Campbelltown works on its footprint

In December 2006, the congregation at Campbelltown Uniting Church voted to make 2007 the “Year of Greening”.

Campbelltown Uniting Church has five community service programs, including supported accommodation for adults with intellectual disabilities, a medium-long term residential accommodation service for young men aged 14 to 18, and a literacy centre to provide remediation for students with learning difficulties.

“We instructed all these agencies to investigate how they could lower their ecological footprint during the year,” said John Russell, Church Secretary.

“We conducted a water audit and found out that one of our homes was using the equivalent of a swimming pool of water each month. This has led to changes to washing machine schedules and an increased awareness among staff and residents about water use.

“Low voltage lights have been installed throughout our houses.”

Some congregation members have also taken up an offer for the installation of free low-voltage lights in their homes, and they have been made aware of the different electricity companies offering green power.

Some have taken up the offer from Origin Energy for GreenEarth (ten per cent wind and 90 per cent hydro) for an extra $104 a year as part of their contribution to lowering greenhouse gases.

The congregation also operates an aluminium recycling cage each Saturday morning, which raises some $4,000 for youth activities.