Call of Life

Sunday, Mar 3, 6P/Unity Temple - Tickets 

60 min/Mature

All over the world species are becoming extinct at an astonishing rate, from 1000 to 10,000 times faster than normal. The loss of biodiversity has become so severe that scientists are calling it a mass extinction event. Call of Life: Facing the Mass Extinction is the first feature documentary to investigate the growing threat to Earth’s life support systems from this unprecedented loss of biodiversity.

Through interviews with leading scientists, psychologists, anthropologists, philosophers, and indigenous and religious leaders, the film explores the causes, the scope, and the potential effects of the mass extinction, but also looks beyond the immediate causes of the crisis to consider how our cultural and economic systems, along with deep-seated psychological and behavioral patterns, have allowed this situation to develop, continue to reinforce it, and even determine our response to it.

Call of Life tells the story of a crisis not only in nature, but also in human nature, a crisis more threatening than anything human beings have ever faced before.

Energy Efficiency Workshop for OP-RF Congregations

Start the New Year off right and learn how faith-based institutions in Oak Park and River Forest can achieve PlanItGreen goals and save energy and thousands of dollars every year!

This complimentary workshop, co-sponsored by PlanItGreen, the Interfaith Green Network, and the Illinois Facilities Fund (IFF), provides actionable steps and timelines for how Interfaith Green Network and PlanItGreen-affiliated religious organizations can significantly lower utility bills, provide a healthy environment for their congregations, and support congregational and PlanItGreen sustainability goals for 2013.

WHEN:  Wednesday, January 9, 2013, 7:00pm – 8:00pm

WHERE:  Oak Park Public Library (Veteran’s Room, 2^nd Floor), 834 Lake Street

WHO:  This workshop is ideal for Oak Park and River Forest faith-based organizations operating in older facilities. Pastors, green team leaders, building operations managers, and congregation decision-makers are strongly encouraged to attend.

Participants will learn how IFF can:

• Assess your facility's energy use and evaluate your best options for energy savings
• Explain which grants and incentives are available to your organization to help cover costs
• Provide affordable, flexible loans for upfront costs—and use the savings from your lower energy costs to pay the loan back
• Oversee all energy upgrades and train your staff to help maximize savings

IFF's Energy Performance Program (E2P) has identified hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy savings for nonprofits and institutions of faith—join us on the 14^th to learn how IFF can help your organization!

To RSVP or to learn more, contact SGA at admin@sevengenerationsahead.org or Dick Alton at richard.alton@gmail.com.

Conversation on Race and the Environmental Movement

To start the new year off provocatively, and with depth of meaning, Faith in Place is hosting a conversation on Race and the Environmental Movement on Thursday, January 24, from 6:30-8:30pm at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E Washington Street, Millenium Park Room, 5th Floor). The congregations that participate with Faith in Place contain every kind of people - African-American, Caucasian, Latino, Asian, all of the above. They're from every economic class and every life experience too. But for some reason here in the United States the mainstream environmental movement remains pretty heavily white and middle-class. Have you ever wondered why that is, and wished that you could talk about it with people who are different from you? We have too. So we decided we'd open up an opportunity. The evening will open with brief reflections by Faith in Place staff and others who hail from all over the demographic map. Then we'll open up for a real conversation - honest questions, candid answers. The context will be loving and full credit for your true good intentions will be given. Join us!

Energy Impact Illinois -- "This rebate program rocks!"

I was almost a no-show at the Energy Impact Illinois “house party” at the home of my friends, Dick and Sally.  I had gotten home after seven that night, and although very interested in the topic, I was tired and figured I probably knew most of this stuff already.  But I like the hosts, and decided to check it out.  I was late, but immediately pleased with the party food -- and on top of that, it turns out I didn’t actually know everything there is to know about energy efficiency.

I learned a lot from the Energy Impact Illinois speaker, Anna, as well as from the fellas at Energy 360 Solutions, a contractor affiliated with the rebate program. It was cool to see them demonstrate a blower door test, which measures how much heated, or air conditioned air a house is losing to the outside.  The demonstration resulted in the realization that when heated or cooled air is lost to the outdoors, the energy used to heat or cool it is being wasted! 

A few days later, I decided we were going to do this.  I decided that we were going to go down the path of seeking energy efficiency in our home (I have a partner, but I wear the energy efficiency pants in the family). Our house is over a hundred years old and was an excellent example of inefficiency with its low levels of insulation and drafty windows.

