AN ECO-FRIENDLY CHURCH
Community Church's solar array
There are many ways that the Eco Ministry for the Earth has supported and will continue to support environmentally sustainable practices and facilities at church.
SOLAR ARRAY ON CHURCH ROOF
The Eco Ministry advocated for panels, identified a funding method and led the fundraising effort. The solar array was installed in 2014. The Solar Panels installed on the roof of the Jones Building are producing electricity (roughly 30% of the church's electricity usage), which is being sent to the grid. Over the 25+ years of their life they are estimated to reduce carbon dioxide by more than 400 metric tons!
COMPOSTING
The Eco Ministry has worked to increase composting after church events. We installed compost bins on church grounds, educated kitchen volunteers and encouraged the use of compostable paper products and utensils when the use and washing of church dishes is not practical. If church members choose to undertake the work necessary to become part of Orange County’s solid waste program for commercial composting, this would be the single most impactful, immediate and least expensive action the church can take to help with the climate crisis right now.
CHURCH PROCEDURES FOR HELIUM-FILLED BALLOONS
The Eco Ministry recommended the church become a non-helium-balloon-release facility because of the harm to water wildlife of all types. Unfortunately, balloons that are released eventually end up in waterways and can cause suffering and death for animals that mistake them for food. Even if they are not consumed by animals, they become litter which takes a long time to biodegrade. A compromise was worked out with the Children/Youth Program and became a procedure in 2010. Briefly, no helium-filled balloons are to be released from church property. This is also part of the agreement all renters sign.
GROUNDS AND NATIVE PLANTS
Several years ago the Eco Ministry worked with Buildings and Grounds (B&G) on the following agreement: to use only non-poisonous herbicide sprays and very limited, direct application with small brush of any liquid poisonous herbicide to the cut stem or trunk of aggressive or invasive plants (privet, mimosa…) on church grounds. In light of earlier drought years, the Eco Ministry was instrumental in changing plans for a large fountain feature in the courtyard and for initial xeriscape plantings, which required less water.
The Eco Ministry championed the planting of native plants and nurtured the formation and initial funding for a spin-off group called Sacred Gardeners who are responsible for the native plantings in the courtyard. The Sacred Gardeners are now under the auspices of B&G.
CARPOOLING
Are you looking for opportunities to carpool to church? Email us at [email protected] for a link to the Carpool Map where you can locate nearby church members. You can also email us if you do not want to be listed. (Addresses are taken from the church directory, and we only share the map with verified church members who request a link.) Click here for more detail about the car pooling system.
To contact the Eco Ministry with questions, get on our Friends of the Eco Ministry for the Earth email list, or explore joining our committee send an email to [email protected].
SOLAR ARRAY ON CHURCH ROOF
The Eco Ministry advocated for panels, identified a funding method and led the fundraising effort. The solar array was installed in 2014. The Solar Panels installed on the roof of the Jones Building are producing electricity (roughly 30% of the church's electricity usage), which is being sent to the grid. Over the 25+ years of their life they are estimated to reduce carbon dioxide by more than 400 metric tons!
COMPOSTING
The Eco Ministry has worked to increase composting after church events. We installed compost bins on church grounds, educated kitchen volunteers and encouraged the use of compostable paper products and utensils when the use and washing of church dishes is not practical. If church members choose to undertake the work necessary to become part of Orange County’s solid waste program for commercial composting, this would be the single most impactful, immediate and least expensive action the church can take to help with the climate crisis right now.
CHURCH PROCEDURES FOR HELIUM-FILLED BALLOONS
The Eco Ministry recommended the church become a non-helium-balloon-release facility because of the harm to water wildlife of all types. Unfortunately, balloons that are released eventually end up in waterways and can cause suffering and death for animals that mistake them for food. Even if they are not consumed by animals, they become litter which takes a long time to biodegrade. A compromise was worked out with the Children/Youth Program and became a procedure in 2010. Briefly, no helium-filled balloons are to be released from church property. This is also part of the agreement all renters sign.
GROUNDS AND NATIVE PLANTS
Several years ago the Eco Ministry worked with Buildings and Grounds (B&G) on the following agreement: to use only non-poisonous herbicide sprays and very limited, direct application with small brush of any liquid poisonous herbicide to the cut stem or trunk of aggressive or invasive plants (privet, mimosa…) on church grounds. In light of earlier drought years, the Eco Ministry was instrumental in changing plans for a large fountain feature in the courtyard and for initial xeriscape plantings, which required less water.
The Eco Ministry championed the planting of native plants and nurtured the formation and initial funding for a spin-off group called Sacred Gardeners who are responsible for the native plantings in the courtyard. The Sacred Gardeners are now under the auspices of B&G.
CARPOOLING
Are you looking for opportunities to carpool to church? Email us at [email protected] for a link to the Carpool Map where you can locate nearby church members. You can also email us if you do not want to be listed. (Addresses are taken from the church directory, and we only share the map with verified church members who request a link.) Click here for more detail about the car pooling system.
To contact the Eco Ministry with questions, get on our Friends of the Eco Ministry for the Earth email list, or explore joining our committee send an email to [email protected].