End of Project

The Energy Awareness Initiative for Faith Groups project officially ends this Friday 13th. We had one last screening of Crude Awakening (March 2) and one workshop (March 9th) both at the Church of the Ascension. We also had an EcoHouse tour at Green Venture (March 10th) in the evening.
We will continue to offer screenings of a Crude Awakening- and we have 8 locations where this will be shown. For more information please contact Beatrice
905 549 0900

Energy Workshop

March 7th, 2009
We had an audience of 13 people-with representatives from 2 faith groups (St James Anglican Church and Knox Presbyterian Church both in Dundas.
We have been invited to work with the newly formed,still to be named 'eco-churches' group. They are planning a walking tour of the participating eco churches for the spring of 2010. They are looking forward to Environment Hamilton's collaboration in this new venture.

Energy Conservation at St Helen's School, Hamilton

Last Thursday, (26th February) I spoke to a most engaging group of little people about energy conservation-or should I say they presented to me. I learned from this delightful class of 21 kids that many of their mothers hang the wash in the basement to dry, that many use fans rather than air conditioners, that they make sure to turn off the lights when not in use and the TV goes off with a big switch on the power bar. These little 6 year olds know more than many grown ups I have encountered. What's more they mean business. As we have learned from the example of Woodward school (that thanks to the efforts of the school children and Environment Hamilton,Brenda Johnson's initiation reduced their garbage out put from 94 black bags to 4!!!) kids are passionate about do right action. Pay attention grown ups.
The kids, accompanied by the adults tested plug in appliances with our electronic meters (one of which was accidentally dropped and now no longer works) and I left them with a 14 page colouring book each and an energy conservation planner to bring home to mom and dad.
See this link for the colouring book we used:
http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/seco_links-kids.htm

Energy Wisdom For Church and Home

Saturday February 28th, 2009

Energy Wisdom for Church and Home

Building a Geo-Thermal Church: Retrofitting a 1950s Bungalow

The tour and talk was attended by about 25 people.

Meadowlands Fellowship Christian Reformed Church in Ancaster is the only exclusively geo-thermally heated and cooled church in North America.

Denise Neutel gave a talk and tour of this building constructed in 2005.

She also shared her experiences with the ecoEnergy retrofit of her 1950s bungalow, describing the process to achieve super, high energy-efficient standards, while benefiting from government incentives and rebates.

HAMILTON BURLINGTON KAIROS EVENT

Saturday February 21st 2009
Our volunteer Richard Reble was a guess speaker at the
HAMILTON BURLINGTON KAIROS EVENT "TOWARDS AN ECONOMY OF LIFE: ADVOCATING FOR A JUST AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUTURE”
He spoke to an audience of 60 people.

Truec City Conference Break Out

Sat February 21st 2009
I attended the True City Conference Breakout session-Digging into Environmental Concern:Exploring stories of how churches have tangibly worked to decrease their collective environmental footprint as a broader witness within our culture.
I was impressed by the attendance- most of the room was filled with young men in their early 20s. The focus seemed to be around food, conserving farm land,but also the need for commitment and support in sustainability ventures at church. One lady expressed frustration and getting congregation members to simply recycle! The suggestion was that children out to get involved since they have grown up with this drummed into their psyche!
100 energy saving kits were distributed at the conference.

Screening Updates

Screenings:
Feb 11th -Environment Hamilton Volunteer, Richard Reble screened A crude Awakening for the Baha’i youth committee (30 Renata Court in Dundas). He also did a screening at Holy Sacrament School to an audience of mostly parents. Richard gave away close to 40 kits at this event.
Richard will be offering another screening at Church of the Ascension,
64 Forest Avenue in Hamilton on March 2nd at 7pm.

Energy Workshop

Sunday February, 15th at Meadowlands Fellowship Christian Reformed Church in Ancaster.
We had a great turn out thanks to Denise Neutel who worked really hard to get members of her congregation out. A good 35 people showed up to learn about energy conservation, and we are hopeful that from this event a working group might emerge,that will focus on sustainability.
We look forward to Denise's talk on the 28th which will be about her experience retrofitting her 1950s bungalow to super energy efficient standards. She will also be giving a tour of the church which is the only geo thermally heated and cooled church of its kind in North America!