It was encouraging to learn that many of the improvements that help the most are relatively inexpensive, such as the sealing of air leaks and the addition of insulation. Plus, the rebate, which is 70%/$1750, was a big incentive. Visions of dollar signs danced in my head. I love the earth and all, but I also liked the idea of having a rebate that would largely pay for the improvements, as well as lower our utility bills.

I called to arrange for the $99 energy assessment offered by Nicor/ComEd (1-877-821-9988, nicorgasrebates.com/programs/hes). The phone call lasted ten minutes, and I had an appointment for the assessment a few days later. At that appointment, an energy advisor scoured the entire house to determine the best efficiency upgrades for our home. She was in our house for about two hours, and at the end, offered three options for improvements.  Improvements ranged from basic air sealing and insulating, to replacing our air conditioner and furnace with more efficient models. We also received a detailed report and estimated savings and payback times for each of the options.

We decided to go with the basic option, which included air sealing and insulation of a large part of our attic. Upgrades likely to pay for themselves in about eight years. All options, however, include combustion safety testing of major appliances, including the furnace, to ensure they are not emitting dangerous gases into the home.

At first, I had a little trouble with getting the work moving.  There are a few different players in the rebate program, and they are not very coordinated with each other. Nevertheless, we arranged to have the work done within a month. The quality of the work was excellent, and it was completed in a single day.  And it only cost us $845, with the rest covered by the rebate. We are now the proud owners of some R-49 insulation in our attic (that’s really good) and a lot fewer air leaks!  

Lessons learned:

1. Go to parties even when tired

2. This rebate program rocks.

For more information on Energy Impact Illinois click here to see related article.

Submitted by Anne Jordan-Baker

Headed in the Wrong Direction! Longwall Coal Mining in Illinois

Submitted by Jim Babcock Although the burning of coal in the US is in sharp decline, world-wide demand is high and growing and coal companies are buying underground mineral rights.  The number of mines in Illinois increased 23% from 2008 to 2009.  There are plans for sharply increased exports of US coal to Asia.

A group of Chicago area clergy recently toured the coal mining area between Springfield and St. Louis specifically to see the direct impacts of an increasingly popular method of coal mining called “longwall mining” on the people and landscape of this central Illinois farming area.

Longwall mining is a process in which two “room and pillar” tunnels are dug underground. Between these tunnels, which can be more than 1,000 feet apart, large mechanical “shearers” cut the coal from a wall face and drop it onto conveyor belts which carry it to the tunnels and out to the mine opening. Self-advancing hydraulic ceiling supports that protect the shearing area are in place along the wall. As this assembly advances, sometimes for miles, the roof is allowed to collapse behind, and the surface landscape subsides from 5-6 feet.

As the tour members saw, the longwall mining is adding to the strains and pressures that have already been suffered by the people and rural communities during the advance of large scale agriculture. As related by Rev. Dr. Clare Butterfield, Executive Director of Faith in Place and Community Minister at Unity Temple in Oak Park:  “The people with whom we met and spoke were late middle age or older and that was striking. If there are young people left in these farm communities, they didn’t join us. I asked one farmer from the area if there was anyone young still farming, and he said two or three people (meaning in the county) who farm with their fathers. Otherwise they leave. So these communities were in trouble already before the push to expand the mines.”

The land continues to be farmed with corn and soybeans, but in the midst of the farmland are piles of coal at the mouths of the mines. In addition, the processing of coal requires the “washing” away of impurities which include toxins and heavy metals. The by-product is billions of gallons of toxic sludge stored locally behind earthen dams which can rise to a height of 80 feet. Since much of Illinois had to be drained to be farmable, the fact that  subsidence drops the surface over large areas 5-6 feet closer to the water table has a significant effect on local hydrology.

 Even if coal could be mined without harming the environment, the harms it causes by its widespread use in power plants condemns it as a sensible fuel source. On top of emitting 1.9 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year, coal-fired power plants in the United States also create 120 million tons of toxic waste such as coal ash. Coal combustion waste constitutes the nation’s second largest waste stream after municipal solid waste.

 Illinois continues to support the coal industry’s growth with anticipated increases from the current production of 33 million tons of coal per year up to 45 million tons. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity brags, Illinois is the “Saudi Arabia of Coal” with 96 billion tons of available coal in reserve.

