Green Committee Meeting: November 12, 2008

Members Present: Susan Herr- Hoyman, Kathy Converse, Randy Converse, Bob Cape,

Bob Park, Barb Park, Al Nettleton

Convenor: Kathy

Kathy will send out final copy of theGreen Committee’s Charter and Resolution approved by the Congregation

Bob Park will post charter and resolution on Prairie website.

Kathy gives the Prairie Board monthly reports on the Green Committee’s work.

Subcommitte Updates

Congregational Assessment

Sub committee met on 11/3/08 and did a virtual assessment of the building. So they have finished the initial assessment of the building, landscaping, and day to day operations. They will be working on these assessments in the near future that include: RE, worship, earth justice, cleaning product use and alternatives, sustainable living, and day to day management policies.

MG and E has completed an audit and made the following suggestions:

Update ballasts in fluorescent fixtures

Install motion detectors for all lights

Think about thermostat improvements

Clean radiator coils

Insulate furnace pipes

Off the Grid has done a solar feasibility study and made these observations:

Prairie roof great for solar applications especially for generation of electricity,

cost about $1000 a panel.

Consider installing LED lighting

Action Ideas:

Evaluate electric use of computers

Inspect boiler

Purchase energy use meters to monitor energy use

Replace basement windows

Infrared survey of building to assess air infiltration

Weatherstrip where needed

Replacement of refrigerator and/or dish washer

On demand water heaters

Rain gardens for a teaching tool (put sign in front of the garden explaining it)

Collaborate with Allied Neighborhood Association, Dunn’s Marsh Association

Co-sponsor “Weed Feed” with Dudgeon-Monroe Neighborhood Assoc.

Green Committee Meeting, November 12, 2008, page 2

More Action Items

Butterfly garden in Marlborough Park

Use Seventh Principle language thematically

Worship service on organic food, emphasize CSA’s

Highlight green ideas in Sunday program, make progress announcements on

Sundays

“Car tire pressure” party: underinflated tires get inflated with Al’s air compressor

Personal Assessments

We have about 28 so far. Our “thermometer of progress” is in the Prairie lobby, thanks to Kathy. We have made requests in the Prairie Fire and the Sunday Order of Service to fill out assessment on line or on paper (found in lobby). We will ask people to do the assessment wearing the green hat.

Communications Subcommittee:

Bob Park and Mary Mullen met to discuss communications needs.

Tasks:

Kathy: contact RE Committee re its assessment

Congregational assessment subcommittee: Bob Cape has joined this “team”. This

subcommittee will continue to coordinate the rest of the congregational assessment.

Susan: will work with Program Committee to get an assessment started.

Randy Converse

Green Committee