Jan 31st-Eco House Tour

Eco House Eco House tour:

EcoHouse is a place where healthy living principles are upheld and demonstrated to encourage, inspire, and support people in their efforts to reduce their impact on the environment by adopting sustainable living practices and retrofitting their homes.
Tour:http://ecohouse.greenventure.ca/

Dave Braden Tour

Dave Braden House Tour-January 18th

This was our 6th Dave and Cathy Braden tour of their super energy efficient off the grid house.

A chartered HSR bus left from the Go Station down town and took passengers up to the tour.
There were over 40 people crowded in Dave and Cathy's living room, learning about how he built his house but also what they can do to make their own homes more energy efficient.

Temple Anshe Sholom-Breakfast

January 18th
Climate Change Champions and Energy Awareness Initiative presented these 2 Environment Hamilton Projects to an audience of about 22 people at Temple Anshe Sholom Breakfast.
We distributed some materials and about 8 energy kits.
This faith group is anxious to start a green team in the coming months.

Environment Hamilton's Energy Awareness for Faith Groups is organizing a chartered bus to Green Venture's EcoHouse.

EcoHouse shows citizens that it is possible to live in a sustainable manner, in harmony with our environment. Visitors are able to view and use environmentally friendly products, and discover where they can be purchased.

An HSR bus will be leaving the Go Station at 9.30am on Saturday, January 31st 2009.

There is no charge for the bus ride but EcoHouse charges $4 per person taking the tour.

For more information or to register contact Beatrice at 905 549 0900

Email environmenthamilton@gmail.com or beatrice.ekoko@gmail.com

Walk through Energy Audit at St James Anglican Church

Jan 02

What a great way to kick of the new year-completing a walk through energy audit of your faith group's structure. Green Venture's Jordan Fysch took 13 interested people (representing other area faith groups) on the walk through of St Jame's Anglican Church in Dundas.

We went room by room starting from the kitchen,examined doors, exit signs, counted lights, looked in at the boiler,inspected washrooms, walked through the main church, offices,down to the basement where the day care runs.
This took about 2.5 hours since the church building is so huge. Jordan will share the report with those who attended.
We also spent time after, looking at charts (computer modeling) he has developed that tell how much energy is spent at what season, based on the churches hydro and gas bills.
Over all we looked at:

• electricity and water use to identify potential savings
• utility bill data collection
• inspection of the building envelope
• inspection of the heating and cooling systems
• inventory of the energy use of all electrical appliances and fixtures such as lighting
• inventory of water fixtures

Jordan talked about how the church can reduce its GHGs not only through energy conservation but also by tackling over use of water, waste reduction etc.

Eco Church in the Spec

Church keen to lower its energy costs TheSpec.com - Local - Church keen to lower its energy costs

Daniel Bird
Special to The Hamilton Spectator

(Dec 26, 2008)

The stained glass windows of Melrose United Church have brought light to worshippers for decades. They are now bringing something else in -- the cold.

No one knows how to fix the windows, said church member Mathew Xagoraris, but something will have to be done. Fixing the windows is part of a plan at the church on Homewood Avenue to save money by conserving energy. Other changes include replacing a 20-year-old industrial refrigerator for about $3,000.

In April, an environmental auditing company scoured the old stone building to find features that are driving up heat and hydro bills. The church is waiting for the results.

Saving cash isn't the only reason behind the push to cut energy use. "Reducing your personal footprint on the Earth is very much in line with religion and spirituality," Xagoraris said.

The church is also offering advice to members about cutting energy costs in their homes. Last month, about 50 people learned over breakfast how to fix a drafty house and cut their heating bill in half.

