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Earth Care
WPC is an Earth Care Congregation, committed to caring for God’s earth in worship, education, facilities, and outreach, promoting environmental stewardship in property decisions, administrative practices, and teaching. The Environmental Ministries at the Presbyterian Church (USA) has recertified Westminster as an Earth Care Congregation! The Earth Care Congregations program was started in 2010 by the Environmental Ministries. The goal of the program is to inspire churches to care for God’s earth in a holistic way, through integrating earth care into all of their church life.
WPC is an Earth Care Congregation, committed to caring for God’s earth in worship, education, facilities, and outreach, promoting environmental stewardship in property decisions, administrative practices, and teaching. The Environmental Ministries at the Presbyterian Church (USA) has recertified Westminster as an Earth Care Congregation! The Earth Care Congregations program was started in 2010 by the Environmental Ministries. The goal of the program is to inspire churches to care for God’s earth in a holistic way, through integrating earth care into all of their church life.
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WPC HOSTS TABLE AT EARTH AWARENESS FAIR
SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2021 The Earth Care Team hosted a table again this year at the annual Springfield Earth Awareness Fair, taking place on Saturday, April 17, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Henson Robinson Zoo (1100 E Lake Shore Drive on Lake Springfield). Earth Day began over 50 years ago, on April 22, 1970. |
GREEN TRANSPORTATION
This year, Westminster’s exhibit promoted a variety of greener ways to travel. Thanks to members of our congregation, we offered a “show and tell” an electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid, an e-bike, and a commuter bike as vehicle owners shared the joys and challenges of ownership on their environmental stewardship journeys. Westminster’s Green Transportation Show and Tell was displayed in the zoo parking lot.
WESTMINSTER EARTH CARE POWERPOINT
As part of this year’s online option for the Springfield Earth Awareness Fair (www.springfield.il.us/EAF), Westminster displayed an Earth Care PowerPoint highlighting our environmental stewardship projects and practices. This PowerPoint can be viewed above.
PC(USA) RECERTIFICATION
Westminster received word on March 11, 2021 that the Presbyterian Church (USA) recertified Westminster as an Earth Care Congregation, celebrating six years in this ministry and joining 270 congregations across the denomination.
This year, Westminster’s exhibit promoted a variety of greener ways to travel. Thanks to members of our congregation, we offered a “show and tell” an electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid, an e-bike, and a commuter bike as vehicle owners shared the joys and challenges of ownership on their environmental stewardship journeys. Westminster’s Green Transportation Show and Tell was displayed in the zoo parking lot.
WESTMINSTER EARTH CARE POWERPOINT
As part of this year’s online option for the Springfield Earth Awareness Fair (www.springfield.il.us/EAF), Westminster displayed an Earth Care PowerPoint highlighting our environmental stewardship projects and practices. This PowerPoint can be viewed above.
PC(USA) RECERTIFICATION
Westminster received word on March 11, 2021 that the Presbyterian Church (USA) recertified Westminster as an Earth Care Congregation, celebrating six years in this ministry and joining 270 congregations across the denomination.
Presbytery of Great Rivers highlighted WPC's Earth Care efforts in their weekly newsletter on Mar. 28, 2019. Click here to read the newsletter, in which Dr. Peter Kieffer shared his passion of leading environmental justice ministry at Westminster.
Westminster members who wish to reduce waste may refer to the Room to Room Guide to Reuse and Recycling Options found through this link.
This guide tells us how to reuse and to recycle so many resources that would otherwise end up in a landfill! Of note, not included are ways to recycle Christmas tree lights and single-use non-rechargeable batteries which can be recycled in the bins at the southwest corner of the West Narthex. Nearly 200 pounds of Christmas lights were recycled in 2020.
This guide tells us how to reuse and to recycle so many resources that would otherwise end up in a landfill! Of note, not included are ways to recycle Christmas tree lights and single-use non-rechargeable batteries which can be recycled in the bins at the southwest corner of the West Narthex. Nearly 200 pounds of Christmas lights were recycled in 2020.
AUGUST 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Our webmaster Krista tipped us off to http://www.earthbreeze.com whose lightweight laundry detergent sheets save shipping costs, plastic packaging, and the burden of those heavy jugs. Most detergents will wash well in cold water, saving energy regardless of the brand. Line drying with solar energy on those sunny summer days (or even hanging up inside) will dramatically cut back two of our biggest energy hogs: the dryer and the AC.
