper.  Use decorative scrap booking stamps, scraps of eye-catching material, or interesting yarn to create beautiful green gift wrapping.  Christmas paper bags can also be eco-friendly if you use them multiple times and/or they’re made of recycled paper.

December’s Quick Fixes: avoid excessive Christmas lighting and participate in a local bird count to help track the health of bird populations in your area.  See: www.audubon.org/bird/cbc.

Suggested Resources: www.cityoffortwayne.org/index.php/content/view/1369/1491/, www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6539208.html, www.ecolibris.net/greenbooks.asp, Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World by Gary Hirschberg, the president and C.E.O. of Stonyfield Farm which makes organic yogurt products.

Jude Thieme (one of our new members) writes in about recycling CFLs.

One of the many benefits of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) is that they last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.  But how should we dispose of these bulbs when they do burn out?  The answer: Recycle!

Home Depot recently announced an in-store, consumer CFL recycling program at all store locations in the United States.

According to Home Depot, customers can simply bring in any expired, unbroken CFL bulbs, place them in a plastic bag, and deposit into the orange CFL collection unit.  The bulbs will then be managed by an environmental management company who will coordinate packaging, transportation, and recycling.  The CFL receptacles are located on the front end of the store near the entrance, by the returns desk, or near the exit doors inside the store.

A store finder is available on the Home Depot website to locate the store nearest you.

Many towns and cities offer recycling opportunities at local recycling centers or transfer stations.  There may also be household hazardous waste collection days; contact your local waste disposal officials for details.  State requirements and recycling opportunities vary.

Learn more about CFLs and proper disposal procedures in these fact sheets from the U.S. EPA, ENERGY STAR, lamprecycle.org, and the GE Lighting website.

Home