 Instead, we need to support the transition to a reliable clean energy system and end our reliance on dirty coal. A coalition of organizations (including Citizens Against Longwall Mining, Prairie Rivers Network, and the Sierra Club) has formed the Heartland Coalfield Alliance to work on coal mining issues in the Illinois coal basin (which includes parts of Indiana and Kentucky).

 To stay informed about these issues which affect our land, air, and water and to be responsive to them,  partner with Faith in Place and get on their rapid response email list for legislative updates.

Congregations Share Sustainability Initiatives & Resources

The exciting and diverse range of green initiatives occurring in local faith communities was presented to an interested group of congregation representatives at the Sustainability in Your Congregation gathering on September 11, 2012. Sponsored by the Interfaith Green Network, the meeting provided an opportunity for eight congregations to each share a specific initiative and for all participants to learn about local resources for support. Some common themes emerged as presenters shared stories of successful processes and barriers to change. Two prominent and related themes were the importance of continuing, consistent education as preparation for change, and the need for incremental change.  Several congregations reported unexpected, indirect benefits resulting from their sustainability initiatives.

Congregations presenting were:

• ·         Ascension Catholic Church – Community Garden
• ·         Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church - Geothermal Heating and Cooling
• ·         Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church – Garden Ministry
• ·         First United Church of Oak Park – Professional Energy Audit
• ·         Good Shepherd Lutheran Church – Green Fair and Eco-Film Fest
• ·         Grace Lutheran Church and School – Waste Reduction / Recycling
• ·         St. Giles Family Mass – Community Makes Change Faster
• ·         Unity Temple – Policy Advocacy

Five resource groups presented information about their work and the services available to congregations. Groups presenting included Citizens Climate Lobby, Green Community Connections, Seven Generations Ahead, Sugar Beet, and EI2. After the formal presentations, all resource groups were available for discussion and materials distribution for participants.  (See contact information for resource groups below.)

To learn more about this meeting or about the Interfaith Green Network, contact Richard Alton, 773-344-7172 or richard.alton@gmail.com.

Click here to see the complete power point slides from “Sustainability in Your Congregation."

Resource Groups—Contact Information

Energy Impact Illinois—www.EnergyImpactIllinois.org

Home energy assessments and weatherization rebates!

Pamela Brookstein, Pamela@energyimpactillinois.org

708-252-0623

The Sugar Beet Coop—www.sugarbeetcoop.com

Request the e-newsletter for this planned local food coop!

Cheryl Munoz, junemoon15@gmail.com

773-988-6205

Seven Generations Ahead/PlanItGreen—www.sevengenerationsahead.org

Environmental Stewards Program for Oak Park/River Forest Sustainability Plan

Erin McMillan, erin@sevengenerationsahead.org

708-660-9909, x4

Citizens Climate Lobby—www.citizensclimatelobby.org

Speakers bureau on climate change and carbon tax solution

Ken O’Hare, kohare@consultmillennia.com

773-485-7716

Green Community Connections—www.greencommunityconnections.org

One Earth Film Festival, Green Living & Learning Tour, web site, eNewsletter and Facebook page with calendar and news about local sustainability events & networking

Sally Stovall, sallystovall@gmail.com

773-315-1109

First Ever Recycling Extravaganza a HUGE Success!!

Submitted by Judy Deogracias on behalf of the D90 Green4Good Committee

600 cars brought all manner of items to be recycled!

Having never done anything like this, we weren’t sure what kind of response to anticipate. We had a modest goal of 50 cars (we thought that would be respectable for the first time). Needless to say we were pleasantly surprised by the actual volume as well as the gratitude expressed by those we served. People were thrilled to have this take place in their community and asked us if it would be an annual event. We certainly hope it will be! There was a lot of work to put this on - meetings, heavy lifting, getting the word out, logistics, etc. - but there was also a great energy among everyone involved.  Because of this, it just kind of all came together naturally.

Three semis of electronics and batteries were collected

River Forest School District 90’s Green4Good Committee organized the Recycling Extravaganza, a drive-up, drop-off recycling event on May 5, 2012. 8am to 1:30 pm.  When we officially closed, over 600 cars came through (a handful came through twice, and those aren’t counted twice in the tally!). Most drop offs were people from River Forest’s ZIP code but we also received substantial traffic from neighboring towns. We were astounded to see cars lined up as early as 7:30 when we did not officially “open” until 8:00. Three semis of electronics and batteries were collected as well as a substantial amount of scrap metal. There were also collections for unused prescription drugs, used bikes and many other items from a long list of vendors.

