Congregations to Pilot Program for Sustainability

By Jim Babcock The Interfaith Green Network of OP/RF has agreed to participate in a pilot program to begin implementing the PlanItGreen Sustainability Plan. In an upcoming workshop, congregation representatives will learn about and discuss benchmarking metrics for three of the top areas of concern as identified by the Sustainability Plan: energy, water, and waste.  The workshop will be held Monday, March 5, 2012, 7-8:30 pm, at the Oak Park Main Library, Veterans Room, 2^nd Floor, and is presented by the Interfaith Green Network, the Delta Institute, and Seven Generations Ahead. All congregations are encouraged to join this pilot program, and share experiences, learn how to save money, and gain inspiration from others who are working to clean up the environment.

In the pilot program, participating congregations will first record usage over the past year in each of these three areas.  Next, each congregation will set reduction goals and identify steps to reduce use of energy and water, and the amount of waste that goes to the landfill.

PlanItGreen Goals

In the energy area, the PlanItGreen Sustainability Plan calls for energy use reduction by 3% per year for 10 years, through energy efficiency measures. It also calls for an increase in the rate of diversion of waste from landfills to increase from the current overall 38% rate to 50% by 2015. And it calls for a reduction of potable water consumption and storm water runoff. The Interfaith Green Network sees working toward conservation goals as an opportunity to both save money over time and to become better stewards of earth’s resources.

Future pilot program events include a follow-up luncheon meeting for church staff, such as building engineers and business managers, scheduled for Monday, March 19, 12-1:30 pm, at St. Giles Church. And the pilot program will progress with a meeting in April, date TBD, to continue to discuss the many practical options and strategies for attaining the congregations’ goals.

To register, or for more information email sallystovall@gmail.com.

Congregations Can Make a Big Difference!

The Energy Star for Congregations web site asks -- Did you know?? If America’s more than 370,000 houses of worship cut energy use by 10 percent…

• Nearly $315 million would be saved for congregations’ missions and other priorities.
• More than 1.8 billion kWh of electricity would be available without additional cost and pollution.
• More than 1.3 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented, equivalent to the emissions of about 240,000 cars, or to planting nearly 300,000 acres of trees.

But, 30% savings are typical...

How much difference can they make in Oak Park-River Forest??

Representatives from 17 Oak Park and River Forest congregations gathered at the Oak Park Library on Monday, March 5th, to learn about a pilot program for reducing energy, waste and water, as part of the PlanItGreen sustainability plan.  Jim Babcock welcomed the group and inspired and challenged us with a reading from the "Declaration of the Jewish Environmental and Energy Imperative -- a Call to Action."

For if we do not do these things, who will do them? Though we are neither prophets nor the sons and daughters of prophets, are we not Earth’s custodians, guardians of a creation entrusted to us by God for all future generations, assigned to choose life? Call us watchmen, call us sentinels, call us your brothers and your sisters, who turn to you in every tongue of request: Join with us, that we may together restore what has been ruined, make straight the crooked way, preserve, protect, and cherish the bounty that is ours to tend and ours to bequeath, repaired, to those yet to come.

Kindy Kruller, of the Delta Institute, presented the PlanItGreen goals in the areas of Energy, Waste and Water, along with low cost and higher cost strategies that can be used to lower energy and water usages and the amount of waste that goes to landfills.  She also shared guidelines for implementation and resources that will provide more details.  See below to find links to the various resources shared in the power point presentation.

The congregations then met in smaller groups to explore what this might look like in their own congregations.  Congregations shared plans, such as conducting an energy audit, and planting a native garden -- which reduces stormwater runoff among other benefits.

The next event planned to support the congregational benchmarking process is a luncheon on March 19th, noon - 1:30pm, for building engineers and trustees or others responsible for the building and grounds of congregational facilities.  Click here to access a flyer for the event.

Energy Resources:

•Portfolio Manager

•Energy Star for Congregations

•ComEd Audit

Waste Resources:

•Green Community Connections - Reduce/Reuse/Recycle

•Illinois Recycling Association

•Oak Park Village website

Water Resources

•Water Sense

•Energy Star

Oak Park Website

Congregations to Pilot Strategies to Reduce Energy, Waste, Water

Submitted by James Babcock The congregations of Oak Park and River Forest have been invited to participate in a pilot program to begin implementing the PlanItGreen Sustainability Plan. Many of us in the faith community were very active in the development of this plan which was formally adopted in June, 2011. Now is our opportunity to continue to show leadership in the community by putting the plan into action.  To support this work in congregations, the Interfaith Green Network, along with PlanItGreen consultants from Seven Generations Ahead and Delta Institute, will host a Benchmarking Workshop, March 5, 2012, 7-8:30 pm, Oak Park Main Library, Veterans Room, 2^nd Floor.Participating congregations will work collaboratively on the three topic areas of Energy, Water, and Waste. The first step is for each congregation to accurately record recent usage—to determine in a unified way benchmarks against which future performance can be measured. The next step is for each congregation to identify steps to reduce use of energy and water, and to reduce the amount of waste that goes into the landfill. This will be an opportunity both to save money over time and to become better stewards of earth’s resources.

