Environmental Guide
for Congregations,
Their Buildings, and Grounds
Environmental Guide for Congregations, Their Buildings, and Grounds
i
Environmental Guide for Congregations,
Their Buildings and Grounds
David Glover and David Rhoads, editors
The Web of Creation would like to thank the students in the Lutheran School of
Theology’s January 2006 Green Your Congregation class for their part in compiling and
preparing the material presented in this manual.
Paul Bailie, Emily Carson, Jon Dumpys, Jonathan Halvorson, Juanita Krmaschek,
Christie Manisto, Brooke Peterson, Margaret Schoewe, Gwen Sefrhans,
Matthew Stebbens, Ronald Strobel, Joy Sutbers, Gretchen Voss
Environmental Guide for Congregations, Their Buildings, and Grounds
iii
Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1
Section 1: Environmental Impacts of Worship, Education, and the Office ........................... 5
Section 2: Environmental Impacts of Coffee Hour, Potlucks, and Other
Congregational Events ........................................................................... 15
Section 3: Environmental Impacts of Energy Use ............................................................... 23
Section 4: Environmental Impacts of Paper and Wood Products ........................................ 41
Section 5: Environmental Impacts of Water Use ................................................................. 49
Section 6: Environmental Impacts of Cleaning Products..................................................... 63
Section 7: Environmental Impacts of Food Choices ............................................................ 69
Section 8: Environmental Impacts of Transportation .......................................................... 79
Section 9: Environmental Impacts of Indoor Air Quality .................................................... 87
Section 10: Nature Inside, and Out .................