“cool congregations” solving global warming one family at a time

Cool Congregations Workshop 1

“Cool Congregations”

Solving Global Warming

One Family at a Time


Iowa Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign

The Regeneration Projectwww.theregereationproject.org

http://www.theregereationproject.org/




“Cool Congregations”

Solving Global Warming

One Family at a Time


Agenda

• Cool Congregations Program Description• Ann’s Carbon Footprint• Measure Your Own Carbon Footprint • Find Ways to Reduce!• The Other Side of the Meter• Organize a Cool Congregations Program in Your

Congregation• Questions• Lunch


http://autoreview.belproject.com/item/4

Cool Congregations Workshop 80100,000200,000300,000400,000500,000600,000

Age (yr BP)

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Today’s CO2 Concentration

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"Cool Congregations"Concerned about Global Warming? Here's something you can do!

Add a new dimension to your stewardship program where your congregants …

Pledge energy efficiencySave money

Prevent global warming pollution.

Interested congregants will:

Calculate their carbon footprint. Find ways to reduce it.

Pledge to carry out their chosen reductions.


Care for Creation Theological Statement“The earth is the Lord’s and everything therein.” Creation is God’s gift to us – the gift of good land, good water, good air – and we are placed

in the garden to tend and care for the earth as God’s stewards, as earthkeepers. We keep the faith in part by keeping the earth, by

conserving it in good health for future generations, exercising restraint for the sake of others yet to come, repairing and restoring what has come undone out of love for the Creator and compassion for others.

Rev. Benjamin WebbSt. Luke's Episcopal Church

Cedar Falls, Iowa


Religious communities have aided social change in the past

•Abolition of slavery•Civil rights•Women's right to vote•Endangered Species Act

We can do it again…


What is a Carbon Footprint?


Carbon Footprint

What is a Carbon Footprint?

• A carbon footprint is a representation of the effect you have on the climate in terms of the total amount of greenhouse gases your household produces.

• Measured in pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2).


Carbon Footprint

Why are our feet so big?• Autos• Flights• Electricity• Gas, or…(gas, oil or propane)• Garbage


How Do We Fare?

Average American emits 21,000 pounds of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) annually

• 2 times that of Germany, per person• 3.5 times that of Sweden• 5 times that of Mexico and China


How Do We Feel?

We comprise 4% of the World’s population, but are responsible for between 25 – 30 % of the earth’s CO2 emissions!


LET’S TAKE A LOOK…

• Step 1. Gather the Details

• Step 2. Calculate

• Step 3. The Breakdown


COOL CONGREGATIONS CARBON CALCULATOR

Step 1. Gather the Details

First Auto:

1. Miles driven:

2. Mpg (www.fueleconomy.gov):

11000

Toyota Tacoma 97

16

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/






Step 1. Gather the details

Second Auto:

3. Miles driven:

4. Mpg (www.fueleconomy.gov): 245000

Subaru Forester




Flights 5. Total miles flown:

(www.nwa.com/cgi-bin/wpmiles.cgi):

1928

http://www.nwa.com/cgi-bin/wpmiles.cgi









Electricity6. Total kilowatts (kWh) of electricity: 16,009




Gas, or….

7a. (Gas) Total therms (1mcf x 10.3 = 1therm):

7b. (Heating Oil) Total gallons heating oil:

7c. (Propane)Total gallons propane:

1561




Garbage8. Total gallons of garbage/wk: 60



Step 2. Calculate (Refer to #1 - #8 from Step 1) Autos

#1 divided by #2 = multiplied by 22 lbs*= lbs CO2 by first auto annually

#3 divided by #4 = multiplied by 22 lbs = lbs CO2 by second auto annually

687.5 15,125

208 4583



Step 2. Calculate

Flights#5 multiplied by .9 lbs* = lbs CO2 by flights

annually1735



Step 2. Calculate

Electricity#6 multiplied by 2.2 lbs* = lbs CO2 by

electricity annually 35,219



Step 2. Calculate

Gas, or…#7a multiplied by 11 lbs* = lbs CO2 by gas

annually

#7b multiplied by 22 lbs* = lbs CO2 by heating oil annually

#7c multiplied by 13 lbs* = lbs CO2 by propane annually

17,171



Step 2. Calculate

Garbage#8 multiplied by 100 lbs* = lbs CO2 by

garbage annually6000



Your Household’s Total Footprint:

Add all Step 2 totals = 79,833



Step 3. Break it Down.. CO2 percentages

First Auto = Second Auto = Flights = Electricity = Gas = Garbage =

19%

6%

2%

44%

22%7%


Cool Congregations25 Simple Steps Under $25

LIGHTING1. Buy energy-efficient compact fluorescent

bulbs for your most-used lights. About $2/bulb.

CO2 reduction (by replacing one frequently used bulb): about 180 pounds a year.

2. Turn off unneeded lights. CO2 reduction: 380 pounds a year.


25 Simple Steps Under $25

HOME APPLIANCES / GADGETS

6. Line dry clothes in summer. CO2 reduction: 780 pounds a year.

Line dry clothes all year (using indoor clothes drying rack adds benefit of additional humidity in the winter.) CO2 reduction: 1400 pounds a year.

------ OR ------- Dry one less load/wk in the dryer

CO2 reduction: 200 pounds a year.



HOME HEATING AND COOLING

10. Ask your utility company for a home energy audit to find out where your home is poorly insulated or energy-inefficient.

