December 2006 GWIPL Newsletter

UPCOMING EVENTS

On Monday Dec 4th, GWIPL is delighted to host 2 very exciting events:

• Finding Common Ground For the Future of the Earth: Protection of the Environment from an Interfaith Perspective, with panelists: Dr. Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University, moderator; The Rt. Reverend James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, UK; Dr. Rajwant Singh Chairman, Sikh Council on Religion and Education, and Dr. Rebecca Kneale Gould Associate Professor Religion & Environmental Studies, Middlebury College. The program starts at 4pm in the Kay Spiritual Life Center, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Please RSVP to Taylor Robinson at 202-885-6416 or kpu@ausg.org.
• Following the panel at AU, we will be hosting a benefit reception for GWIPL at Washington National Cathedral with special guests the Very Rev. Samuel T. Lloyd, Dean of the National Cathedral, and John Podesta, President of the Center for American Progress and former White House chief of staff. We suggest a donation of $100 Please RSVP to Allison at 202-885-8684 or Allison@gwipl.org.

On Sunday Dec 10th at 9:00am Gary Gardner, Director of Research at Worldwatch Institute, will discuss his latest book, Inspiring Progress. Rev. Sally Bingham, founder of Interfaith Power and Light, has praised this work as “… a comprehensive book on the influence of religion on cultural change. Inspiring Progress is just that - an informative accounting of the diverse ways that faith communities will lead and inspire a more sustainable lifestyle.” Please join us for this inspiring opportunity to learn more about protecting creation. Where: Bethesda United Church of Christ, 10010 Fernwood Road, Bethesda, MD 20817. Please RSVP: 301-365-3387, $3 donation for breakfast.

NEWS

Using Their Sacred Space to Protect Creation
With the money raised from their yearly yard sale, Christ Lutheran Church of Washington, DC, purchased 100% clean energy in the form of landfill gas. Through their purchase of 221,600 KWH, they reduced the following pollutants from our atmosphere:

• 597 pounds of nitrogen oxides1,847 pounds of sulfur dioxide
• 265,108 pounds of carbon dioxide

Their effort was the equivalent of removing 23 cars from the road or planting 36 acres of trees.

Christ Lutheran Church has responded to global warming in many ways including the sale of energy saving light bulbs at coffee hour, purchase of energy efficient windows in their renovation project, and a special worship service on St. Francis Day about stewardship of the earth.

If you are interested in purchasing clean energy for your congregation, please visit: http:// www.gwipl.org/buy_energy.asp

Seeing What Green Looks Like
The members of Christ Evangelical Church have also been on a long journey to re-think how they use their space and are undergoing a re-building process. After hearing Mathew Sleeth, author of Serve God Save the Planet, members were inspired to "green" this rebuilding process. However, they were left with a question: what does a green building actually look like? GWIPL was able to show them two examples: Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation in Bethesda, MD and Friends Committee on National Legislation on Capital Hill in Washington, DC. Participates were able to learn how these two building made use of various aspects of green building design like passive solar heating, bamboo floors, geothermal heating, and vegetative roofs. They also learned about the process that the two organizations used to design the buildings and how these elements of green design fit into each organization's mission and budget.

If your congregation is entering into a rebuilding project please contact, Allison at 202-885-8684 or Allison@gwipl.org to learn more about green buildings.

NOTE FROM COORDINATOR, ALLISON FISHER

I would like to wish all of you very happy holidays and a good new year. It has been a pleasure to work with all of you over these past months and inspiring to see all of the steps you have been able to take to reduce our communities' contributions towards global warming. We are thankful for all of your work in protecting creation and look forward to a new year where we can make an even bigger difference. Please let me know if you have any questions or ideas. It would be great to hear from you at 202-885- 8684 or Allison@gwipl.org.

P.S. Remember clean energy and energy efficient light bulbs make great practical climate friendly gifts to friends and loved ones. You can find out more information on our website at www.gwipl.org.

NEED MORE RESOURCES?

ENERGY STAR for Congregations is a wonderful resource, which will further help your congregation be a good steward of the earth. With free information and technical support from ENERGY STAR, your congregation can more easily save money and protect the environment. Learn more and sign-up.

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