First Parish in Concord

Green Sanctuary Group

About Green Sanctuary

The First Parish Green Sanctuary Group seeks to heighten environmental awareness and to promote earth-friendly change within the Parish and our community. The group meets at First Parish in Concord. Check the newsletter for times or contact the co-chairs listed below. Or subscribe to the group's email distribution list.

Projects:

The First Parish Green Sanctuary Committee

• Builds awareness of societal environmental issues.
• Motivates parishioners to work on personal lifestyle changes.
• Increases connections between spiritual practice and environmental consciousness.
• Publicizes and addresses environmental injustice.

Current projects include creating family low-carbon diet (LCD) groups, lowering church electricity usage, recycling old sneakers, an RE program that measures First Parish’s trash, and promoting green home cleaning products.

Building Project
The Green Sanctuary Committee has been consulting with the Building Committee on the upcoming renovations to First Parish, helping to look for and evaluate options for sustainable design, including energy efficiency, air quality, and use of materials.  

Green Sanctuary Certification
The group is considering applying to the UUA's Green Sanctuary program to become accredited as a Green Sanctuary.

• Steps to accreditation
• Audit form
• Proposal
• Sample charter

Energy Audit
The energy audit for the church is a long-term incremental project that began with a large effort in the mid-1990s, resulting in replacement of the heating system and insulation of the roof of the main sanctuary. The church has realized large energy savings and environmental benefits each year as a result of the projects. Recently a lighting audit was performed that includes a prescriptive list of lighting fixture changes that will save electricity. From this list a certain number of the most beneficial options will be implemented within the funding limits.

What you can do

• Measure your climate impact
• Drive a fuel-efficient vehicle
• Use green cleaning products
• Use energy-efficient lighting
• Maintain a green lawn & garden
• Join other local environmental organizations

Resources

• Climate Change Links
• Sustainable Eating
• Recommended Reading
• UUA Green Sanctuary Program: http://uuministryforearth.org/grs_overview.htm

Co-Chairs: Peter Nobile peter.nobile@gmail.com, Jay Barnes jay@energyrace.com
Core Group: Co-Chairs, plus Andy Proulx, Maria Cox, Bob Andrews
Meeting Minutes