CARE OF CREATION
The work of California Interfaith Power and Light is energized by the understanding that every major faith tradition call on us to be stewards of Creation. We have a responsibility to protect the earth for our children and future generations. For CIPL members, faithfulness to the care of creation is a spiritual mandate. We continually strive to nourish our commitment to the goal of living as responsible stewards. In so doing, we draw from the wisdom of Creation's many faith traditions.
“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not,
neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon
in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
Matthew 6: 28-29
HOT TOPICS
Talk of the Town
The New Yorker magazine recently featured articles written by and about journalist Elizabeth Kolbert who traveled from Alaska to Greenland interviewing top scientists and climatologists to get to the heart of the debate over global warming. In her three-part series, Kolbert reports on what she learned. Most of it won't be news to many CIPL members, but it is interesting and important to know about the awareness levels of the vast majority of Americans and how and by whom that is being expanded.
Here are a few pithy statements from the third and final article in their series:
"Both climate change and sustainable development are top
priorities. It is important that we achieve sustainable development
and provide all the people in the world with decent living conditions."
Talking about the ways in which global warming will change the world for human beings, Kolbert states that ìwarming the worldî will change the climate patterns that we rely on for agriculture and water supply. It would affect what insects and diseases might pose new levels of threat. She points out that the probably rise in the seas would affect coastal areas inhabited by hundreds of millions of people. To the question of human responsibility for climate change, she speaks most pointedly:
The point that's important to keep in mind is that the greenhouse gases
we are adding to the atmosphere are overwhelming the natural forces that
cause climate variability. In effect, we humans are becoming the drivers
of the climate system, and we are doing so without knowing where we
are going.
Probably the most sobering of the comments written in the article was this one:
I spoke to many very sober-minded, coolly analytical scientists who,
in essence, warned of the end of the world as we know itÖ....
The problem is that, once global warming is something that most people
can feel in the course of their daily lives, it will be too late to
prevent much larger, potentially catastrophic change.
To read what Kolbert has to say about the climate models used by scientists, the politics of global warming, the albedo factor which is part of understanding global warming and her views on Kyoto, click on:
http://www.newyorker.com/printables/online/050425on_onlineonly01
Wildlife Takes the Heat
National Wildlife magazine recently published a special issue on global warming. Features of the issue included articles and photos about the state of the animals. Among the species discussed in this April/May edition, were polar bears, sea turtles, fox, yellow-bellied marmots, a variety of birds, fish and butterflies, toad, lobsters and alligators. Climate change is putting the animals on the move, in general, the shift seems to be from lower to higher elevations. The animals are moving up. But what of the animals already at the top? The red fox, for example, has been extending its range into the Artic as global warming has made the region more inhabitable to amore species. The Artic fox is begin overpowered by the penetration of its red cousin, but has no where
else to go. It is likely to dwindle in the face of this competition.
Scientist say warming in the Great Basin area of the United States has contributed to the extinction of seven out of 25 populations of the American pike. These high elevation mammals can't adapt and have no where to go. The Golden Toad of Costa Rica is the first species to have become extinct due to global warming. In September of 1999, a large number of New England lobsters died mysteriously. Researchers name the higher water temperatures as the likely reason.
Birds everywhere are migrating early; Mexican jays and American robins and red-winged black birds are all arriving early to their mating spots. Tens of thousand of sockeye salmon in British Columbia died due to high water temperature and drought-induced low water flows in 1998. The Artic cod which lives under diminishing ice is declining and
With them, their primary predator, the black guillemot.
All of this and more is a preview of what is ahead for the animal kingdom. In just about the center of the magazine, this quote appeared:
"
In nature, timing is everything. It is like a symphony that's ruined
if one instrument comes in at the wrong time."
To read this and other articles in their entirely, go to http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/
GOOD NEWS:
High Hopes for Lower Energy Usage
Charles River Associates, an international recognized financial and management consulting firm, recently published the result of one of the largest electricity pricing study ever conducted. The study was based on energy usage between July 2003 and December 2004 and analyzed the usage patterns of residential, small business and industrial customers. The results suggested that in California, energy usage during peak hours was decreased by 15%. This is due to the variable rate schedule. The study examined several time-varying pricing rates. One of these was a time-of-use (TOU) rate, which charged higher prices during peak periods when it costs more to procure electricity and lower prices during off-peak periods. Another rate was based on critical-peak pricing (CPP) that resembles a TOU rate on most days but on 12 summer days and three winter days, it charges much higher prices during peak periods. CRA found that residential customers in California will reduce their peak period energy use by about 5% in response to a TOU rate, which features prices that were about twice as high as the standard price of 13 cents/kWh, and about 15% in response to a CPP rate, which features prices that were five times as high. Lower energy use means lower emissions which translates as a reduction in CO2 put into the atmosphere. That's all good news. To read the full article on the study, click on:
http://ir.crai.com/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=CRAI&script=410&layout=-6&item_id=693223
COOL TIPS
* Install Sun-Control Screens: Sun-control screens are just like regular
window screens except that they are made out of tightly woven fiberglass or
polyester that has been specially designed to reduce solar hear gain. They come
in a variety of sizes and can be removed for winter. Installing them means you'll
save at least $45.00 in air conditioning costs every summer.
* Exterior window shades, such as awnings or shutters are 50% more effective
at reducing solar heat gain than interior shades, curtain or blinds, because they
block the sun before it hits your windows.
* Vines growing on a trellis can reduce the surface temperature of the wall
the trellis is attached to by 40ƒF and thus lower your air conditioning costs.
CIPL NEWS
The CIPL E-Newsletter is one way we try to help keep you and your congregation informed by providing current information and links concerning global climate change, and what we can do to help mitigate its effects. We also share useful tips (such as those in the COOL TIPS section above) on how you can save energy and save money, both at home and in your congregation's facilities, as we all help to Care for Creation. Our website (www.interfaithpower.org) is also full of helpful hints and links to various sources of useful environmental and spiritual information that can be both educational and uplifting.
