1. Energy Stewardship Reducing Carbon Footprints in Congregations

2. Thinking about Carbon footprints
When considering carbon footprints I think two realities
Greenhouse gases warm a planet, with a effect that depends on a concentration of the gases
The combustion of greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and other gases has been increasing rapidly with in the Earths atmosphere especially because of human impact over the last centaury. A multitude of measurements show that the planet is warming , just as the green house theory predicts

3. Green House Gases
Carbon dioxide and methane are two. Some of the origins are burning of fossil fuels, garbage dumps and such. We do need carbon dioxide in the atmosphere but not the levels we emit. One way to cut it back are forests but we continue to harvest the Earths forests faster than we can reproduce them. It is up to us to reduce the way we leave our carbon foot prints to Gods Creation

4. Definition Carbon Footprint
Sums up the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced. A carbon footprint includes many things , but for measuring convenience, all factors are converted to units of carbon dioxide (co2)
measured in pounds

5. One such human activity
We are a country dependent on making trash. Each year , 251 million tons of trash are thrown away in America. Some of it is recycled or recovered, but most of it goes to landfills. Only 32.5% of the trash is recycled or composted, 12.5% is burned, and 55% is buried in landfills. The amount of trash has doubled since 1960.

6. 2009 Church Wide Assembly Resolution
Three items came out of the resolution
One is that the Bishop and the national Synod Council appoint a Creation Care Task Force develop a roadmap to sustainability, which gives congregations, synods, and other institutions an actionable plan that is user friendly a way to track data and share among groups

7. Resolutions
Second to adopt the Genesis Covenant and reduce the carbon footprints of church wide, synods, congregations and institutions by 25-40% over 10 years to reduce Greenhouse Gases (ghg)
Third Resolved, that the assembly calls on all it’s congregations, and the ELCA to work together with other areas of government, science, religious groups and business to adopt the same goals of the Genesis Covenant

8. January 20-21, 2010 Climate Change Consultation
On the above date myself and twenty other people from church wide and congregations who were appointed by the church body to formulate the above mentioned resolution. We meet for two days and observed we were discussing the same items again as they had done in 2003 and We decided it was time to stop talking and take action.

9. Meeting out come
No traveling would be done to meetings to reduce the carbon footprint of travel
Five groups with different assignments were given tasks to accomplish in 2 weeks, 2 months and 2 years
All meetings would be done by conference calls and s
More on the meetings will be coming
Writing of a resolution for all synods to adopt
Sample of resolution and groups report

10. Synod Resources Energy Audits are available contact
George Davis for this
Have a presentation done to your Green Team or start a green team
Attend Synod sponsored workshops coming soon

11. What’s the future
What are the next steps
This is not a fad

12. Things we can do in our Congregations
Have an Energy Audit done by NIS Green Team
Do a Carbon footprint survey
Visit the lutheransrestoringcreation.org website for more information on what can be done
Visit Energystar.org click on congregation for more information
Pick a year to use as a baseline, look at utility bills and then compare as items are completed.
Attend workshops
Form Green teams in Congregations
Support the Synod Green efforts to reduce the carbon footprints
Submit information when requested

13. 2010 NIS Synod Resolution on Energy Stewardship
There is a set of resolutions as recommended by the consultation committee
If we can get ten people to sign it, we could get it passed this year at the NIS assembly
We are one of ten synods picked to start the process.( this was done)
Data will need to be gathered and tracked to show how we doing to meet the goals

14. Energy reducing steps Use Energy Star items Have an Energy Audit done
Replace light bulbs to cfl’s
Replace boilers to energy efficient units
Replacing hot water tanks with on demand water heaters
Keeping filters clean on a/c and heating units
Using motion sensor light switches ( 30 minute)
Use of more renewable energy resources ( wind, solar and geothermal)
Reduce your carbon footprint driving less
Practice the three r’s reduce, reuse and recycle
Carpooling
More ideas

15. Help by sponsoring the resolution
There is a sign up sheet in the back of the room
We need ten church members to sign up to help sponsor this resolution and the Synod Green Team
This resolution makes Church Wide, Synod and Congregations responsible to reduce there carbon footprints as a Church body by 2020

16. Networking Gathering Workshop for Green Teams on Carbon Footprint Reduction.
Location: Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center
Date – time: August 28, am- 1pm
Lunch include
Agenda – Workshop on Carbon Footprint Reduction, Sharing of Green Team accomplishments, Lunch and a chance after lunch to take a Carbon Footprint Hike of LOMC grounds with our E E Director Thomas Williams
This workshop will be free to all NIS green teams

17. Questions and Sharing of Ideas

18. Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father help us to understand how we can reverse the damage we have done. Teach us how to be true stewards of your creation. Teach us how things are to live together in harmony. With all creatures of the land, air, and water. We look to you for guidance to help us save what you created.
All God’s people said AMEN