Green Bytes

The Creation Window in the Atrium represents the four ancient  elements: earth, air, fire and water. For more detail about the window, see.

The Green Team offers reminders and suggestions to help us care for the creation that God has entrusted to us:

• Did you know you can have solar energy without putting panels on your roof? Check out Community Solar! It’s clean energy and it’s cheaper than traditional electricity. St. Luke’s is in a queue to convert to Community Solar. Check out the Citizens Utility Board CUB
• Have you considered using your bicycle for shorter trips around town? It is good for the environment and good for your health too! St. Luke’s had bike racks installed by some talented members a few years ago. Sunday morning is a great day to take a bike trip as there’s not too much traffic. Come give them some company this summer!
• Want to grow herbs and veggies but lack a suitable space?  Containers and container-compatible plants are an option.  A sunny deck, patio, or driveway corner are potential locations. Questions?  Contact Jim Pearson.
• Have a parkway tree with an empty “gator” bag?  Fill it, and while you’re at it, give all your trees and shrubs a good soaking.  Most of our area hasn’t had significant rainfall for a month.  Trees and shrubs need about one inch of rainfall (0.6 gallons per square foot) per week.  Shortfalls should be made up with a weekly soaking Questions?  Contact Jim Pearson.
•  Mulching landscape plantings with an organic mulch (compost, leaf mold, wood chips) slows water runoff, retains soil moisture, suppresses weeds, and enriches the soil as the mulch decays.
•  Recycling grass clippings with a mulching mower can reduce the typical lawn’s annual fertilizer needs by 25%. Questions?  Contact Jim Pearson.
• 53% of an average Illinois family’s energy expense goes to maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature. Closing drapes and shades in sunny rooms in summer reduces inside temperatures.
• A ceiling fan can make your skin feel 4 degrees cooler, allowing you to turn the thermostat up in the summer! Turn it off when you leave the room to save more energy.
• Planning no cook meals, grilled meals or limiting cooking to late in the day can reduce interior heating on hot summer days.
• We can easily be overwhelmed by news of the extreme weather events occurring in our world. But the good news is that we as individuals can also make beneficial changes in our own lives to help the planet that give us a sense of accomplishment and renewed courage. Our actions also witness to those around us that change is both important and possible.

• The average produce item at your local supermarket has traveled approximately 1,500 miles from farm to store.  Purchasing from a local farmers’ market can provide fresher seasonal produce with less environmental impact. Questions? Contact Jim Pearson.

• Preparing a weekly meal plan before grocery shopping can reduce the amount of food left to spoil in the refrigerator, eliminate last minute food runs, and potentially improve nutrition. Questions? Contact Jim Pearson.

• Substituting “scratch” cooking for processed foods reduces home waste streams and can improve nutrition.
• Decomposing household food waste in landfills releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas.  Consider subscribing for curbside food scrap collection, available at community rates in Park Ridge and other local municipalities. Contact Jim Pearson.
• Solar power works in Illinois! There is plenty of sunlight to power solar energy and lots of state and federal incentives to help shorten your return on investment. Watch this spot this month for more information.
• Curious if your rooftop has enough sun to use for solar energy for your home? Check out ComEd’s solar calculator. Grab a power bill and click on this link: MyGeneration – Landing (comed.com)
• Solar Switch Chicagoland organizes regional group purchasing for solar installations. It is a free, no-obligation service that will give you a personal recommendation based on the details you provide. This process helps reduce your cost and make an informed decision. For more info go to Solar Switch | Cook County.

• The Illinois Solar for All program makes solar energy more accessible to income-eligible residents in Illinois. It provides incentives to help make solar installations more affordable and result in measurable savings for participants. Check it out at: Illinois Solar for All: Residential Solar – Illinois Solar for All (illinoissfa.com)