JULY 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
We make about 100 times more plastic than we did in the 1960's and recycle just about 10% of it. New plastic is a plentiful and cheap byproduct from oil refineries. Using less gas and reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic will bring less to the landfill. Recycle triangles 1-5 and 7 at the curb, bring bags back to the market, and take large Styrofoam (triangle 6) to Foam Products Corporation in Maryland Heights on your next road trip to St. Louis.
JUNE 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Some of us remember returning glass soda and milk bottles for reuse and a few cents back. Reusing is always greener than recycling, and we can still reuse some glass, like a mason jar. Even so, recycling still saves about a third of the energy to make a new glass bottle from sand. Better yet, consider an aluminum can whose recycling saves 95% of its production costs and whose light weight saves even more in transportation costs.
MAY 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Aluminum cans are the best choice for earth-friendly beverage drinkers. Aluminum's light weight allows for less wasteful transportation, from factory to table, from table to recycler, and from recycler to factory. It cools faster in the fridge. We can recycle the aluminum in a can hundreds of times without degrading its quality. Since we have already mined most of the bauxite out our fifty states, recycling aluminum cans discourages exploitative foreign mining, and promotes our own economy!
APRIL 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
We read a newspaper for a day and yet clergy and scholars have read and reused the papyrus Dead Sea Scrolls for thousands of years! We can reduce paper consumption by substituting cloth shopping bags or electronic photos, bills, and books. If not, we can reuse documents for scrap paper, boxes for shipping again, or shredded napkins for mulch. We can use books again and again at the library or by giving to a friend. As a last resort, we can recycle paper at the curb, taking care to avoid banned grease stains. Purchasing recycled paper goods helps complete the cycle!
MARCH 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Just as Christ gave up comfortable living and fasted during his 40 days in the wilderness, during Lent we can sacrifice a convenience or a comfort to help preserve the environment. Perhaps we could consider a walk or bike ride to a closer destination rather than hopping in the car. Perhaps we could wear a sweater and turn down the heat a bit. Even sacrificing meat on Fridays would save natural resources. During Lent if we discover that the convenience or comfort is no longer a necessity, then our seasonal sacrifice could become an everlasting routine to help care for God's Creation.
FEBRUARY 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
How do we avoid consuming God's precious forests and their capacity to reduce carbon dioxide? Buying antique furniture essentially reuses wood. Crate & Barrel sells beautiful dark wood items recycled from crates and pallets. Bamboo, which can grow up to one foot per day, provides rapidly renewable wood for many of our needs from toothbrushes to toilet paper. When buying, look for FSC wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to be from recycled sources or responsibly managed forests. When discarding, bring wooden furniture to a resale shop or gently-used lumber to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
JANUARY 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Although the seventies leisure suits gave polyester a bad reputation, it underwent a rebirth in the eighties when it was blended with cotton to create comfortable, durable, and low-maintenance fabric. Polyester is in trouble again as the textile industry has recognized its roots in fossil fuel and its troublesome durability--decades to a couple of centuries in the landfill! When shopping the after-Christmas sales, let's consider non-iron cotton, a natural biodegradable fabric which combines wrinkle-free comfort with sustainability.
DECEMBER 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Amidst the pandemic, we see new challenges for the environment. Consider wearing, cleaning, and reusing two-ply cloth masks to save hundreds of paper masks from the landfill. If your grocery store will only fill plastic bags, save your reusable bags for after the pandemic and recycle those plastic bags right at the grocery. As we Christmas shop online to avoid the crowds, consider a reusable gift -- here are a few dozen courtesy of a tip from Jay Kennerly: Reusable Versions of Things You Use Every Day | Reader's Digest (rd.com)
Our webmaster Krista tipped us off to http://www.earthbreeze.com whose lightweight laundry detergent sheets save shipping costs, plastic packaging, and the burden of those heavy jugs. Most detergents will wash well in cold water, saving energy regardless of the brand. Line drying with solar energy on those sunny summer days (or even hanging up inside) will dramatically cut back two of our biggest energy hogs: the dryer and the AC.
