Dishes purchased to eliminate disposables.
Working to implement an environmental action program at UCH to save, protect and restore the planet, this group has collected discarded electronic equipment, transporting it to an ecologically safe recycling facility in West Chicago. It also demonstrates ways to conserve with light bulbs and insulate to use energy wisely and was a driving force in the Green Home Project which installed solar panels on the RE building, replaced leaky windows, installed a low temp dishwasher in the church kitchen, replaced storm windows and replaced ancient inefficient boilers with a new high-efficiency mini-split heat pump system in both buildings.
GREEN SANCTUARY TEAM
The UUA Green Sanctuary Program provides a path for congregational study, reflection, and action for today’s environmental challenges—including
climate change and environmental justice. As a Green Sanctuary, UCH guides the members of the congregation in environmentally healthy practices
in their own lives as well as in church facilities. In 2016 the team helped spearhead the UCH Green Home Initiative, which seeks to bring our campus
infrastructure into the 21st century. Contact: Lynn Rotunno or Dave Lloyd, UCHinsdaleGS@gmail.com
Links to Downloadable Green Sanctuary Resources
STYROFOAM RECYCLING
We urge members to bring their clean styrofoam to the monthly recycling collection in Western Springs, which occurs on the first Saturday morning (9am-12pm) of most months in the parking lot across from the Theatre of Western Springs at 1500 Walker Street off Hampton Avenue. Styrofoam must be clean with no food waste or dirt and food containers must be separated from packing styrofoam. They do not accept soft foam or packing peanuts. Note that the organizers are always looking for volunteers to help with the collections! Learn more.
GARDEN COMMITTEE
This committee’s purpose is to help shape the ever-evolving vision of the church’s out-of-doors. It vets new ideas and introductions, helping to ensure that the landscape garden and garden architecture interests of the church are met. It invites the thoughts, concerns, opinions, ideas, etc. of all UCH members and friends. Contact: Charlie Fischer cfis@sbcglobal.net
LANDSCAPE & GARDEN VOLUNTEERS
Do you love to dig in dirt? Love the satisfaction of seeing a weedless garden and enjoy being outside? Join this team of volunteers that helps to keep our gardens beautiful. For more information contact Charlie Fischer at cfis@sbcglobal.net.
The UUA Green Sanctuary Program provides a path for congregational study, reflection, and action for today’s environmental challenges—including
climate change and environmental justice. As a Green Sanctuary, UCH guides the members of the congregation in environmentally healthy practices
in their own lives as well as in church facilities. In 2016 the team helped spearhead the UCH Green Home Initiative, which seeks to bring our campus
infrastructure into the 21st century. Contact: Lynn Rotunno or Dave Lloyd, UCHinsdaleGS@gmail.com
Links to Downloadable Green Sanctuary Resources
- List of local food pantries that accept homegrown produce
- Create Your Own Homegrown National Park: List of plants that make pollinators and caterpillars happy
STYROFOAM RECYCLING
We urge members to bring their clean styrofoam to the monthly recycling collection in Western Springs, which occurs on the first Saturday morning (9am-12pm) of most months in the parking lot across from the Theatre of Western Springs at 1500 Walker Street off Hampton Avenue. Styrofoam must be clean with no food waste or dirt and food containers must be separated from packing styrofoam. They do not accept soft foam or packing peanuts. Note that the organizers are always looking for volunteers to help with the collections! Learn more.
GARDEN COMMITTEE
This committee’s purpose is to help shape the ever-evolving vision of the church’s out-of-doors. It vets new ideas and introductions, helping to ensure that the landscape garden and garden architecture interests of the church are met. It invites the thoughts, concerns, opinions, ideas, etc. of all UCH members and friends. Contact: Charlie Fischer cfis@sbcglobal.net
LANDSCAPE & GARDEN VOLUNTEERS
Do you love to dig in dirt? Love the satisfaction of seeing a weedless garden and enjoy being outside? Join this team of volunteers that helps to keep our gardens beautiful. For more information contact Charlie Fischer at cfis@sbcglobal.net.
GREEN HOME PROJECT
On September 25, 2016, the congregation voted “Yes” to proceed with funding and implementation of the Green Home initiative install solar panels and energy efficiency upgrades/improvements to reduce our congregation's energy use and carbon footprint. We celebrated completion of the project on November 24, 2019. Through this project, we are living our Seventh Principle to consciously and mindfully bring our historic church home into the 21st Century, so that Unitarians may continue to worship here into the 22nd Century. Click here for the whole story.
On September 25, 2016, the congregation voted “Yes” to proceed with funding and implementation of the Green Home initiative install solar panels and energy efficiency upgrades/improvements to reduce our congregation's energy use and carbon footprint. We celebrated completion of the project on November 24, 2019. Through this project, we are living our Seventh Principle to consciously and mindfully bring our historic church home into the 21st Century, so that Unitarians may continue to worship here into the 22nd Century. Click here for the whole story.
