Green Sanctuary

To become certified as a Green Sanctuary, twelve activities and projects covering the four program elements of Worship and Celebration, Religious Education, Environmental Justice, and Sustainable Living were undertaken

 

Two activities involving worship, spiritual practice and/or community celebration:

  1. A service on Thoreau
  2. Water Celebration

Two religious education programs, one for children and one for adults:

  1. Keepers of the Earth, Native American Stories & Environmental Activities
  2. Northwest Earth Institute program: Voluntary Simplicity or Discovering a Sense of Place

Two activities addressing environmental justice issues, at least one of which is a  year-long project involving the entire congregation and collaborating with one or more groups in the broader community:

  1. Teamed up with Macon Co Solid Waste Management in a year-long 3R (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle) project which involved being a receiver for recyclables, encouraging the congregation to conceive of ways to use less and recycle more
  2. Received a grant from Macon County Solid Waste Management for recycle bins, sponsored an informational program on our local landfill and the proposed expansion; toxic waste disposal, recycled material destination – completed Fall, 2007

Four activities covering elements of sustainable living, including at least one energy conservation action:

  1. Presented Green Sanctuary Action Plan to UUFD Congregation together with a panel-type program on ways to promote sustainable living "It's Not Lonely Being Green"
  2. UIS Professor Bob Croteau preformed an energy audit of our building
  3. Spring Equinox program
  4. Sponsored a program by Howard F. Lyman, LL.D. President of Voice for a Viable Future, Livestock production: Its Effects on the Environment