JULY 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
We make about 100 times more plastic than we did in the 1960's and recycle just about 10% of it. New plastic is a plentiful and cheap byproduct from oil refineries. Using less gas and reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic will bring less to the landfill. Recycle triangles 1-5 and 7 at the curb, bring bags back to the market, and take large Styrofoam (triangle 6) to Foam Products Corporation in Maryland Heights on your next road trip to St. Louis.
JUNE 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Some of us remember returning glass soda and milk bottles for reuse and a few cents back. Reusing is always greener than recycling, and we can still reuse some glass, like a mason jar. Even so, recycling still saves about a third of the energy to make a new glass bottle from sand. Better yet, consider an aluminum can whose recycling saves 95% of its production costs and whose light weight saves even more in transportation costs.
MAY 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Aluminum cans are the best choice for earth-friendly beverage drinkers. Aluminum's light weight allows for less wasteful transportation, from factory to table, from table to recycler, and from recycler to factory. It cools faster in the fridge. We can recycle the aluminum in a can hundreds of times without degrading its quality. Since we have already mined most of the bauxite out our fifty states, recycling aluminum cans discourages exploitative foreign mining, and promotes our own economy!
APRIL 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
We read a newspaper for a day and yet clergy and scholars have read and reused the papyrus Dead Sea Scrolls for thousands of years! We can reduce paper consumption by substituting cloth shopping bags or electronic photos, bills, and books. If not, we can reuse documents for scrap paper, boxes for shipping again, or shredded napkins for mulch. We can use books again and again at the library or by giving to a friend. As a last resort, we can recycle paper at the curb, taking care to avoid banned grease stains. Purchasing recycled paper goods helps complete the cycle!
MARCH 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Just as Christ gave up comfortable living and fasted during his 40 days in the wilderness, during Lent we can sacrifice a convenience or a comfort to help preserve the environment. Perhaps we could consider a walk or bike ride to a closer destination rather than hopping in the car. Perhaps we could wear a sweater and turn down the heat a bit. Even sacrificing meat on Fridays would save natural resources. During Lent if we discover that the convenience or comfort is no longer a necessity, then our seasonal sacrifice could become an everlasting routine to help care for God's Creation.
FEBRUARY 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
How do we avoid consuming God's precious forests and their capacity to reduce carbon dioxide? Buying antique furniture essentially reuses wood. Crate & Barrel sells beautiful dark wood items recycled from crates and pallets. Bamboo, which can grow up to one foot per day, provides rapidly renewable wood for many of our needs from toothbrushes to toilet paper. When buying, look for FSC wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to be from recycled sources or responsibly managed forests. When discarding, bring wooden furniture to a resale shop or gently-used lumber to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
JANUARY 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Although the seventies leisure suits gave polyester a bad reputation, it underwent a rebirth in the eighties when it was blended with cotton to create comfortable, durable, and low-maintenance fabric. Polyester is in trouble again as the textile industry has recognized its roots in fossil fuel and its troublesome durability--decades to a couple of centuries in the landfill! When shopping the after-Christmas sales, let's consider non-iron cotton, a natural biodegradable fabric which combines wrinkle-free comfort with sustainability.
DECEMBER 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Amidst the pandemic, we see new challenges for the environment. Consider wearing, cleaning, and reusing two-ply cloth masks to save hundreds of paper masks from the landfill. If your grocery store will only fill plastic bags, save your reusable bags for after the pandemic and recycle those plastic bags right at the grocery. As we Christmas shop online to avoid the crowds, consider a reusable gift -- here are a few dozen courtesy of a tip from Jay Kennerly: Reusable Versions of Things You Use Every Day | Reader's Digest (rd.com)
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NOVEMBER 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Fall is the perfect time to put the car to rest and to get out the bike for the sake of cleaner air, personal fitness, and a little outdoor break from shelter-in-place. Cooler and dryer weather permits comfortable commuting in street clothes rather than all the Lycra and Spandex. Consider a ride to Westminster and lock up to our new bicycle rack constructed from recycled plastic! |
OCTOBER 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Even without solar panels on our roofs, we can harvest God's gift of solar energy. Opening southern blinds can warm a home on cool sunny days. Leaving laundry out to dry gives the energy-hog dryer a rest. Tending a garden is a way for agriculture to capture solar energy for our bodies. If your family needs more clean energy, subscribe to mySolar through which we can pay a reasonable surcharge for kilowatts generated at CWLP's solar farm northwest of Springfield.
