Greening Your Congregation - 40 ideas

1. Greening Your Congregation – 40 ideas
Green Building, Grounds and Operations Ideas for Congregations
Lighting Office Operations
1. Form MN Energy Challenge Team! 8. Turn off computers & monitors when not in use- See
www.mnenergychallenge.org www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=power_mgt.pr_power
_management
2. Sign up for a Free Lighting Audit with the One-Stop
Efficiency Shop to have a complete assessment of where 9. Buy recycled toner cartridges - Preferred Cartridges,
Koto Amagashie, Preferred Cartridges 763-424-9280 ,
your congregation can save money and energy with more
kamegashie@yahoo.com , www.preferredcartridges.com
efficient lighting, specific recommendations, referrals to
contractors, low cost financing and follow up inspections. 10. Recycle office paper & bulletins
www.greenguardian.org
Most congregations can pay for the improvements with 1
year’s worth of energy savings. call Kristen Funk 612-335- 11. Buy 100% Recycled Office Paper through group
3487. kfunk@mncee.org or Erik J. Ennen, 612-335-5823 purchasing each Spring and Fall with Eureka Recycling
651-222-7678 , www.eurekarecycling.org/bg_coop.cfm
eebnen@mncee.org Web site. www.mncee.org/oses.htm
12. Stop receiving Junk Mail and faxes www.reduce.org
3. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact
13. Ensure proper recycling of used computers and
fluorescent bulbs. Bulk purchase of of Energy Star electronics. www.greenguardian.org , www.reduce.org
CFLs available at Whole Energy & Hardware Rick Parris,
952-448-7488 www.wholeenergyandhardware.com Cleaning
4. Switch your exit signs to LED lights. Available 14. Switch to non-toxic cleaning products–
through www.mncee.org/oses.htm and Alice’s Wonder Spray, www.greenguardian.com
www.energyfederation.org/ipl/default.php Restore Products, 612.331.5979 www.restoreproducts.com;
5. Install motion sensors for lights in bathrooms H2 Orange 2 –disinfecting www.h2orange2.com Call Eric
Hagen 608-345-8827. Fundraising www.ourhouseworks.com
6. Monitor your electricity use with the SenseDat Meter
608-251-4355 www.sensedat.com or the Kill A Watt Recycling/ Zero Waste/ Composting
Meter www.smarthome.com/9034.html Hennepin County Environmental Services Angie
Timmons, 612-348-2477 angie.timmons@co.hennepin.mn.us
www.co.hennepin.mn.us/environment (waste audits)
Eureka! Recycling (waste audits) 651-222-7678
info@eurekarecycling.org www.eurekarecycling.org
Heating and Cooling Kitchen
7. Sign up for a comprehensive energy audit for your 15. Discontinue using Styrofoam and Plastic by
building’s heating and cooling systems through Xcel using China, recycled paper or biodegradable, cups,
ConservationWise For $200 a certified Xcel energy auditor plates, utensils, paper towels, toilet paper, &
would visit your congregation and assess areas for potential garbage bags. www.eurekarecycling.org
energy savings both in terms of lighting and heating and cooling. www.recycleholics.com , www.seventhgeneration.com
Low cost financing for energy improvement projects is also
available. Call Xcel Business Solutions 1-800-481-4700 x 5 16. Compost food waste & grounds
Email BSC@xcelenergy.com Web - www.xcelenergy.com and
www.greenguardian.org
8. Minnesota Retired Engineer Technical Assistance 17. Use non-phosphorus Dishwasher Soap - 802-658-
Program (MN RETAP) provides free energy and waste audits 3773 www.seventhgeneration.com
for congregations using retired engineers 612-624-1300 18. Purchase Fair Trade Food and Coffee
www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/p2/retap.cfm - www.peacecoffee.com , www.equalexchange.com ,
9. Centerpoint Energy energy audits http://landstewardshipproject.org
http://mn.centerpointenergy.com/for_your_business/energy_infor
mation/natural_energy_audit.asp 19. Replace old Refrigerators and Appliances -
10. Recommissioning Program, for larger buildings, Martha Hewett determine pay back, financing and schedule for
612-335-5865 mhewett@mncee.org replacing old coolers and appliances with energy-
www.mncee.org/frame_es.htm star approved appliances www.energystar.gov/
9. Implement your building efficiency plans. index.cfm?c=small_business.sb_congregations
Resources Compiled by the Alliance for Sustainability, Sean Gosiewski,. 612-331-1099 x 1 sean@afors.org , www.afors.org , p.1

2. Landscaping for air & water Transportation
quality 30. Organize a walk, bike, carpool to worship day and
participate in the Team Challenge for the Metro Commuter
20. Replace power mower w electric or reel to reel
Challenge in May/June ww.metrotransit.org
21. Avoid use of gas powered leaf blowers or edgers,
31. Organize an alternative commuter fair for church
especially on ozone alert days
members to consider alternative ways to get to work.
