| Ministries : Creation Care Team : Creation Care Tips Creation Care Tips You Can Help Protect the Birds! A nationwide survey – the 2009 State of the Birds Survey – was released last month showing that overall, a third of bird species in this country are endangered, threatened or in serious decline . . . especially in grassland and coastal areas. An editorial in the New York Times had this to say about the survey results: “There is no glossing over these staggering losses, and there is no dismissing what they mean. There is nothing accidental or inevitable about the vanishing of these birds. However unintentional, it is a direct result of human activities.” Here are 10 Ways YOU can help: You can start by visiting this web site: www.audubon.org. Tips on Saving Energy... and Money!
• Unplug seldom-used appliances in your basement or garage.
• Unplug your chargers when you are not charging.
• Use power strips to switch off television sets, stereos, home theatre equipment (standby consumption can be equal to a 100-watt light bulb running continuously).
• Enable the sleep mode feature on your computer during inactivity.
• Configure your computer to “hibernate” automatically after 30+ minutes of inactivity.
• Set your thermostat in winter to 68 degrees or less and 55 degrees before retiring.
• During heating season, open shades and blinds on sunny days, close them at night.
• Set your refrigerator temperature at 38-42 degrees F and your freezer between 0 and 5 degrees F. Be sure your refrigerator and freezer doors seal tightly.
• Wash only full loads in your dishwasher if possible.
• Use appropriate level of water for the size of the load in you clothes washer.
• Clean lint filter in your clothes dryer after each use and don’t add wet items to partly dry loads.
• Turn out lights when you leave a room at home and at work. Work by daylight if possible.
This information brought to you by the National Resources Defense Council and your Creation Care Team at Lord of Life.
Did You Know... Here are some interesting facts about water from The Freshwater Society: • Nearly 97% of the world’s water is saltwater or otherwise undrinkable. Another 2% is held in ice caps and glaciers. That leaves just 1% for all of humanity’s needs. (United States Geological Survey) • Each day, the sun evaporates one trillion tons of water. Fortunately, it is continually recycled in the form of rain and snow. (United States Geological Survey) • At least one billion people in the world must walk three hours or more to obtain drinking water. Nearly 2% of U.S. homes have no running water. (National Geographic Society) • Households in the U.S. turn on water faucets an average of 70 times daily. It is estimated that up to 50% of the water families use could be saved by implementing simple conservation methods. One drip a second from a leaking faucet can waste 2,000 gallons a year. (National Drinking Water Alliance) • One inch of rain falling on one acre of land is equal to about 27,150 gallons of water. (United States Geological Survey) • If present water consumption patterns continue, two out of three persons on Earth will live in water-stressed conditions by the year 2025. (United Nations Environment Program) |
|
| Greenscaping! • Having just three trees shade your home can save $100-$250 in energy costs each year. • Lawns are 30 degrees cooler than asphalt and 14 degrees cooler than bare soil in the heat of summer. • Leaving grass clippings on your yard after you mow puts valuable nutrients into the soil to feed grass, reducing the need for nitrogen by 25-30%. • Watering your lawn between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. reduces evaporation and maximizes absorption. • A single tree can remove 26 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually, which equals 11,000 miles of car emissions. • Trees, shrubs and turf remove smoke, dust and other pollutants from the air. • Planting shrubs, vines and groundcover around your foundation can make your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. • Designing your landscape around your pets can reduce wear and tear, optimizing the benefits of your green space. • Water features such as ponds and fountains attract birds, butterflies and other forms of wildlife. – Project EverGreen |
|
| Smart Way to Protect the Environment!
Thinking about joining an environmental organization and help protect God's Creation? Here's an easy way to start: Get on the web site for the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, which includes 80 members. Its address is www.mepartnership.org. Click the Member Groups link, and a list will appear. Then, click whichever organization interests you for a brief description that includes street address, contact, website address, geographical region and special interests. Want to know more? Click that organization's web site address for complete information. In most cases, the membership cost is affordable and tax-deductible. |
|
| Celebrate God's Creation at a Nearby Park!
Three Rivers Park District – www.threeriversparkdistrict.org/ > Elm Creek Park Reserve, Maple Grove > Baker Park Reserve, Maple Plain > Crow-Hassan Park Reserve, Hanover > Fish Lake Regional Park, Maple Grove > Lake Rebecca Park Reserve, Rockford Lake Maria State Park – www.mnstateparks.info > Seven miles northwest of Monticello Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge – www.fws.gov/midwest/sherburne > Five miles west of Zimmerman Maple Grove – www.ci.maple-grove.mn.us/ > 1,000 acres of parkland, 35 miles of trails Check web sites for nature-related programs at some of these parks. |
|
| Preserve God's Creation: Protect Your Shoreline Habitat! If you own a lake home or are planning to buy one in the near future or if your permanent residence is on a lake or a wetland, here is some advice from the Department of Natural Resources to maintain water clarity, protect species and reduce erosion: • Switch from a traditional mowed lawn to native grasses and wildflowers that create a buffer strip on the last 30 feet or so down to the lake. This will avoid runoff of fertilizers, pet waste and lawn clippings into the water where they promote algae bloom. If you have 100 feet of lakeshore, think about reverting 75 feet back to its natural condition. • Consider leaving fallen trees in the water to provide habitat for fish and wildlife. • Look for shoreline and lake bottom that match your desires if you are buying property. Resist changing it into something it isn't. • Be sure your septic system is working properly. • Join and be active in your lake association. • Explore shoreland habitat restoration grants (call 651-259-5212). • Obtain shoreland alteration information sheets to avoid violating local, state and federal laws (call 651-296-6157). To obtain a free copy of "The Water's Edge," a booklet produced by the DNR, call 651-296-6157. Also, visit the DNR web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us |
|
| Here’s How You Can Protect God’s Creation: Practice the Three Rs!
• Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you discard. • Reuse containers and products, repair what is broken or let a qualified person repair it. • Recycle as much as possible, which includes buying products with recycled content. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recycling and composting diverted 82 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators in 2006! Yet, the U.S. recycles only 32.5 percent of its waste. Call your city hall or visit your city web site for curbside recycling and other recycling locations. |