SEPTEMBER 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Looking for new ways to care for God's creation? Mighty Nest (www.mightynest.com) offers green alternatives with household items. Blueland (www.blueland.com) sells tap water soluble tablets and reusable bottles to reduce harmful chemicals, shipping costs, and plastic waste associated with cleaning solutions. Terracycle (www.terracycle.com) helps recycle many difficult disposables including pens, razors, toothbrushes, and even guitar strings.
AUGUST 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Energy-efficient laundry can clean up the air too! "Cold Wash" then "Cold Rinse" usually cleans clothes efficiently with less fading. Drying clothes in the backyard on the clothesline captures solar energy whereas a dryer consumes a lot of electricity or gas and, in summertime, makes the AC consume even more energy. If we do use a dryer, we could hang-dry the shirts and avoid the need for an iron. Skip the Bounce and toss in a reusable tennis ball to reduce wrinkling, static cling, and dryer time!
JULY 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Do you like getting more for the same price? Once you reach the bottom of a container get more out of each tube of toothpaste by cutting and rolling it, more out of each detergent or shampoo bottle by diluting and shaking it, and more out of each food jar by wiping the sides with a rubber spatula. Even better, buy products in large containers which leads to relatively less packaging and waste at the bottom. Of course, reuse or recycle that container after you get the last drop!
JUNE 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Are you washing a few more dishes since all the restaurants closed? Dishwashers are actually greener than washing by hand since so much hot water can go down the drain. To save even more energy, rinse the dishes in cold water prior to stacking and run only full loads. Cancel the heated dry cycle and instead pull out the racks for a few minutes to air dry the dishes which saves energy to the heating element and to the kitchen AC!
MAY 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Are we feeling cooped up yet in quarantine? Let us remember that we can maintain proper social distance even while taking a walk in the park! Although Springfield playgrounds, park bathrooms, dog parks, and golf courses are closed due to the pandemic, park trails and green spaces are open. Walking, running, biking or even yoga in the outdoors can alleviate stress, promote meaningful exercise, and foster our connection with God's creation.
APRIL 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Perhaps social distancing and a few weeks at home will give us opportunities for some green spring cleaning! If we are downsizing good stuff stashed in the garage or basement, we can share treasures no longer needed: donate clothes and small items/appliances to Goodwill or Salvation Army, give tools/large appliances/construction materials to Habitat ReStore, or post for free almost anything else on Craigslist. We could sort now and deliver or schedule pickup after businesses reopen. Reusing our stuff becomes an opportunity to give, reduces trash in landfills, avoids the costs of recycling, and preserves natural resources.
MARCH 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Fortunately, most of us can recycle the majority of our waste each week at the curb. Remember to rinse plastic containers and replace the caps. Flatten boxes prior to putting them in the bin. Even empty aerosol cans can be recycled for the metal. Grocery stores help recycle most plastic bags. Heavily soiled paper should be mulched. Keep Styrofoam until your next visit to St. Louis where it can be recycled. For anything else check out Springfield's "Room-to-Room Guide to Household Reuse and Recycling" (available online or from Public Works).
FEBRUARY 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Most of us know the three R's of earth-friendly consumerism: reduce consumption if we can, reuse products that we must have, and recycle those that we discard. Now we can add two more: refuse that free single-use plastic straw, cup, or bag (which encourages vendors to think green) and repair rather than discard broken items (which not only reduces waste but also supports the American service industry). Although we love to recycle, usually one of the other R's is a better choice for God's creation.
JANUARY 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
In hot water with the utility bills? We can save money and energy with how we heat and use hot water. Lowering the temperature to 120 degrees is better for the bank account and safer for the kids. A hot water heater blanket conserves energy (especially in a cold basement or garage). Low-flow shower heads get the job done with less water. Time for replacement or upgrade? Tankless water heaters last longer and recoup their higher cost within a few years.