22. Avoid using phosphorus & pesticides on lawns www.metrocommuterservices.org
23. Convert some or all of the lawn to rain gardens 32. Get involved with neighborhood planning efforts for
or native plantings bike and pedestrian friendly, transit oriented development
24. Replace exotic plants (buckthorn) with natives www.tlcminnesota.org www.designforhealth.net/
25. Point down spouts away from paved surfaces 33. Encourage members of your congregation to pledge to
26. Sweep sidewalks and parking lots buy a more efficient vehicle when they buy their next car
27. Consider installing on-site storm water retention www.fueleconomy.gov , Your congregation will receive a
system, rain garden, native prairie $100 donation if a member of your congregation buys a
Metro Blooms - Becky Rice, (651) 699-2426 high-quality, used hybrid-electric car through the Alliance
becky@metroblooms.org Rain garden Workshops and www.allianceforsustainability.net , www.idealauto.org
technical assistance for Churches doing rain gardens Practice Eco Driving http://greenslowmovingvehicle.com/
www.metroblooms.org 34. Encourage members of your congregation to shop and
MN Green Roofs Council Corrie Zoll, 612-423-2048 dine at local, sustainable independent businesses The
corrie@mngreenroofs.org www.mngreenroofs.org Blue Sky Guide is a wonderful coupon book and
City of Minneapolis Storm Water Management Paul fundraising idea for youth groups – they sell for $20 and
Chellsen, 612-673-2406 paul.chellsen@ci.minneapolis.mn.us your cause earns $10 - 651-291-1989
www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/stormwater/fee/index.asp www.ecometro.com/twincities/default.aspx Each fall enjoy
Dine Fresh Dine Local - www.dinefreshdinelocal.com
Clean Air MN www.mn-ei.org/air
Metro Independent Businesses http://metroiba.org
Metro Watershed Partners www.cleanwatermn.org
Renewable Energy Capital Improvement Projects
28. Sign up to purchase renewable wind power 35. When starting a capital improvement project use
from your local utility. State wide programs see architects who know sustainable design
http://www.me3.org/issues/wind/green.html Metro AIA MN www.aia-
Congregations can participate in Xcel Energy’s mn.org/architecture_environment.cfm##
Windsource Program call 1-800-481-4700 x 5 US Green Building Council
www.xcelenergy.com –Accreditation with Center http://chapters.usgbc.org/usgbcmn
for Resource Solutions http://www.green-e.org See Cuningham Group Architecture Brian Tempas, LEED
www.moea.state.mn.us/energy/greenpower.cfm Certified, 612-379-5543 btempas@cuningham.com
www.cuningham.com/portfolio/worship/index.html
29. Install solar panel on your building or assist with Center for Sustainable Building Research/ U of MN
a neighborhood solar project. See Viragita Singh 612-625-3447 singh023@tc.umn.edu
www.solarminnesota.org , www.ips-solar.com , www.csbr.umn.edu/sustainability.html MN Sustainable
www.commerce.state.mn.us Energy Info Center Building Guide www.csbr.umn.edu/msdg.html
Innovative Power Systems (did the PV solar systems LHB Rick Carter (612) 338-2029 x 6923 www.lhbcorp.com
at St. Joan’s and Temple Israel) Ralph Jacobson, 612- Fair Trade Purchasing
623-3246 ralphj@ips-solar.com www.ips-solar.com
FreeNeRG (Solar Panel Lease) Gerardo Ruiz, 612- 36. Purchase, use and re-sell fair trade products including
605-5228 gerardo@freener-g.com Offers the first-of- coffee, palm branches, etc. www.peacecoffee.com ,
www.equalexchange.com , www.lcppm.org
its-kind solar electricity leasing opportunity initially
launched to Minneapolis and St. Paul 37. Encourage use of local/ organic/ sustainable food, &
customers.www.freener-g.com vegetarian menus for congregational events.