Subjects covered at the workshop include:

--detailed instructions on how to collect the data

--relevant strategies on how to achieve our goals for energy, waste and water reduction

--hands-on training

--we will break out into small congregation teams to discuss next steps and pledges for annual energy, water, and waste reduction

--we will share experiences with other congregations and gain encouragement and inspiration from our collective actions

Congregations are encouraged to have a team a 2-5 representatives at the workshop including faith leaders, trustees, members of environmental/stewardship committees, business managers, building and grounds committee members, and all others who understand the sacredness of the Earth and who feel called to exercise their responsibility for its protection.

Please join us and share this invitation with others in your congregation! To register or for more information email sallystovall@gmail.com.

Faith and Place Lobby Day - Thursday, March 29th

Environmental Lobby Day – Thursday, March 29, 2012 We will travel to Springfield to meet with our legislators and ask for their support on these important issues.  Cost for the trip is $50, which includes bus transportation, lunch and dinner.  Bus leaves from River Forest United Methodist Church, for Springfield at 6 AM, returning 7 PM.  Join Unity Temple, Euclid Avenue United Methodist , Good Shepherd Lutheran and other local congregations on this bus.

As faith communities we have much to say about the care and treatment of creation. The interfaith organization, Faith in Place, helps Illinois congregations move beyond our local congregations and join with others in influencing our state’s legislature.   Advocacy for (and against) policies that are being considered in our legislative bodies are an important part of the democratic process.  The following two events will give you an opportunity to learn more about the advocacy process and to have an impact on state policy.

Faith In Place Policy Workshop  -  Sunday, February 26, 2012 / 2:00-4:00p.m. 

Join us for the policy workshop at Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 875 Lake Street, Oak Park, which will introduce participants to the Faith in Place legislative strategy for 2012, and get us ready to write letters, make phone calls, hold in-district visits and go to Springfield with us to advocate for the sustainable state we want.

This year's efforts will focus on the fracking regulation which we got through the Senate but not the House in 2011.  We're very hopeful it will pass this year, with everyone's efforts.  Advocacy efforts will also be focused on a new bill designed to expand the rights of citizens to look to their own interests when they are impacted adversely by environmentally destructive activity, and a bill that would assess permit fees from CAFO's (Concentrated Animal Feed Operations) for the industrial wastes they produce.  Come and  meet colleagues from other congregations who are exploring a more active civic presence motivated by the values of their faiths.

Environmental Lobby Day – Thursday, March 29, 2012

We will travel to Springfield to meet with our legislators and ask for their support on these important issues.  Cost for the trip is $50, which includes bus transportation, lunch and dinner.  Bus leaves Oak Park / River Forest for Springfield at 6 AM, returning 7 PM.  Join Unity Temple, Euclid Avenue United Methodist , Good Shepherd Lutheran and other local congregations on this bus.

Help protect our world.  Get on the bus!

Winter Markets in Oak Park March 4th & 24th

Winter markets coming to OPRF area:

Sunday, Mar 4, 2012 | 8:30am-1 pm St. Giles Catholic Parish, 1025 Columbian Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

Saturday, Mar 24, 2012 | 9 am-1 pm Euclid Avenue UMC 405 Euclid Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

Farmers & vendors at this week's market:

Read more about all of the farmers! ~ Dennanne Farm                                        ~ Katherine Anne Confections ~ Herbally Yours                                           ~ Kinkoona Farms ~ Maggie's Munchies                                    ~ River Valley Ranch ~ Ruth and Phil's Gourmet Ice Cream       ~ Urban Canopy ~ Scotch Hill Farm                                         ~ Whimsical Acres

Download and print a copy of the complete scedule!

How does intentional community living help promote an ecofriendly, spiritually rich way of life?

Submitted by Adam Wilson

Living in Intentional Community, Part One

Sunday, Jan. 15^th 9:30-10:45am Intentional community has been a Christian practice since the time of the early church. Lead Pastor Julie Harley will describe the elements of this lifestyle and explain her project to found an intentional co-housing community in Oak Park this spring.

Living in Intentional Community, Part Two

Sunday, Jan. 22^nd 9:30-10:45am It is possible to practice elements of intentional community even if you are living in an apartment, condo or single-family home. How does intentional community living help promote an ecofriendly, spiritually rich way of life?

