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Creation Care Committee

Climate Connections Pilot Program

St. Andrew’s Creation Care committee continues to look for ways to reduce our impact on our environment.

  • We use compostable products for coffee hours and fellowship events; we use beverage dispensers rather than plastic water bottles;
  • We’ve reduced our use of paper by encouraging viewing the Sunday bulletins on a device
  • We’ve replace halogen bulbs with LEDs throughout the facility and parking lot.
  • The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles has some great resources and tips: Click here to view. 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

In March 2025, we shared some products that can save water, reduce our electricity use, reduce the amount of single-use plastic and other items that would end up in landfill. The products listed below are examples, not endorsements; there are often many options you can Google to compare, but these are items that some of our parishioners have successfully used.

A word about bamboo as a replacement for paper—bamboo products that are from existing bamboo sources receive a FSC certification. This is important so that new bamboo is not planted replacing other native species. If you have a choice when choosing to replace a paper product, replacing it with recycled paper is a more sustainable choice than bamboo, but bamboo is a better option than non-recycled paper.

The diocesan website frequently posts green tips:

Green Tips

 

Saving Water

  • Monitor your water use to check for leaks: (example: www.flumewater.com )
  • Smart sprinkler controller that adjusts based on weather: (example: www.rachio.com )
  • Use a bucket to collect the water wasted while your shower heats up and use it to water potted
    plants, for flushing the toilet or for your pets.
  • Turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth, washing your hands.
  • Using a dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes manually.

Reducing Electricity and Gas Use

  • Use LED bulbs.
  • Program your thermostat to no more than 68 degrees for heating and no more than 78 degrees for air conditioning.
  • When replacing appliances, look for the Energy Star designation.
  • When replacing an HVAC system, consider a heat pump. You can also get a heat pump water heater.
  • Consider an induction range or stovetop if replacing your stovetop or oven or range.
  • When you need a new car, choose a hybrid or electric vehicle.

Reduce Single Use Plastics

  • Laundry: replace liquid detergent in plastic bottles or pods with laundry sheets or boxed powder detergent. Laundry sheets are now available in major supermarkets and online. (Examples: TruEarth, earth breeze, Seventh Generation)
  • Dishwasher: replace pods with powder or tablets (examples: Blueland, Seventh Generation). Hand soap: Instead of liquid hand soap in plastic containers (including refills), switch to old-fashioned bar soap or liquid soap that comes in glass or metal bottles. Blueland sells glass dispensers and foaming hand soap tablets—you just add water.
  • Shampoo and conditioner: You can now purchase bars of shampoo and conditioner for many hair types from brands like Ethique or The Earthling Company. Easy to use and easy to travel with.

In the Kitchen

  • Compost: there are electric countertop composters such as Airthereal or Lomi, although they are costly. Using the bin from our waste management companies is more economical and many now take the compostable bags that line the bins. To avoid bugs and odors, freeze the food waste in paper or compostable bags until trash day.
  • Replace plastic wrap with beeswax wrap, silicon lids, silicon bags or compostable zippable bags. Composite provides a compostable cling wrap. These are all available online if you can’t find them in stores.
  • Replace paper towels with Swedish reusable towels (example: Free the Ocean), recycled paper or bamboo towels.
  • Silicon baking sheets such as Silpat, can replace parchment paper.
  • If You Care offers aluminum foil made from 100% recycled aluminum.
  • Tea bags are not compostable, but loose tea is and there are several models of tea diffusers available to hold the loose tea.
  • When grocery shopping, take reusable bags, including bags for produce. Many markets sell them or you can purchase some online.

Reduce Paper Use

  • Purchase paper napkins, paper towels, toilet paper and tissues made from recycled paper or bamboo with FSC certification.
  • Minimize use of paper plates, paper cups and paper napkins by using cloth napkins, glassware, mugs and dishes. Using the dishwasher uses less water than the water used to manufacture the paper products.
  • Before using the printer, determine if you really need a printed copy.
  • If you have a newspaper delivered, recycle or switch to the online version.
  • Use a device in church rather than a paper bulletin.
  • Use an erasable board rather than notepads.

Food Facts

  • Your food choices make a difference. Certain foods have a much larger climate footprint than others. Plant-based foods have a lower impact than meats. Beef has the largest impact; the average greenhouse gas impact in kilograms of CO2 of getting 50 grams of protein from beef is 17.7 vs. pork at 3.8, farmed fish at 3.0 or poultry at 2.9 vs. beans at 0.4. This doesn’t mean everyone should become a vegetarian, but reducing beef consumption in particular can have a positive impact on health and the environment.
  • Planning meals can help avoid food waste and composting will reduce the greenhouse gases produced by landfill.
  • “Sell by” dates or “Best by” dates on food labels do not mean the food will spoil if not eaten by that date. It is safe to eat foods past those dates (one exception is infant formula).

Share your ideas on how we can, as a community and as individuals, take better care of our planet. Contact Kathy Cartelli.

Creation Care Resources

 

Bishop’s Commission on Climate Change : https://diocesela.org:/commission-on-climate-change/

 

Podcasts:

  • Nature Breaking (World Wildlife Fund)
  • Getting Through It (Dr. Lucy Jones)

Newspaper:

  • Climate Forward (The New York Times; subscription required)

Books:

  • Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World by Katharine Hayhoe

Organizations:

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