April 7, 2008

Not so green

One year after the New South Wales Synod resolution and letter from the Moderator encouraging churches to switch to GreenPower, a small minority of churches have switched or decided to switch.

"GreenPower" is electricity sourced from renewable sources (the sun, wind, water and waste), accredited by the governments of Australia and available through the national electricity grid.

The Synod endorsed switching to GreenPower as a practical expression of a theological and moral imperative to steward the earth; a first step in helping to prevent global warming.

Miriam Pepper, Coordinator of Project Green Church, Maroubra Junction Uniting Church, conducted a questionnaire survey within the Sydney Presbytery to assess churches' GreenPower progress.

Of 27 churches who completed the questionnaire and were responsible for paying for their electricity bills, only four had switched to GreenPower.

Three had decided to switch but were yet to do so, two had decided not to, seven were undecided and 11 had not considered switching.

Dr Pepper said the reason for a low uptake of GreenPower seemed to be a low sense of priority in taking this action to help prevent climate change.

Encouragingly, however, just over half the churches had taken some measures to reduce their electricity use, typically by installing energy saving light bulbs.

Dr Pepper said, "It should be noted, though, that much larger savings can typically be achieved by minimising space heating and cooling. Churches should be encouraged to take this step and also to choose energy-efficient models when replacing appliances.

"It is also important to remember that switching to GreenPower and pursuing energy efficiency is but one component of the ways that congregations can help to prevent climate change.

"From car sharing to community gardening, and from campaigning to seminars and workshops, congregations within and beyond the Uniting Church are starting to explore how they can live out a hopeful witness to climate justice, peace and the integrity of creation."