 Classes are at First United Church of Oak Park and are led by lead pastor Julie Harley 848 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301, 708.386.5215, www.firstunitedoakpark.com

Interfaith Green Network Meeting - Tuesday, January 10th, 7pm @ the Oak Park Main Library

Submitted by Richard Alton

All Oak Park and River Forest Congregations are invited to attend the next meeting of the Interfaith Green Network Meeting on Tuesday, January 10th, 7:00pm at the Oak Park Main Library.  The purpose of this group is to work together to become better stewards of the earth in our congregations and our community. The agenda for this meeting include:

• Ways congregations can participate in the Oak Park River Forest Sustainability plan (PlanItGreen)
• Plans for an event to call attention to the 50th anniversary of the publication of Rachel Carson's ground-breaking book, Silent Spring
• Discussion of how social justice issues relate to sustainability issues
• Networking and sharing of sustainability initiatives big and small undertaken in congregations

Please join us as we share information and support one another's efforts.

Community Gardening at Ascension

by John Owens At Ascension Catholic Church in Oak Park the highlight of 2011 was the launching of the community vegetable garden. After a year and a half of planning, our raised beds were constructed as the Eagle Scout project of parishioner Robert Corbeil. Starting a little later in June, crops were soon thriving in compost from Growing Power. Our committee combined our locally grown harvest with contributions from the gardens of parishioners to provide fresh vegetables to the food pantry of our sharing parish, St. Martin des Porres, on Chicago’s west side.

In November the group co-sponsored with the Shawnash Institute an enlightening program on the practice of aquaculture which is taking hold in several Chicago communities. Professor Emanuel Pratt of Chicago State described the practice and the efforts he is leading that address issues of nutrition and sustainability.

Amid the cold and snow of January Ascension’s Community Garden group will be meeting to address membership, expanding our beds, education, advocacy and emerging local issues.

Related Article:

Aquaponics Projects to be featured in talk at Ascension School

Making a Difference with Low Cost Green Actions at Oak Park Temple

by Melanie Weiss Many religious congregations in Oak Park and River Forest are tackling green initiatives that reduce, reuse and recycle and at the same time show congregants the importance of living sustainably and caring for Mother Earth.

Oak Park Temple on Harlem Avenue is one example of a local congregation that has embraced a number of mostly low to no-cost green actions that are making a huge difference to the congregations’ 500 families.

Bike Racks Installed

Oak Park Temple member Pamela Brookstein founded a volunteer group at the congregation called Green Chaverim about five years ago. Since then, the temple has become “greener.” For instance, Oak Park Temple took advantage of a village program where the public works department will install bike racks at no charge on public property, so they added bike racks in front of the building. Please contact Bill McKenna at 358-5728 to get more information about this program.

Pamela also helped to establish a more user-friendly recycling program after receiving a donation of new recycling bins from Oak Park Public Works. Contact Karen Rozmus at 358-5708 for information on that program.

Garden Produce Shared with OP Food Pantry

In May, Oak Park Temple established a thriving garden, with volunteers tending to it on a rotating schedule and a portion of the bounty being donated to the Oak Park Food Pantry. “Each person would weed, water and pick what was ripe each week,” explained Pamela. This fall during the Jewish harvest holiday of Sukkot, the Green Chaverim will cook a Shabbat Friday night dinner for members of the congregation using food harvested from the garden.

Another successful endeavor has been the commitment to using non disposable silverware and china at temple events. The congregation also hosts a Speaking of Green series that brings in presenters on a variety of green topics. This February Oak Park’s Waste Reduction Manager, Karen Rozmus, will be the featured speaker.

Free Energy Audit

Oak Park Temple also applied for and received a free energy efficiency audit through the Delta Institute. “After the audit, we received a report that included many low cost to almost no cost energy improvements that the temple can make,” explained Pamela. This program has limited funding available. More information on the Cook County Energy Efficiency Program, including its application deadline, is available  at www.delta-institute.org/cookefficiency.

Multifaceted Approach at Unity Temple

By Anne White

Reflecting our interdependent relationship with the Earth

The Green Sanctuary Committee at Unity Temple takes a multifaceted approach to environmental advocacy. The goal of all of our activities is to actively engage our Unitarian Universalist congregation in order to deepen our knowledge about environmental issues and to make changes in our own lives that better reflect our interdependent relationship with the Earth.

We host workshops on a variety of environmental topics, we screen films, we lobby in Springfield, we teach Religious Education classes, we start community gardens, we host a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), we run discussion groups, we publish weekly green tips, and we have developed guidelines for managing eco-friendly events.

We act on our stated values in concrete ways

The Committee also works toward making Unity Temple a sustainable institution that acts on its stated values in a concrete way. We have helped UT move toward greener building practices, such as minimizing disposable kitchen and food service items, purchasing green cleaning and office supplies, promoting fair trade, increasing recycling, and composting. We had an energy audit of the building done and will be working with staff to implement its recommendations.

For more informmation: contact Anne White, Chair, Unity Temple Green Sanctuary Committee at annewhitetreehugger@gmail.com

Related Article:

http://www.greencommunityconnections.org/how-to-host-an-eco-friendly-event-at-unity-temple