DECEMBER 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
With cold weather already here, let us remember to winterize for optimal energy efficiency and comfort. Consider a programmable thermostat with lower temperatures while asleep or not home. Door sweeps and weather stripping help fill the gaps which bring as much cold as a two-inch hole in a door. For a drafty chimney, consider an insulated Flueblocker.
NOVEMBER 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
"I think that I shall never see, a poem as lovely as a tree," praised poet Joyce Kilmer a century ago, but did he rake and bag the leaves? Reduce your work, reduce hauling costs, save soil nutrients, and repurpose the leaves into free mulch! Grind them up with your lawn mower to dime-sized pieces that fall between the blades, winterize perennial beds with smaller leaves, or stir leaves into your compost pile to create more nourishing mulch for springtime. Consider collecting leaves with an eco-friendly "push leaf sweeper" which saves arms tired from the rake and ears tired of the blower.
OCTOBER 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
How about saving cash and God's creation as you clean? Vinegar (acidic cleaner and disinfectant) and a few drops of Dawn (biodegradable detergent) in a spray bottle can clean many household surfaces. With this simple green cleaning solution and no paper towels, we can scrub the tubs and toilets with a microfiber rag, wipe mirrors with a dry washcloth, or clean windows with a squeegee.
SEPTEMBER 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
As we prepare for another school year, let's consider how to pack an Eco-Friendly Lunch. By avoiding individually wrapped foods, using reusable containers, buying foods grown locally and in season, including less meat, abstaining from bottled water, and bringing home recyclables and compostables, we can eat lunches which both nourish our bodies and sustain God's creation!
AUGUST 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
What do we do with all those spent toothbrushes? Unfortunately, trashed brushes go to the landfill forever while most recyclers toss them into the trash bin anyway. Perhaps we can reduce plastic waste by purchasing a bamboo brush or using our plastic one a little longer. Certainly we could reuse a spent toothbrush for other household tasks such as scrubbing small spots out of the carpet or applying shoe polish. As a last resort we could recycle through Colgate/TerraCycle (who will pay for shipping to recycle any brand of toothbrush, toothpaste tube, or dental floss container).
JULY 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
Vinegar is a natural acidic product of plant fermentation with a miraculous potential to replace harsh chemicals for many household purposes including disinfecting bathroom and kitchen surfaces, killing insects, removing ink stains, and washing windows. A spray bottle with vinegar in the home can help save dollars at the supermarket and keep our waters clean.
JUNE 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
"O God our help in ages past, our hope in years in years to come" begins one of our favorite hymns of inspiration. Amidst all the gloom and doom regarding climate change, we have hope in sustaining God's creation! CWLP has plans now to move towards greener and cleaner energy as coal generators near retirement. Illinois currently generates 8% of its electricity from wind while much more is coming. Germany can now generate the majority of its electricity from renewable sources and for brief period last year covered all of its consumption with sustainable energy!
MAY 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
WPC is one of the only places in town that accepts both rechargeable and single-use batteries for recycling! Since reusing is better than recycling, for frequently-used electronics consider replacing single-use AAA, AA, D, or C cells with rechargeable batteries. The batteries and recharger will soon pay for themselves, will last for years, and can eventually be recycled too!
APRIL 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
China’s recent restriction on recycling the world’s paper, plastic, and glass unfortunately has diverted some of these commodities to landfills and polluting incinerators. This recycling crisis reminds us that reducing our consumption and reusing what we buy are greener alternatives to using once then recycling. For example, let us read on a screen what we could have printed and let us reuse the backside of what we printed for scrap!
MARCH 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
As we approach the season of Lent and remember how Christ lived simply in the wilderness for forty days, let us consider how we might begin new routines dedicated to simplicity and environmental stewardship, such as eating less meat, giving up disposable tableware, or starting a compost pile.
FEBRUARY 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
Recently oceanographers discovered a discarded plastic bag on the deepest floor of the Pacific! To reduce the trillions of single-use plastic bags in the world, California outlawed them in 2016 and Illinois is considering legislation to limit their use. We can show our love for creation by reusing Westminster’s shopping bags or by recycling plastic bags at the grocery.
JANUARY 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
If you put up a real Christmas tree this year, Springfield crews will pick it up curbside starting 7 AM January 7th to repurpose it for mulch. Hold on to your artificial tree as long as possible! After its 23rd year, a plastic tree becomes “greener” than growing, cutting, transporting, and mulching a real one every year.
