We Did It! So Can You!

The Green Team at HCUMC has spend 2009 reducing our environmental impact.  Here are 12 things we’ve done that you can do at home to green your life.

1. HC’s communion grape juice is now organic!  Pick up organic juice or milk this week at your local grocer’s.
2. HC’s lightbulbs in the sanctuary, gallery and basement have been replaced with CFLs!  Switch out an old lightbulb in your home with a CFL this week.
3. HC supported a local restaurant, Crust, who serves organic food grown from local farmers, when we served Crust’s pizza for our movie night last spring!  This week, buy organic produce from your local farmer’s market or dine out at a restaurant that supports local, organic farmers.  www.crustorganic.com
4. HC’s planted some new Hydrangea shrubs and annual flowers along the west side of the church!  Swing by your local grocery store or Home Depot and buy yourself a house plant this week.
5. HC is now recycling all paper bulletins!  This week make an effort to recycle your paper at your home/office/school.
6. HC has spent the past 6 months canceling unnecessary catalogues, junk mail, and phone books being mailed to the church!  This week, call those companies that send you catalogues/junk mail and ask to be removed from their mailing list.
7. HC brews fair-trade coffee during hospitality!  This week, make sure your morning cup of joe was grown and sold in a responsible manner.  You can get fair-trade coffee from these vendors: Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Caribou Coffee, and Millstone coffee.
8. HC uses power strips in the office, to cut down on phantom energy loss!  This week, plug 2 of your electronics into a power strip to help reduce energy waste.
9. HC sends out our weekly newsletter electronically!  This week, change one of your bills from a paper payment to electronic payment and vow to electronically tithe to HC in 2010 instead of writing checks for your donation.
10. HC now offers recycling of glass, aluminum and plastic during our hospitality hour!  This week, work at recycling these items at your home/office/school.
11. HC used rags when spring cleaning the church this past May!  This week instead of using paper towels to clean, cut up an old t-shirt and use it to dust and wipe down mirrors or glass.
12. HC used eco-friendly cleaning products when spring cleaning the church this past May!  Next time you have to purchase cleaning supplies, buy an eco-friendly brand or make your own with this easy recipe:

Homemade Spray Cleaner Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water

In the kitchen, use vinegar-and-water spray to clean countertops, lightly soiled range surfaces and backsplash areas.

In the bathroom, use vinegar spray cleaner to clean countertops, floors, and exterior surfaces of the toilet.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 at 4:00 am and is filed under Green team. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.