Success attributed to the cooperation and enthusiasm of partners and organizing team

The Recycling Extravaganza was inspired by a similar event organized by SCARCE, an environmental education not-for-profit in Glen Ellyn. District 90 Green4Good also wants to acknowledge that the event was successful because of the cooperation and enthusiasm for it we received at the District level (D90 School Superintendent Ed Condon volunteered during the event!) and collaboration of our event partners, which included the Village of River Forest, River Forest Citizens Corps, River Forest United Methodist Church, The River Forest Service Club, Whole Foods Market, River Forest Park District Foundation and SCARCE. The Recycling Extravaganza was designed as a zero waste event made possible by an on site household waste composter, donated to the event’s site host, the River Forest United Methodist Church, by the River Forest Park District Foundation.

Green4Good fosters a lifelong connection to the natural world for D90 students and families

District 90’s Green4Good Committee is comprised of the Green4Good Committees at each school, as well as several District 90 administrators all working toward making District 90 greener. Within each school, Green4Good strives to promote a safe and healthy learning environment; encourage environmental stewardship at school and in the community; and foster a lifelong connection to the natural world for all District 90 students and their families. 2011-12 Green4Good school committee members included Katerina Berin, Tina Ciserella, Keary Cragan, Judy Deogracias, Laura Maychruk, Julie Moller, Renee Sichlau and Liz Ziehl.

Vendors for the event

Vendors for the event included: ACME Recycling collected electronics (no dehumidifiers, air conditioners or refrigerators), batteries (household, computer and car), and scrap metal (including washers and dryers). SCARCE, an environmental education notfor-profit in Glen Ellyn will collect musical instruments, school supplies (old crayons, rulers, usable spiral notebooks and binders). In addition, plastic grocery and dry cleaning bags, and CFL bulbs (no fluorescent tubes) were collected, as well as tattered American flags and ink jet cartridges.

Additional collections on site: Whole Foods - corks and #5 plastic containers; Environmental Services of Cook County - prescription medications; Lions Club - eyeglasses and hearing aids; Amerigas - propane and Oxygen tanks; Cintas - fire extinguishers; Working Bikes - working and non-working bikes, sewing machines, bike helmets and accessories, non-motorized wheelchairs; Goodwill Textile Recycling - torn or stained clothing for recycling, all shoes, sheets and towels; Animal Care League - collars and leashes.

Please look for additional announcements about Green4Good’s initiatives on the District 90 Green4Good website, www.district90.org/subsite/dist/page/green-team-1385.

Save Energy, Save Money, Save the Planet: Energy Impact Illinois and Interfaith Green Network Promote Home Energy Retrofits

Submitted by James Babcock

Affordable and Accessible Home Energy Efficiency Program

The Interfaith Green Network is continuing to ramp up efforts to implement the goals of the PlanItGreen sustainability plan for OP/RF by bringing actionable strategies to local congregations and households.

To that end, four Interfaith Green Network members, representing Oak Park congregations, along with 15 other Chicagoland residents recently met at the offices of Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) for an in-depth briefing and training session about the energy efficiency program, Energy Impact Illinois (EI-2). The goal of the initiative is to bring the program directly to community residents so that homeowners are informed about this affordable and very accessible way to reduce their carbon footprint, make their homes more comfortable and more valuable, and save money at the same time!

 Essential Components:

As explained by Anna Markowski of CNT, Energy Impact Illinois is for single-family residences, condo’s, and buildings with four or less units. The essential components of the program are as follows:

Accredited Work Force: All participating contractors are certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI). In addition, CNT has vetted each contractor by observing at least five of their work sites to see that they meet construction standards. CNT will continue to inspect a percentage of the work sites as the program grows.

Incentives: Energy auditors are currently offering an initial energy assessment for only $99. This assessment includes a blower-door test, thermal imaging, and a combustion safety test of your furnace/boiler equipment. Typically, the cost for such an assessment is $350-$800 depending on the size of your house. The assessment report will include a recommended retrofit plan, including associated costs and the estimated energy savings.  The homeowner can choose from these recommendations the strategies that they wish to implement at this time.

