Compost Bins

People have been asking “What are those wire cages by the Sunday School in the lower parking lot?  Is St. Stephen’s going to raise chickens? rabbits? gerbils?  No, no, and no.  Those “cages” are compost bins.  Composting was suggested by garden club member Ann Lawrence, and her son Andrew made the bins for us.
Our garden generates a lot of cut material, and instead of giving it away to the garbage pick up, we can use it ourselves to produce compost to enrich the soils here.  Ann is in charge of overseeing the operation, but all of us will learn what is possible to keep the “waste stream” where it belongs – as close to where it was generated.  We shall use only the garden waste and not kitchen waste, so that we don’t attract unwanted rodents.

Celebrate Sustainable Living!    

Do you have a “Success Story” to share about ways you have “greened” your home or lifestyle? We will post our stories on the Caring For Creation Page on the St. Stephen’s website! Big or little, every action counts, so send us a few sentences and we’ll all see how our collective action inspires others to care for God’s Creation and changes the world!

Email Barbara Bisel, bsmithbisel@gmail.com

Save the Date: CIPL Energy Oscars!

On Tuesday, November 15, many of the over 500 congregational members of California Interfaith Power and Light will gather to honor the outstanding achievements of our congregations in the areas of Education, Energy Efficiency, Solar, and Legislative Advocacy. Mark your calendar to attend this incredibly inspiring event! Visit www.interfaithpower.org to learn more about how you can join with people of faith in California and throughout the nation in making a big difference in the challenge of climate change.

Energy $ense for Congregations

“With their cavernous sanctuaries, large meeting spaces and multi-use buildings often open day and night, churches, synagogues and other religious spaces are particularly clobbered by utility bills that can run into the thousands of dollars each month. Beyond dollars and cents, many congregations also consider environmental measures such as reducing  greenhouse gas emissions as part of their duty to care for God’s creation,” reported The New York Times recently. “The Energy Star program, which created a certification system for houses of worship a year and a half ago, calculates that by cutting energy use by at least 10 percent, the nation’s estimated 370,000 religious buildings could save a combined $315 million a year and reduce emissions by the equivalent of taking 240,000 cars off the road.”
Complete article here:   http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/science/earth/31churches.html?pagewanted=1&_r=3&ref=earth

Four Easy Steps

A few simple, everyday actions can make an enormous difference to folks already suffering from the effects of climate change, and for our children’s future.

1. Switch as many lights at home and work to CFLs, which use 80% less energy.  Make sure your name is on the St. Stephen’s Energystar Pledge list in the Parish Hall. This is our list showing the # of CFLs used in our parish. Our cumulative energy and emissions savings are amazing!  Recycle used bulbs in the specially-marked can in the Parish Hall (or take them to Orchard Supply) – place in Ziploc bag first.
2. Bring your used batteries, cell phones, and inkjet cartridges to St. Stephen’s to recycle Because we turn them in to eScrip for CASH, recycling benefits the environment and St. Stephen’s, as well! The recycling cans are in the Parish Hall under the Caring for Creation sign.
3. Kick the Plastic Water Bottle habit:. 80% of plastic water bottles end up in landfill, plus they use loads of fuel to transport. With the money you save in just the first week you can buy a Brita water filter and a stylish reusable bottle!
4. Food Waste: Keep it out of your trash and put it in your green can (with the yard clippings). 

Ongoing Creation Stewardship Programs

Make a Caring for Creation pledge, committing you and members of your family to take one or more actions this year to help improve our environment. Write out your pledge and place it on the tree in the parish hall.

Join St. Stephen’s EnergyStar Pledge Group Today!

 This is your chance to add your name to the list of families below who have already committed to changing one (or many!) lightbulbs in their house to energy-saving CFLs. If you are already on the list, you can sign up to change more bulbs! This program is one of the many reasons why St. Stephen’s (out of 500 churches) won an “Energy Oscar” in 2007 from California Interfaith Power & Light. 

About St. Stephen’s Caring for Creation Group

The focus of the Caring for Creation group is to actively support the goals outlined in the Covenant of California Interfaith Power & Light (CIPL) of which St. Stephen’s is a member. Upon joining CIPL, St. Stephen’s pledged to pursue one or more of the following goals:

1. Educate our congregation on energy production and usage in relation to global warming by offering weekly tips in our Sunday bulletin, articles in our monthly newsletter, and sponsoring speaking events.
2. Conduct an energy audit of our buildings to identify sources of energy waste and the potential financial savings of energy related improvements.
3. Make energy efficiency improvements in our congregation’s buildings.
4. Utilize renewable energy by purchasing green power, installing solar panels, or contributing to a wind turbine fund.
5. Analyze, reduce, and offset our greenhouse gas emissions with the goal of becoming a non-polluting congregation.
6. Support public policies that contribute to our goals.