DECEMBER 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
Last year's Christmas tree lights don't work? If simply replacing a bulb or fuse doesn't solve the problem, reclaim valuable copper, plastic, and glass by recycling them (without bags or boxes) in the top bin at the southwest corner of Westminster's West Narthex. Next time, consider purchasing more efficient and long-lasting LED lights!
NOVEMBER 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
Are you ready for the winter cold? Annual maintenance of your furnace keeps it efficient and staves off costly repairs and replacement. Check doors and windows for drafts and replace weather stripping to keep cozy and to prevent losing precious heat. A programmable thermostat can substantially reduce energy costs by giving your furnace a rest while you are not at home or while you sleep under an electric blanket.
SUMMER 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
Are the dog days of summer starting to brown your green grass? You can easily push a screwdriver several inches into a lawn with enough water. Save time, conserve precious water, and improve lawn health by running the sprinkler for about an hour once a week at dawn. More frequent watering encourages weeds and disease while much of afternoon sprinkling ends up evaporating.
MAY 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
Need a new lawnmower and looking for some exercise in God’s Creation? Consider the old-fashioned push reel mowers which are making a comeback to help conserve energy and to help shrink waistlines. Cut the grass at 3” and leave the clippings to conserve water and nutrients!
APRIL 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
From biblical times, gardeners have reused food scraps in compost to nourish their plants. Compost is real plant food and greatly reduces food waste and the need for fertilizer! Just mix any leftover edibles about 1:1 with other compostables (leaves, yard waste, paper products, etc.). Chopping, frequent stirring, and moisture will help create “black gold” within a few weeks.
Earth Care Team: Dr. Peter Kieffer, Keith Hamilton, Charlie King, Becky McDonald, Lynn McMenamin, Maribeth Norton, Susan Shaw, Brad Steller
Get involved: See our bulletin board for ways to be environmentally conscious! If you are interested in joining our Earth Care Team, we would love to hear from you.
Even without solar panels on our roofs, we can harvest God's gift of solar energy. Opening southern blinds can warm a home on cool sunny days. Leaving laundry out to dry gives the energy-hog dryer a rest. Tending a garden is a way for agriculture to capture solar energy for our bodies. If your family needs more clean energy, subscribe to mySolar through which we can pay a reasonable surcharge for kilowatts generated at CWLP's solar farm northwest of Springfield.
SEPTEMBER 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Looking for new ways to care for God's creation? Mighty Nest (www.mightynest.com) offers green alternatives with household items. Blueland (www.blueland.com) sells tap water soluble tablets and reusable bottles to reduce harmful chemicals, shipping costs, and plastic waste associated with cleaning solutions. Terracycle (www.terracycle.com) helps recycle many difficult disposables including pens, razors, toothbrushes, and even guitar strings.
AUGUST 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Energy-efficient laundry can clean up the air too! "Cold Wash" then "Cold Rinse" usually cleans clothes efficiently with less fading. Drying clothes in the backyard on the clothesline captures solar energy whereas a dryer consumes a lot of electricity or gas and, in summertime, makes the AC consume even more energy. If we do use a dryer, we could hang-dry the shirts and avoid the need for an iron. Skip the Bounce and toss in a reusable tennis ball to reduce wrinkling, static cling, and dryer time!
JULY 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Do you like getting more for the same price? Once you reach the bottom of a container get more out of each tube of toothpaste by cutting and rolling it, more out of each detergent or shampoo bottle by diluting and shaking it, and more out of each food jar by wiping the sides with a rubber spatula. Even better, buy products in large containers which leads to relatively less packaging and waste at the bottom. Of course, reuse or recycle that container after you get the last drop!
JUNE 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Are you washing a few more dishes since all the restaurants closed? Dishwashers are actually greener than washing by hand since so much hot water can go down the drain. To save even more energy, rinse the dishes in cold water prior to stacking and run only full loads. Cancel the heated dry cycle and instead pull out the racks for a few minutes to air dry the dishes which saves energy to the heating element and to the kitchen AC!