Financing: Unsecured loans from participating local lenders are available to applicants who wish to avoid the upfront cost of energy efficiency retrofits. For the first building in Oak Park to participate in the program, the owners found that the loan cost was less than the monthly energy savings after construction was completed. (Nationally, investments in the energy efficiency of buildings have realized, over the last 20 years, some of the best rates-of-return available anywhere!)

Great return on investment plus increased home value

The bulk of home energy efficiency can be accomplished by air sealing (plugging leaks in the “building envelope”) and by adding insulation to attics and walls. To qualify for the program, homeowners must agree to retrofits that accomplish a minimum of 15% increased efficiency. According to Markowski, because of the nature of the housing stock in the Chicago area, 98-99% of our houses can attain this added efficiency fairly easily—even new construction! Homeowners who want to replace old furnaces or boilers with high efficiency units, automatically qualify for Energy Impact Illinois.

Homeowners who look forward to selling their homes in the future should know that the local Multiple Listings Service now officially recognizes green homes.  This is a recent development.  Bonnie Marx of Green Energy Improvements reports that in other locales, homes with such listings have been appraising about $20 higher for every dollar in annual energy cost savings.  So a house with $2500 in annual energy bills (gas and electric) with a not unusual 30% reduction could see $750 in annual savings, and appraise for $15,000 more.

Increasing Home Energy Efficiency is Effective Strategy to Mitigate Climate Change

The goals outlined in the PlanItGreen sustainability plan for Oak Park and River Forest call for an overall increase in energy efficiency of 30% and a reduction in climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions of 30%, both over the next ten years. CNT data for Oak Park indicates that private residences, through their use of electricity and natural gas, currently account for almost 30% of the village’s total emissions. This, plus the fact that energy efficiency retrofits lead to cost savings, makes Energy Impact Illinois one of the most effective strategies that any one person can employ to help mitigate dangerous climate change.

Hold a House Party for 5-10 Friends and Neighbors and get a FREE Energy Assessment

If you would like to schedule an energy assessment, call Anna Markowski, CNT Outreach Coordinator, at 773-328-7045. An added incentive of a free assessment is being offered to homeowners who host a “house party” of 5-10 friends and neighbors to see first-hand how the energy assessment is performed, and to learn more about Energy Impact Illinois.

Interfaith Green Network volunteers have begun to promote Energy Impact Illinois by recruiting “hosts”, and planning larger meetings for interested congregations and other community organizations. If your group is interested in reducing your carbon footprint in a most significant way, and would like more information about EI-2, you can contact volunteers Dick Alton (Richard.alton@gmail.com) or Jim Babcock (jlbabck@sbcglobal.net). Further information also at www.energyimpactillinois.org.

Congregations Gather to Learn about Programs to Reduce Energy Use

The third in a series of meetings between the Interfaith Green Network and representatives from PlanItGreen will focus on a pilot project for reducing energy use in congregational facilities and will be held on Tuesday, April 10th, at the Oak Park Conservatory 615 Garfield Street from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.  The first meeting was a general introduction to the pilot project in which 15 congregations participated.  The most recent gathering engaged building engineers and building trustees.  The meeting on April 10th will focus on specific strategies for reducing energy use. Gary Cuneen from Seven Generations Ahead and Kindy Kruller of the Delta Institute will be hosting the gathering. Vendors from Energy Impact Illinois, ComEd and others will be present to discuss specific programs that are available to congregations and their members.  You do not have to have attended the previous meetings to participate in the upcoming workshop.  New congregations are joining the each time.  Please e-mail Richard Alton (richard.alton@gmail.com) to RSVP. Richard H. T. Alton

Interfaith Blessing of the Gardeners, Seeds & Gardening Tools

On Saturday, April 14 at 10am, Ascension Catholic Church will host their third annual blessing of gardeners, seeds and gardening implements. Ascension is located on the south west corner of East Avenue and Van Buren, one block north of the Eisenhower expressway. The Blessing service site is at the north (Van Buren) side of the church building at the statue of St. Francis. The first service was initiated at the suggestion of Ascension’s Community Gardeners who tend the parish’s vegetable garden behind the parish center across East Avenue from the church.

Gardeners of all faiths are invited to attend this interfaith service with their implements of gardening.    Submitted by John Owens.