A Green Sanctuary is a congregation that lives out its commitment to the Earth by creating a sustainable life style for its members as individuals and as a faith community. Sustainable living is about choosing to live in a way that nurtures life and builds relationships. It is about taking stewardship of our earth.
The Green Sanctuary Program includes a total of twelve activities in four program areas:
With the support of the FUUSA Board of Trustees and the Social Responsibilities Council (SRC), members of the society created a Green Sanctuary Committee in the spring of 2006. The committee is composed of members interested in promoting the Green Sanctuary program at FUUSA. It has been meeting monthly since then, working on all of the program activities. Once we have instituted all twelve activities, we will be eligible for accreditation as a Green Sanctuary for Earth from The Ministry for Earth, a Unitarian Universalist Association organization. Over 50 UU congregations have already become accredited Green Sanctuaries.
Our minister, the Reverend Sam Trumbore, began our program by delivering a sermon in the fall of 2006 on the environment. Adult Education invited Dr. John Delano of the University at Albany to give a series of four lectures on "The Living Planet" and there have been monthly forums on environmental issues throughout the year. A showing of An Inconvenient Truth occurred in the fall.
In the spring of 2007, on the weekend of April 21st, there will be an Earth Day Fair with over ten environmental organizations participating at FUUSA and on Sunday the 22nd, we will be celebrating Earth Day in the sanctuary with the participation of the religious education classes.
FUUSA has been recycling paper in the office for several years. Use of paper products during coffee hour and social events has been discontinued and this year we have begun composting coffee grounds from those events. The SRC started recycling ink cartridges and cell phones two years ago, and selling Fair Trade coffee, tea and cocoa at the SRC table three years ago. Other Fair Trade items made by women from Guatemala, Ecuador, and Mexico are also being sold.
Compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs are available at the SRC table this year at a very low cost with the plan to make FUUSA energy efficient from the profits. The Green Sanctuary Committee plans to meet with the Washington Square Neighborhood Association to start making CFL bulbs available for homes in the neighborhood.
The 1-2-3 pledge program involves members of the congregation in reducing their home thermostat at least 1 degree, lowering their driving speed 2 mph, and using at least 3 CFL bulbs in their dwelling. The Committee will continue to create new programs as well as to monitor legislative issues on the environment, keeping FUUSA members apprised via regular newsletter articles on Green Sanctuary events.