MAY 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Are we feeling cooped up yet in quarantine? Let us remember that we can maintain proper social distance even while taking a walk in the park! Although Springfield playgrounds, park bathrooms, dog parks, and golf courses are closed due to the pandemic, park trails and green spaces are open. Walking, running, biking or even yoga in the outdoors can alleviate stress, promote meaningful exercise, and foster our connection with God's creation.
APRIL 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Perhaps social distancing and a few weeks at home will give us opportunities for some green spring cleaning! If we are downsizing good stuff stashed in the garage or basement, we can share treasures no longer needed: donate clothes and small items/appliances to Goodwill or Salvation Army, give tools/large appliances/construction materials to Habitat ReStore, or post for free almost anything else on Craigslist. We could sort now and deliver or schedule pickup after businesses reopen. Reusing our stuff becomes an opportunity to give, reduces trash in landfills, avoids the costs of recycling, and preserves natural resources.
MARCH 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Fortunately, most of us can recycle the majority of our waste each week at the curb. Remember to rinse plastic containers and replace the caps. Flatten boxes prior to putting them in the bin. Even empty aerosol cans can be recycled for the metal. Grocery stores help recycle most plastic bags. Heavily soiled paper should be mulched. Keep Styrofoam until your next visit to St. Louis where it can be recycled. For anything else check out Springfield's "Room-to-Room Guide to Household Reuse and Recycling" (available online or from Public Works).
FEBRUARY 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Most of us know the three R's of earth-friendly consumerism: reduce consumption if we can, reuse products that we must have, and recycle those that we discard. Now we can add two more: refuse that free single-use plastic straw, cup, or bag (which encourages vendors to think green) and repair rather than discard broken items (which not only reduces waste but also supports the American service industry). Although we love to recycle, usually one of the other R's is a better choice for God's creation.
JANUARY 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
In hot water with the utility bills? We can save money and energy with how we heat and use hot water. Lowering the temperature to 120 degrees is better for the bank account and safer for the kids. A hot water heater blanket conserves energy (especially in a cold basement or garage). Low-flow shower heads get the job done with less water. Time for replacement or upgrade? Tankless water heaters last longer and recoup their higher cost within a few years.
DECEMBER 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
With cold weather already here, let us remember to winterize for optimal energy efficiency and comfort. Consider a programmable thermostat with lower temperatures while asleep or not home. Door sweeps and weather stripping help fill the gaps which bring as much cold as a two-inch hole in a door. For a drafty chimney, consider an insulated Flueblocker.
NOVEMBER 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
"I think that I shall never see, a poem as lovely as a tree," praised poet Joyce Kilmer a century ago, but did he rake and bag the leaves? Reduce your work, reduce hauling costs, save soil nutrients, and repurpose the leaves into free mulch! Grind them up with your lawn mower to dime-sized pieces that fall between the blades, winterize perennial beds with smaller leaves, or stir leaves into your compost pile to create more nourishing mulch for springtime. Consider collecting leaves with an eco-friendly "push leaf sweeper" which saves arms tired from the rake and ears tired of the blower.
OCTOBER 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
How about saving cash and God's creation as you clean? Vinegar (acidic cleaner and disinfectant) and a few drops of Dawn (biodegradable detergent) in a spray bottle can clean many household surfaces. With this simple green cleaning solution and no paper towels, we can scrub the tubs and toilets with a microfiber rag, wipe mirrors with a dry washcloth, or clean windows with a squeegee.
SEPTEMBER 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
As we prepare for another school year, let's consider how to pack an Eco-Friendly Lunch. By avoiding individually wrapped foods, using reusable containers, buying foods grown locally and in season, including less meat, abstaining from bottled water, and bringing home recyclables and compostables, we can eat lunches which both nourish our bodies and sustain God's creation!
AUGUST 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
What do we do with all those spent toothbrushes? Unfortunately, trashed brushes go to the landfill forever while most recyclers toss them into the trash bin anyway. Perhaps we can reduce plastic waste by purchasing a bamboo brush or using our plastic one a little longer. Certainly we could reuse a spent toothbrush for other household tasks such as scrubbing small spots out of the carpet or applying shoe polish. As a last resort we could recycle through Colgate/TerraCycle (who will pay for shipping to recycle any brand of toothbrush, toothpaste tube, or dental floss container).
