Solar Power!

If you have visited UUCR in the past few months, you have probably heard that we now have solar panels on our roof!  This achievement was years in the making and is another way to demonstrate our congregation's commitment to respecting the interconnected web of life and thinking ahead to the next seven generations.

Our solar panels are a 32 kilowatt system, which is expected to generate 30 percent of the congregations energy needs.  Of course, we are always looking for ways to further decrease our footprint, but we thought it was important to celebrate this momentous step. 

Here are a few pictures from our Solar Power Celebration on Sunday, September 27:

Thank you to everyone who worked hard to make UUCR's solar panels a reality!

Apps for Green and Socially Responsible Consuming

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ibm/2015/01/12/the-internet-of-things-will-transform-retail-as-we-know-it/

 Here's an easy, 'tech-friendly' way to shop green and socially responsible: There are a variety of phone and computer apps that allow us to quickly check up on the best brands and companies. Some allow us to quickly scan a barcode to get ratings while you're out shopping. From a review of several web articles, the top apps seem to be GoodGuide, and BuyCott.  The following article gives a brief description and link to these and several such companies.    https://www.freelancersunion.org/blog/2014/04/22/cool-green-apps-help-you-shop-ethically/.  

In addition, if you subscribe to groundswell.org you'll get several in-depth articles on responsible consuming.  Of course, we always encourage you to do your own research and really think about what you are supporting through your spending, but these apps can help when the choices are many and confusing.  Thanks for directly making a difference with what you buy!

 

Where to Buy Gas? Green and Socially Responsible Consumerism

Welcome to the first post in the Green and Socially Responsible Consumerism series.  The purpose of this series of short articles is to help us UUCRs better put our money where our principles are, and NOT put it where they AREN'T! Warning: Changing habits of a lifetime takes sacrifice, but the rewards of a better world are priceless!  

This first installation has taken a while, and a lot of asking, web-searching and thinking on how to best grow "Green and Socially Responsible Spending" in our UUCR congregation and beyond.  I've been reluctant to put any information forth until it was optimally concise, powerful, valid and reliable.  Since I found that such might take forever, the following is a reasoned start toward that, with a plea to your hearts to help us put even better info out there (see feedback note below)!

The best information found so far has been from a website called Green America: The Responsible Shopper. 

Where is the best place to buy gas for your car? 

The first item we are highlighting is gasoline.  The following page from the Green America site shows what they find to be the best place to buy gas for your car: Responsible Shopper, Oil & Gas. 

Unfortunately, the best choice, Sunoco, is far from 'good' but it is the lesser of several 'bads' (it received a D, as opposed to a D- or F). We might as well get used to this, as many of our most frequent and high expenditures will be for products that have no 'good' choices. At least we'll be supporting the best efforts of companies, and making a real dent in the profits of the worst offenders.  Future blogs will similarly rate other common consumer products.  Let me know which ones YOU want Green and Socially Responsible ratings on!

(For feedback and suggestions on this and future green and socially responsible spending articles, please write timothylfrancis@gmail.com)