Green Living
Living green means practicing our faith through creation care. Scripture and our Reformed faith tradition instruct humans to be stewards of the earth and to participate in God’s call to justice. Living into God’s call is a responsibility that requires effort on our part as global disciples. Navigating through the world and living with a keen environmental awareness heeds Christ’s call to live with integrity as we dwell within God’s good creation. Each of us has the power to make choices that reflect our faith commitments, preserve life and respond to the movement of the Spirit in our modern world. This guide is designed to prompt individual lifestyle changes and offer resources and ideas to assist in greening our lives and sharing God’s love with the world.
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Green consumption
A major contributor to the global environmental crisis is human consumption. We need water, food, clothing and other items to fulfill basic needs. While consumption is necessary, overconsumption and wasteful consumption are not and can be minimized or avoided altogether. Each change we make has global implications and honors God.
So much of what we buy on a regular basis is suggested to us through advertising, which creates the illusion of need. Rather than supporting corporations that spend money on influencing your decisions, turn to God before making a purchase. Ask: Is this something I need? If so, do I need it now or can I wait until I find a more sustainable option? Is this something that can be used multiple times? Is the packaging biodegradable, recyclable, or will it pollute creation by remaining in a landfill? How long do I expect this item to last and what will I do with it once it can no longer be used? Is there a more sustainable option, a more ecologically friendly option or an option that was produced locally?
Decreasing consumption lessens the strain on the planet as a whole by reducing waste, energy, and pollution associated with the production of goods. Minimize or eliminate impulse buying by creating and maintaining a budget, getting rid of credit cards and making purchases with cash. Where credit cards are necessary, enclose them in scripture verses, such as Matthew 6:19–21. That way, each time we make a purchase, we are reminded of our faith and our call to serve God first.
Any time a purchase is necessary, reduce your environmental impact by selecting an item with the least amount of packaging possible. When packaging cannot be avoided, seek items with recyclable, biodegradable or reusable packages.
Reuse non-disposable items instead of plastic or biodegradable food-based disposable items. Bring your own utensils and dishware to potlucks. Take collapsible, reusable plastic containers to restaurants for leftovers. Further reduce waste by using reusable cloth shopping bags.
Scrutinizing our purchases
We can draw upon the wisdom of others and research items we intend to purchase by utilizing Co-op America’s Green Pages or National Geographic’s Green Guide. If green guides don’t prove helpful, aim for a product made close to home.
Many items we purchase we can make ourselves, which avoids extra pollution from production, transportation and packaging. Consider raising or growing your own food, making your own pottery, sewing your own clothes or knitting or crocheting hats, scarves and socks. You can create toys and games from simple household objects. Handmade objects are unique and come with the added benefit of knowing what went into creating the item.
Some products such as landscaping tools, recreational equipment, kitchen appliances and other household items can be shared within groups of people. No matter where we live we can find others with whom to share possessions and minimize consumption. As such we practice Biblical models of sharing in community and reduce consumption in significant ways.
By purchasing items produced locally, we minimize fossil fuel consumption, emissions and pollution from transportation. Farmers’ markets and community supported agriculture groups offer opportunities to support local production chains. Organic production does not contaminate the environment with chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Fair trade items are required to maintain some specific standards of environmental protection.
Food
There are a number of ways in which we can eat to honor God. Perhaps the most common way is by praying before each meal. Learning about where our food comes from and how our food is produced strengthens connections between us, God and the earth. Together we can reduce our environmental impact by eating more vegetables and less meat. We offer a separate resource on food and how we, as God’s children, may practice our faith with responsible approaches to food.
Water
Bottled water is largely unnecessary and comes with a tremendous environmental toll both in terms of oil consumed to produce the plastic bottles — 80 percent of which end up in landfills — and in terms of transporting the water to consumers. By using and reusing glass, metal or plastic bottles and drinking tap water or filtered water we will save money and reduce waste. We offer a separate resource on water and how Christians may live justly in using and caring for the waters of life which sustain creation.
Green transportation
Transportation accounts for a significant portion of our greenhouse emissions. In the ways we transport ourselves and our goods we can be good stewards of resources and live out God’s call by caring for the planet.