JULY 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
Vinegar is a natural acidic product of plant fermentation with a miraculous potential to replace harsh chemicals for many household purposes including disinfecting bathroom and kitchen surfaces, killing insects, removing ink stains, and washing windows. A spray bottle with vinegar in the home can help save dollars at the supermarket and keep our waters clean.
JUNE 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
"O God our help in ages past, our hope in years in years to come" begins one of our favorite hymns of inspiration. Amidst all the gloom and doom regarding climate change, we have hope in sustaining God's creation! CWLP has plans now to move towards greener and cleaner energy as coal generators near retirement. Illinois currently generates 8% of its electricity from wind while much more is coming. Germany can now generate the majority of its electricity from renewable sources and for brief period last year covered all of its consumption with sustainable energy!
MAY 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
WPC is one of the only places in town that accepts both rechargeable and single-use batteries for recycling! Since reusing is better than recycling, for frequently-used electronics consider replacing single-use AAA, AA, D, or C cells with rechargeable batteries. The batteries and recharger will soon pay for themselves, will last for years, and can eventually be recycled too!
APRIL 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
China’s recent restriction on recycling the world’s paper, plastic, and glass unfortunately has diverted some of these commodities to landfills and polluting incinerators. This recycling crisis reminds us that reducing our consumption and reusing what we buy are greener alternatives to using once then recycling. For example, let us read on a screen what we could have printed and let us reuse the backside of what we printed for scrap!
MARCH 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
As we approach the season of Lent and remember how Christ lived simply in the wilderness for forty days, let us consider how we might begin new routines dedicated to simplicity and environmental stewardship, such as eating less meat, giving up disposable tableware, or starting a compost pile.
FEBRUARY 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
Recently oceanographers discovered a discarded plastic bag on the deepest floor of the Pacific! To reduce the trillions of single-use plastic bags in the world, California outlawed them in 2016 and Illinois is considering legislation to limit their use. We can show our love for creation by reusing Westminster’s shopping bags or by recycling plastic bags at the grocery.
JANUARY 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
If you put up a real Christmas tree this year, Springfield crews will pick it up curbside starting 7 AM January 7th to repurpose it for mulch. Hold on to your artificial tree as long as possible! After its 23rd year, a plastic tree becomes “greener” than growing, cutting, transporting, and mulching a real one every year.
DECEMBER 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
Last year's Christmas tree lights don't work? If simply replacing a bulb or fuse doesn't solve the problem, reclaim valuable copper, plastic, and glass by recycling them (without bags or boxes) in the top bin at the southwest corner of Westminster's West Narthex. Next time, consider purchasing more efficient and long-lasting LED lights!
NOVEMBER 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
Are you ready for the winter cold? Annual maintenance of your furnace keeps it efficient and staves off costly repairs and replacement. Check doors and windows for drafts and replace weather stripping to keep cozy and to prevent losing precious heat. A programmable thermostat can substantially reduce energy costs by giving your furnace a rest while you are not at home or while you sleep under an electric blanket.
SUMMER 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
Are the dog days of summer starting to brown your green grass? You can easily push a screwdriver several inches into a lawn with enough water. Save time, conserve precious water, and improve lawn health by running the sprinkler for about an hour once a week at dawn. More frequent watering encourages weeds and disease while much of afternoon sprinkling ends up evaporating.
MAY 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
Need a new lawnmower and looking for some exercise in God’s Creation? Consider the old-fashioned push reel mowers which are making a comeback to help conserve energy and to help shrink waistlines. Cut the grass at 3” and leave the clippings to conserve water and nutrients!
APRIL 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
From biblical times, gardeners have reused food scraps in compost to nourish their plants. Compost is real plant food and greatly reduces food waste and the need for fertilizer! Just mix any leftover edibles about 1:1 with other compostables (leaves, yard waste, paper products, etc.). Chopping, frequent stirring, and moisture will help create “black gold” within a few weeks.
Earth Care Team: Dr. Peter Kieffer, Keith Hamilton, Charlie King, Becky McDonald, Lynn McMenamin, Maribeth Norton, Susan Shaw, Brad Steller
Get involved: See our bulletin board for ways to be environmentally conscious! If you are interested in joining our Earth Care Team, we would love to hear from you.
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