EcoTeam
The mission of the EcoTeam is to make our planet sustainable through reduced use of fossil fuels, recycling, and responsible living. We meet every other month. Contact Kevin Conley to find out the date of our next meeting or to be included on our email list: e.kevin.conley@gmail.com. We welcome new members.
There are many ways that you can be environmentally responsible. Read the list of eco-tips, or check out our bulletin board in the back hallway.
Growth and Education
The EcoTeam periodically invites speakers and schedules videos for discussion. The events are intended to inform, but just as importantly, encourage us to talk to one another about the climate situation that we are in and learn what actions we can take to protect and heal the earth.
The EcoTeam collaborates with the Christian Education program to teach good stewardship of the earth’s resources.
Solar Energy
Several church members have installed rooftop solar panels, availing themselves of utility, federal and state rebates and tax credits (see https://www.cleanenergycapitalregion.org/solar for more information). But rooftop solar is not the only way to go solar and help the earth. Renters, homeowners and businesses can sign up for community solar as the Church Council has already done for the church and parsonage. You won’t need to install panels on your roof, pay an up-front cost or lock yourself into a long-term contract. Yet, you will be able to derive clean, pure energy from the sun and combat greenhouse gas emissions and you will see savings in your monthly electrical bills. Your utility provider, National Grid or NYSEG, will continue to provide back-up electricity when needed.
Adopt a Highway
We are part of the Adopt-a-Highway Program of the NY Dept. of Transportation. Join us as we clean up Route 9 & 20 in East Greenbush & Schodack. We meet at the church on the first Saturdays in April, June, August, and October. Each person or team signs up to pick up trash on both sides of the road for a ½ mile section.
Responsible Recycling
Responsible stewardship of God’s creation begins with the first of the “3 Rs” of sustainability; to REDUCE consumption. A close second is REUSE, and a helpful resource is this list of places where you can donate items for reuse including computers, yarn, hearing aids, eyeglasses, furniture and building materials. What we can’t use, we RECYCLE. The list also includes places to recycle items, including books, textiles, paints and more.
Styrofoam and Glass Recycling Events
What’s the problem with Styrofoam? According to the EPA, as styrene, a degradable product of Styrofoam, leaches from landfills into our drinking water, it causes liver, kidney, or circulatory system problems. Minorities and people living in poverty are more likely to live near landfills and factories, and are disproportionately affected by these problems (See more at http://greendiningalliance.org/2015/10/8-reasons-to-ban-styro-foam/).
Isn’t glass being recycled? Most glass that is put into single-stream recycling ends up in a landfill. In fact, only 33% of glass in the US is recycled. This despite the fact that the technical know-how to recycle glass exists and processed, recycled glass helps manufacturers reduce energy costs and improve quality when making new glass.
What can we do? The EcoTeam hopes that you will help us keep Styrofoam and glass out of landfills. We schedule recycling events for a Sunday in each of January, April and September when Styrofoam and glass can be dropped-off in the church parking lot by the garage. Styrofoam must be clean, free of tape and staples. Styrofoam food containers are not accepted. We collect only clear, green or blue glass jars and bottles (no window glass, etc). The glass must be free of metal rings or caps, but labels are okay. Zero Waste Capital District and Honest Weight Food Co-op arranged for the glass to be transported to a processing facility that uses 100% of the glass.
Battery Recycling
Recycling batteries ensures that toxic materials are handled with care, lessens the need for mining, and is often required by law. Staples accepts single use and rechargeable batteries for recycling. Stores provide a small (4- inch cube) box with instructions for the kinds of household batteries accepted and instructions for preparing the batteries. The EcoTeam helps by collecting batteries in a box in the church foyer. You can recycle large rechargeable batteries used to power tools at many hardware and building materials’ stores.
Global Climate Change
What are the facts about climate change? Many people look around, and dismiss the dire predictions, thinking that Mother Nature seems to be doing just fine. However, consider the fact that 477 documented vertebrates (therefore a conservative estimate) have gone extinct since 1900, rather than the nine that would be expected at natural rates (Ceballos G et al., Science Advances 1(5) 2015). The consensus that humans are causing recent global warming is shared by 90%–100% of publishing climate scientists, according to six independent studies, including surveys by non-experts. (Cook, John, et al., Environmental Research Letters 11(4) 2016.) The evidence is mounting that climate change is happening and is actually happening now. As time progresses, the success of repairing or slowing climate change diminishes. Therefore, action must be taken now to avert future harm. Read more facts about climate change.
When contemplating climate change, many people consider the task too big to tackle. Some easy ways to combat climate change are:
- SPEAK UP by voicing your concerns to our legislators, especially concerning specific projects such as new drilling and gas and oil infrastructure. Signing on-line petitions literally takes seconds; google organizations like the Sierra Club and 350.org to get started. Phone calls and letters to the President, senators, congressmen, and the Governor go even farther and are VERY effective and well worth the time.
- STEP UP by being proactive and support personal responsibility for climate change. For example, increase your consumption of plant-based foods, and especially decrease consumption of beef. The very potent greenhouse gas, methane, is released by cattle, and livestock production accounts for nearly 80% of greenhouse emissions from the agricultural sector; the contribution of meat to climate change is surprisingly significant. Your heart will love you for it, too. Refer to our eco-tips.
If you would like to know more about any of the activities of the EcoTeam, please ask any member of the Team or contact e.kevin.conley@gmail.com