39. Buy Carbon Offsets - www.carbonfund.org 38. Encourage members to support local sustainable
www.carbonfreedom.org farmers- arrange a food drop off
http://wrc.umn.edu/outreach/carbon/index.html http://landstewardshipproject.org
Resources Compiled by the Alliance for Sustainability, Sean Gosiewski,. 612-331-1099 x 1 sean@afors.org , www.afors.org , p.2

3. Worship & Ritual Shape Wise Public Policies
Praying with Creation – Lectionary Prayers Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in MN Pastor Mark
Dennis Ormseth, (651) 646-4096 dhotao@mninter.net Peters, 651-224-5499 peters@lcppm.org www.lcppm.org
www.webofcreation.org/Worship/liturgy/praywith State Policy – www.fresh-energy.org
creation.htm www.mnclimatechange.us , www.mepartnership.org ,
A Season of Creation www.jrlc.org www.cleanenergyminnesota.org
For four Sundays in September we celebrate A Midwest Cap & Trade- www.gpisd.net
Season of Creation with Christ. National Policy – www.1sky.org , www.climateprotect.org ,
www.seasonofcreation.com www.ucsusa.org
Support Members to Take Action at Home and at Work
Form an Energy Challenge Team Support families in your congregation to save money and energy and track the
results for your whole congregation. A free organizing tool kit is available on line from
Neely Crane Smith, 612-335-5852 ncranesmith@mncee.org www.mnenergychallenge.org/resources/communitytools/index.php
Waste & Toxicity Reduction Tool Kit for Congregations www.greenguardian.com/c3toolkit
Sean Gosiewski, 612-331-1099 x 1 sean@afors.org www.afors.org This resource was created by Congregations Caring
for Creation (C3) and the Alliance for Sustainability. Information regarding waste and toxicity reduction was provided by
Hennepin County Environmental Services and Community POWER. This resource was created to assist congregations
with implementing a waste and toxicity reduction campaign. The tool kit includes: Introduction: Getting Started
Calendar of Activity Ideas Activity Ideas for Congregations, Adults, Teens and Children Special Event Ideas Tracking
and Evaluation Tools Waste Reduction for Internal Operations
Healthy Homes, Healthy Congregations - Lynne Holman at (612) 230-3211, lynne.holman@mnchurches.org ...
