The UUA Green Sanctuary Certification Process
March 17, 2010 08:55
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Since the reactivation of the Green Sanctuary committee in 2008, a few of us have attempted to wrap our arms around the certification process. We have committed that OCUUC become a UUA-certified Green Sanctuary as soon as possible.
Green Sanctuary is based on a framework of four focus areas:
• Worship and celebration
• Religious education
• Environmental justice
• Sustainable living
The Green Sanctuary Committee has done the legwork of compiling an assessment of the Congregation.
Becoming a Green Sanctuary then requires an action plan and executing that plan. A little history to note - OCUUC came very close to doing this (thanks to the good work of Karen Urbano) around 2004 or 2005.
Of course, we would love to hear your ideas and thoughts in making OCUUC greener or add to this program. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. Here's what it takes to become certified:
At least 2 programs in Worship and Celebration. Our Water Communion Service, the robust services and work of CUUPS, and prior Earth Day celebrations in our congregation qualify us for three.
At least 2 programs in Religious Education, one for children and one for adults. I am certain that RE has taught at least one class in sustainability. They have led the efforts in our recycling programs. Adult Programs? We might have to work on this.
At least 4 programs in Sustainable living, including at least one energy conservation activity. Our bookstore sells organic, fair-trade, Equal Exchange coffee. We have done the due diligence in the past with switching to compact fluorescent lightbulbs. OCUUC uses the bare minimum in energy consumption, a fact I have verified with Southern California Edison. (FYI, OCUUC uses about 25000 kilowatt hours per year for everything.) We have a fairly low-impact, low-water usage grounds around the complex. We might have four here, perhaps even a fifth. There's a little room for improvement here, largely due to the fiscal pressures we have all faced. It would be fantastic to buy dye-free, sustainable, recycled paper for the Order of Service, but it's pretty pricey compared to what we get at Office Depot.
And finally, at least 2 programs in Environmental Justice, one of which is a major, ongoing collaboration with another congregation or another organization. This is where OCUUC fell short in 2005. The UUA defines environmental justice as "Protecting natural systems and nonhuman communities is one form of this justice. Environmental justice is also concerned with the ecological health of human communities-especially disadvantaged, oppressed, and indigenous communities-and with building relationships to create a larger impact."
Tall order. But I do know that Pat McCully's excellent work with Circulo de Amigas is helping save some of the rainforest in Jinotega, Nicaragua. I can't think of a program that better defines the text above.
We, therefore, need one major ongoing collaborative program. I have one in mind and will include it in the next post. This program will be proposed to the Finance Council coming up this April 15. It's a program that pays for itself, does a tremendous amount of environmental good, and helps us get the word out that OCUUC is a congregation serious about sustainability and environmental justice.
Green Sanctuary is based on a framework of four focus areas:
• Worship and celebration
• Religious education
• Environmental justice
• Sustainable living
The Green Sanctuary Committee has done the legwork of compiling an assessment of the Congregation.
Becoming a Green Sanctuary then requires an action plan and executing that plan. A little history to note - OCUUC came very close to doing this (thanks to the good work of Karen Urbano) around 2004 or 2005.
Of course, we would love to hear your ideas and thoughts in making OCUUC greener or add to this program. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. Here's what it takes to become certified:
At least 2 programs in Worship and Celebration. Our Water Communion Service, the robust services and work of CUUPS, and prior Earth Day celebrations in our congregation qualify us for three.
At least 2 programs in Religious Education, one for children and one for adults. I am certain that RE has taught at least one class in sustainability. They have led the efforts in our recycling programs. Adult Programs? We might have to work on this.
At least 4 programs in Sustainable living, including at least one energy conservation activity. Our bookstore sells organic, fair-trade, Equal Exchange coffee. We have done the due diligence in the past with switching to compact fluorescent lightbulbs. OCUUC uses the bare minimum in energy consumption, a fact I have verified with Southern California Edison. (FYI, OCUUC uses about 25000 kilowatt hours per year for everything.) We have a fairly low-impact, low-water usage grounds around the complex. We might have four here, perhaps even a fifth. There's a little room for improvement here, largely due to the fiscal pressures we have all faced. It would be fantastic to buy dye-free, sustainable, recycled paper for the Order of Service, but it's pretty pricey compared to what we get at Office Depot.
And finally, at least 2 programs in Environmental Justice, one of which is a major, ongoing collaboration with another congregation or another organization. This is where OCUUC fell short in 2005. The UUA defines environmental justice as "Protecting natural systems and nonhuman communities is one form of this justice. Environmental justice is also concerned with the ecological health of human communities-especially disadvantaged, oppressed, and indigenous communities-and with building relationships to create a larger impact."
Tall order. But I do know that Pat McCully's excellent work with Circulo de Amigas is helping save some of the rainforest in Jinotega, Nicaragua. I can't think of a program that better defines the text above.
We, therefore, need one major ongoing collaborative program. I have one in mind and will include it in the next post. This program will be proposed to the Finance Council coming up this April 15. It's a program that pays for itself, does a tremendous amount of environmental good, and helps us get the word out that OCUUC is a congregation serious about sustainability and environmental justice.
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