Your Feedback Requested
We would also like to hear from you about what your congregation has been doing in your environmental stewardship efforts. Please tell us whether you changed standard light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs (cfl) or if you swapped old ceiling light fixtures for new models with more efficient fluorescent ballasts. Let us know if you installed (or are planning to install) solar panels or water heaters or are replacing old appliances with new, efficient Energy Star rated appliances or doing anything else to increase your energy efficiency.
We would like to hear about any helpful, energy saving changes or tips that you have to share. Please send your useful tidbits to CIPL at info@interfaithpower.org, and we will pass your information along on these pages. Who knows, you may wind up being a featured congregation in the future.
CIPL recently added a Green Technology page on the website to pass along Green Building concepts (http://www.interfaithpower.org/greentech.htm#grbu), and we would like to know if you have completed, or are planning, any new construction or remodeling projects utilizing these techniques. The Green Technology page also has links to California Air Resources Board automobile ratings and recommendations for "clean" cars that are currently available at your local automobile dealer. You will be surprised at the variety of vehicles that are rated as clean in California and we think you will find that information useful when you are in the market for a new car.
ANNUAL CIPL MEMBER SURVEY
On a more formal basis, CIPL annually compiles cumulative statistics based on the environmental stewardship efforts made by CIPL Member Congregations and their individual members. This survey is very important; it is one of the tools we use internally to evaluate our effectiveness. The information gleaned from the survey is an accurate measurement of the overall positive impact CIPL's members are making through their environmental stewardship efforts.
The survey's results are also very important to our present and potential funders in our ongoing effort to raise the funds necessary to continue to provide CIPL's outreach and educational activities throughout California.
We know you are extremely busy, but we would really appreciate your help completing the Annual Member Survey when you receive it in the mail. The cumulative efficiency information you submit will be forwarded to the EPA where the raw data will be converted into easily understood facts including: The number of pounds of CO2 prevented from entering the atmosphere through our efforts (4,594,609 last year) and their equivalent in cars off the road (460) or acres of tress planted (625). Additional statistics collected last year indicated CIPL Member Congregations saved 2,356,630 kilowatt hours of electricity equaling nearly a $270,000 savings on utility bills. To view the complete 2003-04 Annual Report slides go to: http://www.interfaithpower.org/2004%20Annual%20Report%20graphs.ppt on the CIPL website.
When you receive the survey in the mail in the next month or so, please take the time to thoughtfully respond. It is important and we thank you for taking the time to participate.
SUGGESTED READING
Green Remodeling, by David Johnson and Kim Master
David Johnson & Kim Master's book, which is subtitled "Changing the World One Room at a Time" is a must for anyone undertaking a remodeling project. The book is designed to provide the reader with information about a "greener, more sustainable lifestyle." It covers the economics of building green, the physics of heat, air and water movement, energy and the impact of indoor air quality on health. It covers the most frequently remodeled rooms in the house: the bathroom and kitchen. It also covers room additions, the office and the basement. Other chapters include roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating and ventilation, interior materials and finishes and many more vital topics to greening your living and work space.
The book was written to provide a smorgasbord of option on green building. It is a user-friendly handbook that includes a wealth of information with a rich helping of inspiration. It is published by New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island in British Columbia, Canada.
EVENTS
Sacramento CIPL Working Group:
Monday, June 6
Noon - 1:00 PM
St. John's Lutheran Church
2nd Floor Conference Room
1701 L Street
Sacramento, California
RSVP to Rev. Dexter McNamara
916-448-2212
info@interfaithpower.org
San Diego CIPL Working Group (RECAP) Meeting
Tuesday, June 7th
6:00-7:30 PM
St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral
Fireside Room, 3rd Floor
2728 Sixth Street
San Diego, California
RSVP to Rev. Glenn Allison
858-790-3744
tachs.glenn@sbcglobal.net
East Bay Working Group
Wednesday, June 29th
Time TBA
The Next Generation
Sixth Floor Conference Room
1904 Franklin Street
Oakland, California
RSVP to Sally
510-763-4217
outreach@interfaithpower.org
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Does your congregation have an eco-event coming up? Let us help you get the word out to all of our covenant congregations. Do you know of a great film or reading that you wish everyone would take advantage of? Let us know about it and we will include it in the Newsletter. Send us all copy by the 25th of the month for inclusion in the next month's edition. Email Sally Juarez at outreach@interfaithpower.org.
CLOSING REFLECTION
by Tom Bourne, CIPL Executive Director
As we enter summer in California, I am reminded that not all of us have the option of turning on air conditioning to gain relief from the heat at home or in the workplace. Some of us not only suffer from exposure to the summer heat but also live next to that power plant that churns out dirty air and pollutes our neighbor's lungs in order for us to stay cool.
Every time we turn on a light switch, power up our air conditioning or drive a car we are jeopardizing the health of some in our society who don't have our resources. They become environmental bystanders because they don't have the power of choice that the rest of us do.
We are called to "love thy neighbor" and to protect those who cannot protect themselves. We are called to be faithful environmental stewards and to Care for Creation, not only for ourselves and our children's children, but for those less fortunate.
Environmental stewardship is a large, complex and awesome responsibility. But by working together we can make a huge difference and lessen the footprint we will leave behind on the Earth.
The CIPL E-Newsletter is produced by:
California Interfaith Power & Light
2715 K Street, Suite D
Sacramento, CA 95816
916-442-5447
Sally Juarez
Outreach Director
outreach@interfaithpower.org
Tom Bourne
Executive Director
tom@interfaithpower.org
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