Beatrice Ekwa Ekoko is project manager for Environment Hamilton, a nonprofit group that put on the workshop. She said it is talking with 60 other faith groups about setting up similar programs.

Faith and Sustainability

Faith and Sustainability?

In a recent interview with Brain Vyn, a graduate student at the University of Waterloo (Theology), I was asked what my understanding of sustainability is. Immediately the idea of 'giving strength to----over a long period of time' came to mind.

Most of all, the idea of living within limits-creating boundaries so that we can support and nourish the planet for future generations- was foremost in my reply.

I was asked in what way faith groups can help make the transition from a destructive consumerist society to a sustainable one. I had a ready answer.

Faith groups have the advantage of already being organized units that share a commonality over the board- that is to honour and respect the Earth and the Creation.

Religions and spiritual philosophies all over the world have a long-standing tradition of ecological stewardship.

The answer then to his question is simple-follow the teachings of your faith. There should not be a problem.

Traditionally, faith groups have concerned themselves with social justice issues; now is the time to see the predicament of climate change as a social justice issue and act upon that. It's time to prioritize climate change in what ever context you feel most comfortable with.

Other ways that faith groups can help motivate their congregations is to include eco- tips in church bulletins. Every service, include a call to stewardship. At every service, set up a table with information about what individuals can do together or alone to move towards to sustainability and conservation.

Environment Hamilton offers free workshops on energy conservation for example. If one is being offered at your church or synagogue- show up. Set an example. Use our energy meters at home with your kids to show them how much energy appliances use.

Get involved. Conduct do- it -yourself audits on your homes and in your faith groups. Share your experiences and skills. Commit to one thing at a time (start with the energy planner we have made available to you). Educate your selves. Take responsibility.

Powered down Service-candle light service.

We are reaching out to over 40 faith groups in an effort to make this part of a Hamilton tradition. Contact me for more information if your faith group is interested in participating!

Powered down Service-candle light service.

Power down this holiday and light up your service with candle light.

What can your faith group do to conserve energy this holiday? Consider turning off the lights and having a candlelight service! Religions and spiritual philosophies all over the world have a long-standing tradition of ecological stewardship. A candle light service is a beautiful way to honour this sacred message.

Please sign up your faith groups and Join faith groups across the Hamilton area for one hour (your choice as to when) to symbolize your commitment to reducing energy use and promoting conservation and sustainability.

If you need a poster to advertise the event we will provide you with one. Let's make Hamilton a city of eco-faith groups!

Thanks,

Beatrice Ekwa Ekoko

Project Manager

Environment Hamilton

905 549 0900

Maker's Market at Christ Church Cathedral

Yesterday, Dec 6th, I attended the Maker's Market at the Christ Church Cathedral. I handed out over 80 energy conservation planners and 50 energy saving kits to holiday shoppers as they came into the cathedral to buy their locally made arts, crafts and foods. A very fitting event for our Energy Awareness Initiative- we plan to continue this as a partnership, since their position is to encourage local sustainability and community as much as possible- which is in line with our goals.
It was fun talking to up to 20 people directly about energy saving in the home.

Energy Workshop

Dec 3rd:
Another workshop. Since the turn out was so small, we not only presented the workshop but we took the opportunity to brainstorm on how to engage congregation members. We decided to try approaching the men's group, to have a table set out for the end of services, and to arrange bus energy meter demonstration for the youth component. Looking forward to trying these ideas out!

Energy Saving Kits at the Fair

Marisa and I gave away 50 energy kits and home 70 energy conservation planners at the Melrose United Church's Christmas Bazaar this weekend (Nov 22nd).
Volunteer Christine C gave away 40 kits at St Joesph's Catholic Church this same day.
Las week volunteer Joe M handed out another 10.
Not bad at all!

Update

Another successful Dave Braden House Tour Nov 16th. Over 25 people attended and many took information about EH's projects.
Eco House Tour was not so popular (the weather?) with only 5 people in attendance. Hopefully more next time.
We are gearing up for the Christmas season and that means church bazaars and fairs! Contact me for more information.