Environmental Stewardship at Morristown Unitarian Fellowship

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Environmental Stewardshipat Morristown Unitarian
Fellowship

• Bruce Daggy
• For the GreenFaith Workshop, 15 Nov 2010

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Unitarian Universalist 7th Principle

• Respect for the interdependent web of all
  existence of which we are a part.

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Morristown Unitarian

• Founded 1955 330 Members
• 98-year-old mansion modern octagonal meeting
  room
• Extensive grounds (gardens, lawn, forest,
  parking)
• Green Sanctuary since 2002 reaccreditation
  candidacy in 2010
• Space rented to French school, Gay Activist
  Alliance of Morris County, Alcoholics Anonymous,
  Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Folk
  Project)

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Green Sanctuary Committees Chief Concern in
2005 Global Warming

• Rev. Fletcher Harper, A Vision for a Cooler
  WorldSpirituality and the Challenge of Global
  Warming (Apr 05)
• How can we
• Reduce the carbon footprint of this inefficient
  building?
• Educate and support our members in sustainable
  practices?
• Early Actions
• Professional Energy Audit, aided by GreenFaith
  (winter 2005-6)
• Series of speakers, films, work parties and
  workshops
• CFL light bulb sales after Sunday services

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Selling the Audit

• 7th Principle
• The Mission of the Fellowship is not to pay PSEG
  and JCPL
• This will pay back quickly
• Made people aware of how much utility costs were
  impacting the budget and growing
• We have the volunteers to take this on
• I joined (and later chaired) the Building
  Grounds Committee

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Great Results!

• 1/3 of audit costs recovered immediately, when
  auditor discovered electric company had
  overcharged us
• Volunteers caulking and weather-stripping cut gas
  use 20 -- saving more than 2000/yr (it really
  helps to show the data)
• Worked across committees on improvements such as
  insulated drapes
• Comfort was improved in some rooms our efforts
  were appreciated on multiple levels

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Change Wasnt Always Easy.
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Energy-Saving Light Bulb Trial
If this room were illuminated by the compact
fluorescents on trial, MUF would save about 560
stop about 400 pounds of CO2 from being
released into the atmosphere over the life of the
bulbs, Recoup the cost of the bulbs in about 18
months.
Would you support this change? Would you
support the use of these bulbs elsewhere in the
building? Would you like to know where to buy
them for your home? The Green Sanctuary Committee
would Like to hear from you. Write us at
Environment_at_muuf.org
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Persist, persuade, compromise

• Worked with Paul Walitsky to identify
  energy-saving, aesthetically acceptable
  alternatives (walitsky_at_industrialecologyllc.com)
• Result Incandescents are being replaced by
  Halogenas -- 1/3 less energy use, longer life,
  payback 18 months. Everybody happy.
• Waiting for next generation LEDs!

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Beyond Energy Efficiency

• Reusable kitchenware
• Compost bins butterfly garden
• Collecting cell phones and sneakers for recycling
• Selling earth-friendly items at holiday
  alternative Gift Fairs
• Hosting lecture on the Green Economy, dinner
  based on Local Foods
• Harvesting and eating our invasive weeds!

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Simple Garlic Mustard Pesto

• 1 clove garlic, peeled
• 1 cup garlic mustard leaves and stems, thoroughly
  washed 
• 2 cups parsley 
• 1/4 cup pitted olives (we used black olives)
• 1 cup pine nuts or walnuts
• 1 teaspoon tamari soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (or more as needed
  for proper consistency)
• Chop the garlic in a food processor. Add the
  garlic mustard leaves and chop. Add the olives
  and nuts and chop coarsely. Add the olive oil
  and tamari and process until you've created a
  coarse paste. Makes 1 cup.

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It Takes a (Village-Sized) Committee.

• Linda DeLap
• Caroline Gower Plus MUUF Staff,
• Claire Fred Mayer Other Committees,
• Stefano Crema And Many More!
• Steve Gruber
• Steve Humphreys
• Jo Sippie-Gora
• Linda Clark
• Gloria Dyer
• Anne Paust
• Janet Kreha
• Hazel Bell
• Eleanor Mason

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Thank you for listening!

• Questions?

bruce.daggy_at_gmail.com