www.mnchurches.org/programs/education/healthyhomes/healthyhomes.html Healthy Legacy, www.healthylegacy.org/
Local Support Networks
Congregations Caring for Creation (C3) www.c3mn.net Down Town Cluster, Metro Clean Energy Resource Teams, Clarence
Chapin 651-695-0982 cachaplin@mac.com
Alliance for Sustainability/ www.afors.org Sustainable Community Action Network www.sustaincommunity.net Sean Gosiewski,
Program Director, 612-331-1099 sean@afors.org Terry Gips, President 612-374-4765 terrr@afor.org
Metro Clean Energy Resource Team- www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/regions/metro Diana McKeown Metro CERTs Network
Coordinator, The Green Institute 612-278-7125 dmckeown@greeninstitute.org
Lutheran Earth keeping Network – Rev. Dennis Ormseth (651) 646-4096 dhotao@mninter.net
http://www.webofcreation.org/LENS/contactscfc.html
Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in MN, Pastor Mark Peters, Pat Benson, Creation Care 612-224-5499 www.lcppm.org
Catholic Global Warming Action Team. Pat Benson, 612-224-5499 www.osjspm.org/globalwarming
Additional Resources Congregations Caring for Creation – www.c3mn.net
• Natural Step Framework Trainings – www.afors.org
• Interfaith Power and Light www.theregenerationproject.org , www.interfaithpower.org
• Minnesota Environmental Partnership, www.mepartnership.org MN – Fresh Energy www.fresh-energy.org
• Web of Creation www.webofcreation.org , Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life www.coejl.org
• EPA's energy guide for congregations http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=small_business.sb_congregations
• Earth Ministries – Greening Congregations handbook - http://www.earthministry.org/your_congregation.htm
• Union of Concerned Scientists- www.ucsusa.org Center for a New American Dream –www.newdream.org
• Living Green Expo – www.livinggreenexpo.org , Sustainable Communities Network, www.nextstep.state.mn.us
• Eco Experience www.ecoexpeerience.org Permaculture Collaborative www.permaculturecollaborative.org/
For more information please contact:
Alliance for Sustainability Terry Gips, President, 612-374-4765 terry@afors.org
Sean Gosiewski, Program Dir. 612-331-1099 x 1 sean@afors.org In the Hillel Center at the U of MN 1521 University Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414 www.afors.org
Resources Compiled by the Alliance for Sustainability, Sean Gosiewski,. 612-331-1099 x 1 sean@afors.org , www.afors.org , p.3

4. Networking Opportunities Educational Resources
C3 Fall Networking Gathering for Congregations Natural Step Framework Seminars
Sunday. Sept 21 from 2:30pm to 4:00pm - Regularly scheduled seminars - www.afors.org
First Universalist Church,
3400 Dupont Ave. So. Living Green Expo, May www.livinggreen.org
Minneapolis, MN 55408 (everyone welcome!)
Come learn what other communities of faith are doing to care Eco Experience, State Fair www.ecoexperience.org
for God’s Creation Poster www.c3mn.net
Study Courses
Down Town Congregations Cluster - Low Carbon Diet
Metro Clean Energy Resource Teams www.empowermentinstitute.net/lcd
Clarence Chapin 651-695-0982 cachaplin@mac.com - North West Earth Institute www.nwei.org
www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org - Earth Ministries www.earthministry.org
Neighborhood Sustainability Conferences Educational Films
February, 2009 Sean Gosiewski, 612-331-1099 • An Inconvenient Truth www.climatecrisis.net
sean@afors.org www.afors.org • Kilowat Ours www.kilowattours.org
• The Great Warming www.thegreatwarming.com/
• The End of Suburbia www.endofsuburbia.com/
Grant Opportunities
- Alliance/ C3/ Hennepin County Waste Reduction Pilot Projects 612-331-1099 x 1 www.afors.org
- Community Power –www.greenguardian.com/grants
- Minnehaha Creek Watershed District www.minnehahacreek.org
- Mississippi Watershed Management Organization www.mwmo.org
- Hennepin County – $1,000 Native Plant Grants for Restoration and Rain Garden Projects – contact Metro
Blooms www.metroblooms.org
- Free Recycling Bins http://bingrant.org/home.htm
- Climate and Energy Partnerships http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/res_detail.cfm?id=4041
Form a Creation Care Team in your Congregation www.webofcreation.org
• Many congregations in Minnesota have formed teams to sustain their environmental efforts from year to year. Visit
www.c3mn.net and www.webofcreation.org
• Inform your congregation’s leaders of your interest and commitment, and encourage their involvement.
• Develop a Congregational Action Plan in the area of:
o Worship
o Education – children, youth, adults
o Buildings and Grounds
o Discipleship at Home and Work
o Public Ministry
• Work with the appropriate committees to carry out the Plan.
• Promote your identity as a congregation that cares for creation.
• Meet regularly to follow the Action Plan and to develop new projects.
• Consider a project to benefit the larger community.
• Work to keep the life and activities of the Green Team active
Resources Compiled by the Alliance for Sustainability, Sean Gosiewski,. 612-331-1099 x 1 sean@afors.org , www.afors.org , p.4