Thursday, August 21, 2008
Sixty of 95 churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio have already changed light bulbs.
Genesis 1:3 reads, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”
Sunlight and moonlight are free. Man-made lighting costs money.
That’s why the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio is promoting good stewardship of resources in the face of rising utility costs. The diocese has started a program to reduce its carbon footprint by exchanging incandescent bulbs in its churches for compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
The Right Rev. Mark Hollingsworth Jr., bishop of the diocese, challenged the 95 Episcopal churches in the diocese, covering the northern part of the state, to replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs. He also asked parishioners to try CFLs in the five most-used light bulbs in their homes.
Martha Wright, diocese communications officer, said the communications office used a light-hearted approach with press releases titled, “The Bishop Sees the Light,” and information explaining CFLs with the question, “How many light bulbs does it take to change an Episcopalian?”
Wright said the diocese is helping churches meet the bishop’s challenge. Technical Control Products provided the diocese with bulbs at a discount. The CFL manufacturer, based in Aurora, produces the bulbs in China.
So far, 60 churches have changed 5,431 bulbs, and the process is continuing. Wright said the exchange will result in an estimated savings of more than $298,700 to the Episcopal Church over the next nine years.
Wright explained that CFLs use 75 percent less electricity than incandescents and release 75 percent less mercury by reducing the amount of coal needed to power incandescent bulbs. Use of the CFLs also will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3,640,000 pounds and mercury emissions by some 41,000 milligrams in the next nine years, she added.
Mercury in the CFL bulbs is protected by a ceramic case so that breaking a bulb will not release mercury into the atmosphere, Wright said. If the ceramic case is broken, the amount of mercury that escapes is about 4 to 5 milligrams, or about 1,000 times less than the exposure to mercury from a broken thermostat, she said.
Since it saved money when it bought the CFLs, Wright said, the diocese was able to provide 50 extra bulbs to each church to give to members for home use. The diocese also is distributing recycling boxes to churches for burned-out CFLs.
St. John’s Episcopal Church, 323 Wick Ave., is among the churches involved. The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson, curate (assistant priest) at the church, said the diocese project is an outgrowth of the United Nations Millenium Development Goals, specifically the one that addresses environmental sustainability.
The Rev. Mr. Williamson said for individual churches it comes down to two aspects — “It saves money that can be used to support other ministries, such as feeding the hungry, and missions.
“God gave us creation and it’s up to us to work with the planet,” he said.
On a world scale, there are other considerations.
“Our wastefulness affects other people,” he said. “We hear news about climate changes and how the amount of fossil fuel might be affecting that. In Africa, it’s called ‘desertification.’ It’s getting dryer and water is scarcer,” he said, noting poor people there are being pushed further into poverty and facing more threats to their survival.
“We’re one church, but if all the churches in the Episcopal diocese participate and lessen the carbon footprint, we’ll make a small dent,” he said. “But it will make an impact over time.”
He emphasized the idea of good stewardship of the resources God has bestowed on the earth. “God blessed us with the earth. As God’s creatures, God gave us the responsibility and duty to pass on to the next generation a good earth.”
St. John’s has changed many of its 60- to 100-watt light bulbs so far, but ones in the sanctuary pose a challenge because of their sizes, Mr. Williamson said. He also noted the church is conserving energy with improvements in its boiler system and is looking into use of solar energy.
St. John’s is involved in other good stewardship efforts by partnering with Mahoning County Green Team. The church recycles paper, bottles, cans and household batteries. Mr. Williamson said recycling containers at the church are picked up regularly at no cost because it’s a nonprofit.
From 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Sept. 21, an adult forum on energy stewardship is planned at St. John’s.