Utilizing transportation that does not require the use of fossil fuels or bio-fuels is a great way to reduce environmental impact. Walk, bike, rollerblade, skateboard or find other creative ways to travel. Among the many benefits of person-powered transportation is exercise, time for reflection, cleaner air and less time spent waiting in traffic.
Take advantage of mass transit systems in your area. Buses, trains and other transit options reduce our collective consumption of fuel. Mass transit systems free up time for reading, devotions or other reflections during travel and allow you to become more familiar with people in your community.
We can share our vehicles with others by coordinating trips and sharing the costs of travel. Carpooling should at least halve expenses and travel emissions as commutes are shared. Schedule similar trips on the same day to maximize efficiency by taking one longer trip rather than multiple short trips. Increase fuel efficiency by keeping vehicles maintained. Properly inflated tires are the easiest way to ensure fuel efficiency.
Properly maintaining a vehicle improves its gas mileage. Keep tires properly inflated and keep the vehicle clean. When changing oil, recycle the dirty oil. Never dump car chemicals into storm drains as they feed into local water supplies. Fixing leaks prevents chemicals from entering the environment and helps preserve water supplies.
Green housing
Where we live and how we live reflect how we care for the earth. By greening where we live, we can make a positive impact on the world by reducing our carbon footprint and emissions. In transforming our living spaces, we share the witness of stewardship and eco-justice with others.
Set your thermostat to 75F (or warmer) in the summer and 65F (or cooler) in the winter to reduce energy expenses. Also prevent heat loss through proper insulation and weather-stripping. Water heaters set to 120F or solar heaters also cut costs. Utilize window shades and plant shade trees to naturally cool a building.
Lighting accounts for a significant portion of our energy consumption. Compact fluorescent bulbs last about six times as long as incandescent bulbs and consume 75 percent less energy. Recycling centers must be used to prevent mercury from leaching into the environment. LED bulbs are a newer form of lighting technology that last longer than compact fluorescents and use even less energy. These bulbs work well in exit signs, nightlights, flashlights and reading lights.
Our electronic devices and appliances are large consumers of energy and account for 70 percent of the hazardous materials in landfills. To save energy and reduce pollution, we can use Energy Star certified appliances; when old items must be replaced, recycle them to prevent heavy metals and other toxins from seeping from the landfill into the environment. Unplug electronics when they are not in use to reduce energy consumption by up to 40 percent. Use appliances efficiently by doing full loads of laundry in cold water and washing only full loads of dishes.
Having a professional energy audit will help identify the energy drainers in our homes. Many utilities offer energy credits for audits or will send someone without charge to perform an audit. You may also choose to do a home audit yourself relying on guidelines from energy stewardship groups and organizations. Energy Star offers some helpful resources for home audits.
Many cleaning solutions on the market today contain unnecessary toxic ingredients. Most cleaning jobs can be done with simple household ingredients such as vinegar and baking soda. Where new cleaning supplies are needed look for concentrated formulas and products made with natural ingredients that when disposed break down into non-toxic components.
Composting organic materials and recycling paper, glass, plastic, metal, batteries, ink cartridges and other recyclables are all great ways to reduce your waste. Aiming to take out only one garbage bag a week can be a good way of reducing your waste too. Think ahead before purchasing to select products that will result in the least amount of waste.
Install water-reducing showerheads, low-flow toilets and water-restricting faucets to reduce water usage. Minimize water waste by fixing leaks and dripping faucets as well as shutting off faucets while brushing teeth, shaving and lathering up in the shower. Water gardens and lawns during morning or evening hours to minimize water lost to evaporation.
Catch the water that falls on the roof in a rain barrel where it can be reused to water a garden. Rain barrels conveniently attach to gutter systems and collect rain water that falls upon rooftops. The gravity fed barrels can be hooked up to hoses to conveniently water plants around your home.
Gardening is a great way to share the beauty of the earth with others and to teach about God’s good earth. Many parables and scriptural metaphors are based on gardening. Getting our hands dirty may give us a greater appreciation and understanding of God. If a home garden is not possible, visit a community garden, create a window garden or care for houseplants.
Animals too teach us about God by helping us to experience the goodness of creation. We can see God and God’s goodness reflected in the living things we care for. As we care for pets we experience the daily highs and lows life brings our way. Pets provide first hand instruction on responsibility, compassion, patience and love.
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