Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

Think Globally: The Best Laid Plants
(from Fifty Simple Things Your Business Can Do to Save the Earth, the Earth Works Group)

It is estimated that nearly a third of all new office buildings have indoor air quality problems. Everything from copier to the carpet can give off hazardous gases. A four-year U.S. Army study found that workers in modern, energy-efficient buildings were 50% more likely to get colds and contract respiratory infections than people in older buildings. Common office pollutants include formaldehyde (given off by particle board, wall paneling, plywood, furniture, and carpeting; trichloroethylene (from some inks, paints, and vanishes); and benzene (from gasoline fumes and some plastics).

Act Locally: Bring in Air-Cleaning Plants

Plants can absorb these pollutants through leaves, roots, and accompanying microorganisms. Some of the most effective plants are: philodendrons, golden pothos, English ivy, peace lily, and snake plant.

Think Globally: The Best Laid Plants
(from Fifty Simple Things Your Business Can Do to Save the Earth, the Earth Works Group)

It is estimated that nearly a third of all new office buildings have indoor air quality problems. Everything from copier to the carpet can give off hazardous gases. A four-year U.S. Army study found that workers in modern, energy-efficient buildings were 50% more likely to get colds and contract respiratory infections than people in older buildings. Common office pollutants include formaldehyde (given off by particle board, wall paneling, plywood, furniture, and carpeting; trichloroethylene (from some inks, paints, and vanishes); and benzene (from gasoline fumes and some plastics).

Act Locally: Bring in Air-Cleaning Plants

Plants can absorb these pollutants through leaves, roots, and accompanying microorganisms. Some of the most effective plants are: philodendrons, golden pothos, English ivy, peace lily, and snake plant.

Think Globally: Smoke

According to EnviroZine, Environment Canada’s On-Line Newsmagazine, smoke, whether it comes from a woodstove, a fireplace, or a campfire, is not as environmentally safe as we might think. A woodstove that is not certified by the United States EPA is estimated to emit as many fine particulates into the air in nine hours as does a certified woodstove in 60 hours or mid-sized car traveling 18,000 kilometers (you have to figure out the miles).

Act Locally: Use Fireplaces Wisely

Traditional fireplaces burn with less than 10% efficiency and, when not in use, allow cold air to enter and heated air to escape. Some smoke stays in the hour, compromising indoor air quality. Install and use glass doors and a damper. Use seasoned wood, build hot efficient fires, and maintain the chimney. Consider a high efficiency fireplace insert or artificial logs, which reduce air pollution by 80%.

Preached by the Rev. Winton Boyd on June 10, 2007
Text: Galatians 1: 11-24

While living on a modest income in Fresno, CA, I discovered this sturdy and reliable gun cabinet that was a perfect fit for additional shelving in our kitchen. I loved it for several reasons – it was from a Goodwill type store (cheap), it was well built, with a little paint and extra shelves it would fit in our kitchen, and I liked the idea of converting a gun cabinet into something more domestic. Therefore, for a number of years it served our home well – storing cookbooks, plates, jars of flour and nuts and oatmeal and the like. I don’t think it is a true antique – but it is old enough to have a little character.
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Think Globally: Bigfoot?

An Ecological Footprint is the bioproductive land/sea area needed to support the lifestyle of an individual or community. The Ecological Footprint of the average U.S. resident to 30 acres. This corresponds to the size of thirty football fields put together. In comparison, the average Canadian lives on a footprint 1/3 less and the average Italian on 55% less. The “Fair Share” share for each of the six billion people alive today is 5 acres. The Ecological Footprint for humanity as a whole is larger than the bioproductive land available.

Act Locally: Reduce Humanity’s Footprint and Live Within the Means of Nature

Support efforts to prevent over-population, reduce your consumption and be smart about what resources you use. To calculate your Ecological Footprint visit this website:
http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/ecological_footprint_calculator.htm I do warn you that the answers may disturb you.