Caring for God's Creation: What Each of Us Can Do to Save Energy

Linda Rimer, Environmental Stewardship Committee Chair

On Earth Sunday, 2003, the Environmental Stewardship Committee invited parishioners of the Chapel of the Cross to measure their ecological footprint, that is, to measure the impact that each of us has on the earth as we go about our daily lives. For those of you who did not fill out this brief but insightful questionnaire, you can still measure your personal footprint by going to:

http://www.lead.org/leadnet/footprint/intro.htm.

God created the earth and all that is in it and declared it good. God's creation is marked by wondrous complexity, interdependence, and beauty that sustains humans and plants and animals in ways that we do not yet understand completely. God has called us all to the task of stewardship — that is, taking care of the earth respectfully for its own sake and so that present and future generations may live on it and enjoy its fruits. But to date, our track record as environmental stewards has not been good. The rate at which we consume resources and generate waste far exceeds the capacity of the planet to sustain us, absorb our waste, and support the rich diversity that exists in our island home.

Beginning this month in Cross Roads, we will be exploring ways in which each of us can become better stewards of God's creation. This month our focus is on energy.

Every time we switch on a light, a computer or an air conditioner, we are using energy. Every time we drive our cars or trucks, we are using energy. In almost all cases, that energy is coming from the burning of fossil fuels: coal, oil, or natural gas. The burning of these fuels results in the emissions of air pollution and green house gases that cause problems for us and for our environment, such as: sulfur dioxide (that forms acid rain harming our trees and surface water at high elevations like the Smokey Mountains); nitrous oxide (that combines with volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight to create ozone, which creates a sunburn-like effect in our lungs); and carbon dioxide (that contributes to rising temperatures and global climate change). The extraction and processing of fossil fuels also result in discharges of water pollutants and the generation of solid wastes, further degrading our environment.

The less energy we use, the less energy that has to be generated. Here are some ways in which you can reduce your energy consumption. In the process, you will be protecting God's creation. As an added benefit, you will also be saving money for yourself and your family.

• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs; they last 10 times longer and use ¼ the energy
• Use only the energy you need; turn off lights in vacant rooms
• Unplug little plastic transformer boxes; every house is full of little devices to charge cell phones, run battery-operated radios or power television-related equipment; these products consume almost 10% of the electricity in the home — even when they are not doing anything
• Check your computer to make sure it operates in energy saving mode
• Combine your errands in order to reduce the number of miles you drive each day
• Consider car-pooling or using public transportation.

For more ideas on how to protect the earth, click on the following websites.
http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/pollenergyenergyefficiency.html and

http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy.asp.