• Collection and disposal of household waste is significant municipal expense.  At best, simply burying it in a landfill makes land unavailable for other, better uses, releases greenhouse gases such as methane, and makes potentially recyclable materials unavailable for reuse.  The next four Green Bytes will examine how to reduce our total household waste stream as well as the portion ending up in landfills. Questions? Contact Jim Pearson.
• Reduce household waste streams by using fewer single use products, purchasing products with simple, recyclable packaging made from glass, aluminum, steel, paper and cardboard instead of plastics, using “scratch” cooking instead or processed foods, and borrowing rather than buying infrequently used items like yard and garden tools. Questions? Contact Jim Pearson
• What happens after our household waste is collected?  In Park Ridge and most nearby suburbs, basic solid waste (“garbage”) goes to a landfill and is buried.  Items from the recycle bin go to a sorting facility, are separated by commodity, and sold for recycling.  Yard waste is taken to a commercial composting facility and converted to salable plant food (compost). Using the recycle and yard waste bins keeps material out of the landfill and returns it to productive use. Questions? Contact Jim Pearson.
• We have two ways to dispose of food wastes like veggie peels, dairy and meat scraps, dirty pizza boxes, paper plates, napkins, and compostable utensils.  One is the solid waste bin and, ultimately, the landfill.  The more sustainable alternative is a curbside collection service, available by subscription in Park Ridge and many nearby communities, that safely converts these items to plant food. Questions? Contact Jim Pearson.
• Lists of items permitted in the different municipal waste collection bins as well as instructions for disposing of certain household items are located on the websites of your municipality and waste collection contractor.  The SWANCC website (www.swancc.org) provides resources for recycling or disposing of many items not permitted in the weekly collections. Contact Jim Pearson
• Leaves are not litter! Leave your leaves in garden beds and around trees for winter protection. They are also food and shelter for butterflies, bees, beetles, moths, and more! For more information check out xerces.org.
• Gas powered leaf blowers, aside from being dangerously loud, cause problems to human health and the destruction of wildlife habitat. The two-stroke engine used by leaf blowers emits exponentially more air pollutants than automobiles. for more info: QCPDX-11.21.21.pdf uietcleanpdx.org)  or Quietcleanpdx.org
• Many bees nest in stems of native plants over winter. If you need to cut the stems leave a few feet for the bees.  https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases
• Enjoy seeing birds in your yard this winter while helping them with a heated bird bath. You will see many birds stop for a drink and even a bath. Refill daily!
• When planning your Christmas gifts, consider ways to reduce the volume of wrapping material that ends up in the trash after one use.  Reusable wrapping or containers, an unwrapped gift decorated with bows or other items, or a gift that comes in its own decorative package are all possibilities.Questions, contact Jim Pearson.
• Gifts of personal time or experiences can provide lasting memories without the environmental impact of material objects.
• Reduce waste from the spoilage of unused produce or disposal of leftovers from holiday meals and events by preplanning menus and purchases.

• Consider “gifts” for God’s Creation during 2024.  Recycling and reuse, reduced consumption of fossil fuels, and prairie, woodland, and wildlife habitat restoration are all positive contributions.

• Check your municipality’s website for information on the disposal/recycling of Christmas trees, and recycling of lights and, potentially, items such as Styrofoam packaging.
• Block styrofoam (big chunks, not takeout containers or peanuts) can be recycled in Abt’s parking lot in Glenview anytime they are open. Styrofoam is not recyclable in your recycle bins.
• Electronics cannot be recycled and are legally prohibited from being thrown in the trash. Almost every Saturday from 9-11:30am you can drop electronic items at the Glenview Transfer Station at 3 Providence Way in Des Plaines.
  For details check SWANCC’s website
• Packing envelopes and other types that are in good shape can be reused by Ecoship Chicago. There is a local drop off at Wheel and Sprocket at the Village Green. Please look at the website for very specific information.
• The Green Team purchased a Candy & Snack Wrapper Box from TerraCycle for the congregation. Please bring your individual, multipack, and family-size snack bags and wrappers; including chip, candy, and granola wrappers! The box will be in Spangler Hall until it is filled. Contact Cindy Grau for more information.
• Of all the earth’s water, only 0.3% is available for human consumption.  The remainder is in the seas, in the atmosphere, or frozen in glaciers.
• Making a 1 liter bottle of drinking water requires 6.6 liters of water when process uses are included and produces 0.044 pounds of plastic waste. Contact Jim Pearson
• A high efficiency home filtration unit and reusable containers can reduce the waste of water and the plastic waste stream from bottled water.
• A substantial fraction of the wastewater treated by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District comes not from homes and business, but is runoff from rain and snow.  Taking steps to safely retain water on your property not only helps your trees, shrubs, and grass, but also reduces the demand on the wastewater collection and treatment system.
• Doing all your errands in one day or grouping them by geographical area will help you cut back on unnecessary trips throughout the week and lower your carbon footprint.
• Cicadas do not attack, bite, or sting humans or pets.  Cats and dogs should be discouraged from eating cicadas because over-indulgence can cause indigestion, allergic reactions, or worse.
• Female cicadas lay eggs in slits they cut in the twigs and small branches of deciduous trees and shrubs.  These slits can cause the twigs to die, severely damaging small trees and shrubs.  Loosely covering a plant with fine (3/8 inch or smaller) netting, toile fabric, or row cover fabric tied at the base of the trunk prevents cicada damage.