The heavens are yours, the earth is also yours; the world and all that is in it – you have founded them. ~ Psalms 89:1
When Earth was created, God entrusted us as its stewards and calls us to care for it and each other in all our actions. When we make environmentally-wise choices we are celebrating and respecting creation, giving thanks for Earth’s abundant resources, and being good stewards with what we’re given. Being good stewards of resources also means using only what we need – like the energy we use to cool or heat our homes, turn the lights on, and power our favorite gadgets!
Reducing your energy use at home not only protects the environment, it can be a real money saver! What can you do to reduce your energy use (and put some “green” in your pocket!)?
Today, I can:
– Turn off the lights, gadgets, and appliances I am not using and make sure I turn the lights off when I leave the room.
– Run only full loads in the dishwasher, washer, and dryer (or use a clothesline).
– Program my thermostat to be a more energy-efficient temperature when I am away from home (set a little warmer in the summer and a little cooler in the winter).
– Set my refrigerator between 36F and 42F, freezer between -5F and 6F, and water heater at 120F (or lower if young children are in the house).
– Call my energy utility and ask about buying into clean energy options like wind and solar energy.
– Turn water off mid-task (washing dishes, brushing teeth, watering plants) – running water, especially hot water, uses a lot of energy!
In the future, I plan to:
– Improve my home’s insulation and insulate my hot water heater and hot water pipes.
– Replace burned out incandescent light bulbs with LED light bulbs.
– Replace appliances with energy efficient options (look for the Energy Star logo).
– Clean and replace appliance filters (especially the furnace) on a regular schedule.
Source: Interfaith Creation Care of the South Metro is an organization of volunteers representing 15 faith communities in the South Metro. We collaborate to create content like this and to bring Creation-focused events and resources to all faith communities in the area.