CO2 reduction: Potentially, thousands of pounds a year.

11. Don't overheat or overcool rooms. Adjust your thermostat (lower in winter, higher in summer)

CO2 reduction (for each 2-degree adjustment): 500 pounds a year.



WATER

16. Wash clothes in warm or cold water, not hot.

CO2 reduction (for two loads a week): 500 pounds a year.



OTHER / EQUALLY IMPORTANT

• Buy Fresh Buy Local and Buy Organic. The chemicals used in modern agriculture pollute the water supply and require energy to produce.

• Consider Green Tags or RECs to ‘replace’ some of your CO2 emissions. Find Terra Pass or Native Energy on the web.

References: Environmental Defense, Rocky Mountain Institute, TenPercentChallenge,

National Catholic Rural Life Conference, Seattle City Light, The Tides Foundation/StopGlobalWarming


ANN’S ENERGY USE

• Electricity savings17% decrease!

• Gas savings15% decrease!


Ann’s CO2 Savings

7.9 % Electric

+

1.3 % Gas

=

9.2 %

vs. 7.2 % on pledge sheet


The Power of 10%

St. Luke’s 35 families = 18 cars off the roads

Every Cedar Valley household = 21,000 cars

Every Iowa household = 604,000 cars


The CO2 emissions coming just from the electricity in Kate Dunning's home used to total 20,000 pounds. • She changed 75% of her bulbs to compact fluorescent in August ‘06• Has seen a 50% reduction in her electricity use on her utility bill • Will save nearly 10,000 pounds of CO2 this year alone, just from switching bulbs

• Initial investment = just under $200 • Reached payback after 4 months• Annual savings will be $600.


“Never Doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead


Now It’s Your Turn!


Steps

1. Gather details as a whole group for 15 minutes. We will help, table by table.

2. You will be called to a computer station by number for calculations

3. Return to table. Absorb Footprint. Choose actions from "25" Lists.



Step 1. Gather the Details You Brought Today– First Auto make/model/yr/current odometer:

1. Miles driven: 2. Mpg (www.fueleconomy.gov):

– Second Auto make/model/yr/current odometer: 3. Miles driven: 4. Mpg (www.fueleconomy.gov):

– Flights 5. Total miles flown: (www.nwa.com/cgi-bin/wpmiles.cgi):

– Electricity6. Total kilowatts (KWH) of electricity:

– Gas, or… (you only use one of these 3 in your home…)7a. (Gas) Total therms of gas (if mcf, 1mcf x 10.3 = 1therm): 7b. (Heating Oil) Total gallons heating oil: 7c. (Propane)Total gallons propane:

– Garbage8. Total gallons of garbage/wk:












Steps

1. Gather details as a whole group for 15 minutes. We will help, table by table.

2. You will be called to a computer station by number for calculations.

3. Return to table. Absorb Footprint. Choose actions from "25" Lists.


1. Prepare leadership team

2. Educate congregation

3. Begin Program

How to Organize a “Cool Congregations” Program

in Your Faith Community


Resource CD

A. Educate CongregationB. Invite Congregation to Join CCC. Meeting AgendasD. Calculation ToolsE. Ongoing Education


PREPARE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Existing Committees3,4 or more team membersFaith leaderLay governing board

Guinea pig

Calculate team leaders and guinea pig


EDUCATE CONGREGATION

Use existing channels of communication

One progression of education could be:1. Global Warming

2. Religious Response

3. "Cool Congregations”


RESOURCES

Global Warming• DVDs/videos

+ An Inconvenient Truth+ Global Warming: The Signs and the Science+ Great Warming

• Speakers

Religious Response to Global Warming

+ Lighten Up video FREE to new members+ Speakers: Tim Kautza, others from list+ Study Guides


RESOURCES

"Cool Congregations" - How to get the word out• Kick-off with Presentation at

Adult Ed Hour

Be sure to use your guinea pig's numbers!

• Articles in your congregation's newsletters• Stewardship letter• Bulletin Inserts, announcements, e-mail


Begin the Program! • Small group sign-up• Meet 3 times,

4th meeting end of year• 1 to 1-1/2 hour long• Every other week• 5-8 persons


Small Group Meeting #1 Agenda

Explain:• Program• Role of CC Team Leader• Role of participants• Series of meetings• How to gather details



• Calculate carbon footprint

• Receive your pledge sheet

• Look over the list of reduction options

• Make tentative choices, go home and think them over.



• Finalize reduction choices

• Fill out pledge sheet

• Turn a copy in to CC Team Leader



• Calculate end of year carbon footprint

• Calculate reduction results

• Mail in results

• Celebrate!


PROGRAM TIPS

• Sign-up - On-going for a couple of weeks

• Meeting times - either designated times for them to choose from or CC leader work to find amenable dates for all

• Location - home of CC Team Leader, or at congregational building - Internet access a plus


Ongoing Education

Adult Education Hour• Simplifying • Heating and Cooling• Smart Cars• Recycling• Buy Local / Buy Fresh

Q & A?


• Pledge Actions

• Talk to your faith leader and recruit three helpers

• Join IIP&L

Be a Cool Congregation


HELP SUPPORT IOWA INTERFAITH POWER & LIGHT

• Congregational membership is $50.

• Individuals can join with any contribution you feel is appropriate.

• Checks made payable to IIP&L

“cool congregations” solving global warming one family at a time

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