As the semester gets underway & we all put our noses to the grindstone preparing for & teaching class, diligently working in our offices, studying & reading hard … or not … a couple thoughts from the Environmental Concerns Committee:
(for ECC meeting info, scroll down … but then come back here & read the whole e-mail!)
Last year, there was significant progress made in creating an environmental consciousness on the VTS campus! Not all the outcomes were tangible (for example, we’re still working on institutionalizing a recycling program & would love to do away with all throw-away containers & cups used when food is served), but they don’t have to be! Half or more of the battle (in my humble opinion) is inspiring awareness & working toward changing the culture; it is educating the un & under-educated about the importance of & issues surrounding living with an environmental ethic. This is hard work, but work that’s been started.
This year, God-willing, there will be an active Environmental Concerns Committee. This year, God-willing, that committee will continue to educate & inspire the community about environmental issues at forums & events. Whether you are a formal “member” of the Environmental Concerns Committee or not, I’d like to offer some ways you can make a difference regularly, without buying a hybrid car or installing solar panels on your roof (although those things are strongly encouraged! J)
- If you live close enough, each morning – or evening if you’re a planner – consider walking or biking to the seminary rather than driving. Walk to they gym. Walk to your favorite coffee shop. Walk to the grocery store. And if you can’t walk, combine driving trips to save gas & carpool when you can.
- Recycle! VTS has a new recycling bin behind the refectory (as of last spring) that accepts “single stream recycling” – paper (including scrap, newspaper, junk mail), aluminum (including soda, beer & tuna cans but not aluminum foil), plastic (only #1 & #2 so check the bottom) & glass (including wine bottles) are recyclable! Braddock Lee has a similar bin in the
- Like coffee? Hot cocoa? Tea? Water? Bring your own mug or waterbottle to work, to class or to your favorite coffee shop. Single use cups may not seem like a big deal, but boy do they add up! Lucky for you, the Ugly Mug program in the refectory is available to make this easier!
- Turn off lights when you leave a room, be it your office, a restroom, a common room, your dorm room or wherever. This may seem obvious, but lights are left on surprisingly often!
- Reuse paper. The back side of printer paper is great for scrap printer paper, note paper, “you missed a phone call” paper & many other things. Come to think of it, try to find creative ways to re-use most of what you use like grocery bags & Ziploc bags & clothing by shopping at thrift stores …!
- Consider the theological implications of caring for creation. This is a big one. For starters, visit http://www.episcopalchurch.org/19021_58393_ENG_HTM.htm to introduce yourself to the Episcopal Church’s Catechism of Creation.
- And finally, think about what you buy & ask yourself where it came from & how much waste potentially went into making it. This is huge & can be daunting, but only if you let it. By making small changes a little at a time, you will have a huge impact (or less impact depending on how you look at it!) on your environmental footprint. Consider your food choices, your transportation choices, your recreation choices …
The first meeting of the Environmental Concerns Committee will be (tentatively) this
Friday, September 7 at 1:30 in the Small Dining Room.
It will be brief & largely act to assess interest in both the committee & projects/events for the year. Please join us if you can. If not, there will be more gatherings!
Peace,
Beth Bojarski
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