Green Space
"Unity is an urban green space." We are blessed with beautiful gardens and lawn space on our corner of Magnolia and Balmoral.
Concern for global warming gave birth to the Green Team in 2007. Wishing to do our part to live greener we took some steps that were achievable. We sent back our plastic communion cups and use our washable glass cups. We recycle and use fair trade coffee every Sunday after worship. On Palm/Passion Sunday we use eco-friendly palms in our procession. The candles we burn are beeswax instead of paraffin or stearic acid made candles. We use the online guide, Web of Creation. Below are ways you can help make our community and environment a better place to live.
Concern for global warming gave birth to the Green Team in 2007. Wishing to do our part to live greener we took some steps that were achievable. We sent back our plastic communion cups and use our washable glass cups. We recycle and use fair trade coffee every Sunday after worship. On Palm/Passion Sunday we use eco-friendly palms in our procession. The candles we burn are beeswax instead of paraffin or stearic acid made candles. We use the online guide, Web of Creation. Below are ways you can help make our community and environment a better place to live.
Energy Conservation
Unity receives ComEd Congregational Challenge award
"In Recognition of Outstanding Energy Conservation Efforts"
The Rev. Dr. Clare Butterfield, Director of "Faith in Place" and the "Illinois Interfaith Power and Light Campaign," remarked that "Unity Lutheran is taking up 100% of the recommendations by ComEd who puts you out in front of the pack." Faith in Place administered the ComEd Small Business Engergy Savings program for faith communities.
Unity employed the Chicagoland eco-green company, "Energy Reduction, Inc." who retrofit our 20 exit lights with LED's, and retrofitted all the flourescent lighting in our fellowship and kitchen with T-8 fixtures. The new bulbs use half as much energy and project will pay for itself in about a year and a half. Unity also received a 50-50 matching grant from ComEd.
"In Recognition of Outstanding Energy Conservation Efforts"
The Rev. Dr. Clare Butterfield, Director of "Faith in Place" and the "Illinois Interfaith Power and Light Campaign," remarked that "Unity Lutheran is taking up 100% of the recommendations by ComEd who puts you out in front of the pack." Faith in Place administered the ComEd Small Business Engergy Savings program for faith communities.
Unity employed the Chicagoland eco-green company, "Energy Reduction, Inc." who retrofit our 20 exit lights with LED's, and retrofitted all the flourescent lighting in our fellowship and kitchen with T-8 fixtures. The new bulbs use half as much energy and project will pay for itself in about a year and a half. Unity also received a 50-50 matching grant from ComEd.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Honoring and cherishing God's "very good" gift of creation, we recycle paper, plastic bottles, and glass through the city blue bin program. Our partners and space sharing groups, led by the youth and children of RefugeeONE's after school program, participate in our plan of recycling as well. We are intentional about reducing our dependence on paper, for example, limiting our use of worship folders to one page for news and events and one page for worship order per person. We reduce our heating bill with programable thermostats, and reuse or repurpose furniture and electronics whenever possible.
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for God has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. (Psalm 24)
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for God has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. (Psalm 24)
