Plano Congregations: My Energy Efficiency Heroes of the Week

I was fortunate enough to go to Plano on Saturday for a Congregational Green Teams training on energy efficiency. The city is conducting a number of sustainability and resource efficiency training programs; this was the first to specifically target congregations. Needless to say, it was wonderful to see this collaboration between the city and its residents and to hear different green teams talk about what they are doing in their own congregations to be more connected to the environment and protect the Creation.

At least 20 congregations from Plano and the surrounding area attended. At the beginning of the training, we went around the room and the participants shared some of the ideas they are already putting into action at their houses of worship. I'll be blogging about this event for the next few weeks, but I wanted to start by sharing a few of those ideas they mentioned:

• Replace styrofoam cups by having congregants bring back and donate coffee mugs when they went on vacation.
• Three congregations had community gardens; one incorporated a healthy eating program.
• Compost altar flowers to fertilize the community garden.
• Remove half the lightbulbs in light fixtures - two bulbs in a four-bulb ceiling light produces plenty of light.
• By installing motion sensors on the lights, one congregation cut electricity use by 50%!
• Several congregations installed smart water controllers - this cut one congregation's water use from 4 million to 2.5 million gallons.
• Present awards to good resource stewards among the staff and volunteers on a monthly basis.
• Update the congregation and staff regularly about the progress and accomplishments of conservation efforts to keep the momentum/
• Buy and use green cleaning products.
• One congregation had a youth from the community build recycling stations for each of the room, to encourage members and staff to separate their recyclables.

The city is going to have a number of household efficiency workshops in late February and early March - Plano residents who attend (and congregations with members from Plano) will receive free weatherization kits! Non-residents can also attend, but don't get the free stuff. For more information, check out Live Green in Plano.