Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

UUCPA Green Sanctuary

The Green Sanctuary Program at UUCPA

Becoming a Green Sanctuary means making earth-friendly changes as an institution and as individuals, and that is something that goes far beyond the dedicated core group that is the committee.

The UUCPA Office now orders recycled paper, “green” cleaning supplies, and environment-friendly coffee.

We have made significant changes to our buildings such as

• replacing low efficiency furnaces,
• installing fluorescent or low power lighting,
• installing timer thermostats
• use the Palo Alto Green electricity (adds ZERO emissions to the atmosphere)

Board Covenant of Sustainable Purchasing and Use 

Passed by the Board of Trustees March 20, 2007

Congregation approval of Electricity Solar Panels passed on December 5, 2010 and are now operational.

GREEN SANCTUARY COMMITTEE

Time: 2nd Thursday of each month, 2-4pm
Location: Room A
Contact: greencom@uucpa.org
UUCPA is an accredited Green Sanctuary, recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association as a Congregation that nurtures a sustainable life style for its members as individuals and as a faith community.

The committee continues to assess and, where appropriate, actively supports UUA, PCD, and UULM/ CA actions and events that promote environmental justice. "Reduce, reuse, and recycle" activities include collection of used printer cartridges and spare change to purchase green power for the church.
Simplicity Circle gatherings, climate change books circulated in the Hamaker Library, as well as environmental presentations, encourage actions to reduce individual carbon footprints. Many persons rode bicycles to the 10/10/10 Sunday Services to join the
the worldwide 350ppm action.
Interest in solar power and a community vegetable garden continues.
This is a small committee and new members are welcome.

A presentation on the impact of Global Warming on a villiage in Alaska is featured on the web site for Alaska Alaska Conservation Solutions. 
Saving Shishmaref: Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Children Simulate the Erosion and Temporary Protection of an Alaskan Native village Suffering from Global Warming