St. Pius Green Committee

Glass Recycling in KC: RIPPLE GLASS

2009-11-16T16:59:00.000-08:00

Ripple Glass has finally installed a bin in Roeland Park! It is located near CC's Pizza in Bella Roe Plaza. Please begin collecting and depositing your glass (food and beverage containers only) to help reduce our landfill use while supporting small businesses in our area. For more information or to find other bin locations, go to www.rippleglasskc.com.

Power vampires!

2009-11-01T10:24:00.000-08:00

Do you have vampires in your house? Electricity vampires, that is. Vampires include TVs, VCRs, ipods, cell phone chargers, stereos, computers, and anything with a remote or a clock display. These are using electricity ALL the time. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimates that these devices account for 5% of all residential power consumption. To rid your home of vampires, unplug these devices when not is use. Or plug them into a power strip that you can turn off with the flip of a switch.

Survey Results October 2009

2009-10-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS! WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE SO MANY RESPONSES!

NOW THE WORK BEGINS :)

What else can we do as a parish?
1. Simpler eating habits & lifestyle
2. Show any good educational videos about earth stewardship
3. Get involved to advocate for clean energy legislation
4. Continue to host outside speakers occasionally on earth stewardship & ecology topics
5. Grow plants outlining field
6. Provide informational web-site links
7. Education on consumer products, best practices for purchasing
8. New Years resolution check list “How I will be a better in the New Year.”
9. Put Parish bulletin on line, not on paper.
10. Adopt a highway mile program.
11. Allow the church to be less comfortable. It’s always too warm in winter and too cold in summer. We’re only here for an hour. We could grow from a little suffering.
12. Keep giving suggestions in the bulletin.
13. Collect pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House.
14. Sunday glass recycling.
15. Include computer & phone recycling.
16. Please, continue your education programs.
17. Have a prayer we do at a specific time during mass every Sunday.
18. Visiting “person” from gardening expertise to give workshop on how to create garden at our own home plot.
19. Only heat the parts of the building that need heating at one time.
20. Perhaps a series of topics for young people (grade school) with an activity that goes along with each one.
21. Maybe something in conjunction with Scout Troops.
22. Have a used collection drive for a shelter of some sorts.
23. Market your successes via website newsletter, etc.
24. Go outside. Ask people that are in the green committee to bring their children and go on a nature walk.
25. Adopt roads for liter pick up.
26. Home energy audits.
27. Continue to adjust temperature in building – could be warmer in summer.
28. Make battery & printer cartridge recycle area more handy & visible. Electronic item collection point.
29. Plant trees on Arbor Day as a group.
30. Work on our school – John Paul II – energy use.
31. E-mail the bulletin to those who would like it paperless.
32. A community clean up project – like by a stream or creek.
33. Education information on energy audits for homes (insulation, etc.)
34. I’d like to visit organic farms around the KC area – Lawrence & Ottawa
35. Volunteer to help clean up the smaller parks. Pick up “stuff” lying around, etc.
36. How about weekly bulletins e-mail instead of paper.
37. Bulletins on line instead of paper.
38. Meatless/organic dinner fundraiser
40. Show Al Gore’s movie “An Inconvenient Truth”
41. CPL recycle
42. Energy reduction, help build & repair homes.
43. Maybe help young children who don’t receive a good education, because they are our future.
44. Clean up a park, pick up litter on highways, teach people to carry trash out when hiking. (I take bag & pick up litter as I walk/hike.)
45. Plant trees in honor of loved ones.
46. Create a list of what is/isn’t recyclable for people to keep on fridge.
47. Winterize homes to keep heat costs down.
48. Information on composting/worm bins.
49. Promote re-usable shopping bags.
50. Plant a butterfly garden.
51. Recycle fluorescent light bulbs – (mercury contained items)
52. Shredder day – to shred personal papers (for those without shredders)
53. Help or take on responsibly for plants brought in for winter.
54. Taking group of children to mall
55. Something that involves the church getting $ out of the recycling
56. Publicize the Hazardous Waste Disposal sit in Mission, or is it in KCK? Maybe already did & I missed it.) I’m surprised how often I speak to someone who has no idea it’s there & easy & free.
57. Post bulletin on website, limit # of bulletins printed each week, email bulletins to parishioners with email, use email instead of snail mail whenever possible.
58. Start a community compost site & tree spreading operation for brush & limbs.
59. Help the elderly rake leaves in their yards.
60. Encourage the replacement of energy saving light bulbs.
61. Take gift basket, food, etc. to elderly, nursing homes, & home bond elderly
62. Is there any kind of education on home solar panels?
63. Solar panel for the church.
64. Offer classes to show people crafts they can do with their families to reuse and recycle things -- Making paper, using plastic bags to make scrubbies.
65. Spirituality, nature experience
66. Trips to Powell Gardens, Overland Park.
67. Install solar lighting, wind driven electric generator
68. Bike to church – organize group bike rides to church & church activities.
69. Another rain barrel workshop.
70. Collect glass more often
71. Use recycled paper towels, napkins, etc. at church functions. Make sure people a recycling plastic cup at church functions.
72. Is the church bulletin on line? Print less of those & encourage people to refer to the website.
73. Encourage obtaining bulletin from internet and not print as many.
74. I recommend we have drive to replace the light bulbs in church to the more energy “green” use ones.
75. I think you are doing a wonderful job. Just continue with your good work.
76. Under education – could we talk to everyone about trash. It needs to go in trash bins - not the streets.
77. Use ceramic cups@ functions, not Styrofoam.
78. “Green tips” in bulletin, even if they are redundant, as reminders to all, re: recycling.
79. Discourage consumerism, encourage use of turn styles & not for profit stores. Classes to teach repairing, sewing, etc. instead of disposal & buying new.
80. Ink printer cartridge recycling.
81. Cell phone recycling.
82. Adopt a project to clean up a public space such as a park or roadside.
83. These were circled: education, energy reduction, participation in community efforts, spirituality.
84. Call me for more info. on grants available. I work @EPA
85. Consider having a church-wide garage sale of recycled clothes, toys, & other items.

How can we get more parish groups & parishioners, including children/teems, involved in caring for the Earth?
1. Assist the elderly or incapacitated with yard work.
2. Make & sell bags to be carried to grocery stores with St. Pius X theme.
3. Involving teens, might get them to take it into their schools.
4. Once a month after all or a mass and go around neighbors to pick up trash and check with neighbors to see if they could use our help with more chores.
5. I think young children/teens are interested in this topic, just need to do more promotion and activities.
6. Have poster contest telling about it.
7. Plant trees.
8. Not sure – maybe projects that include service hours.
9. I would like to get the youth group more involved in green initiatives. They have already gone on a nature hike & scavenger hunt. Please think about some ideas & we will brainstorm ideas as well. Justin & Jennifer Howard.
10. Increasing awareness by keeping on saying.
11. Clean up yards, sweep up driveways, trim & pick up branches & leaves, run errands, wash cars
12. When I was in high school, we participated in a day of service where we divided into groups & went around to individuals in the community to clean up their yards ie raking leaves, picking up trash, other odd projects.
13. We could take part in cleaning the side of highways ie adopt a road.
14. Plant trees
15. Donuts
16. Educate children more about importance of environmental stewardship.
16. Contests, games, rewards
17. Plan outings for youth groups to parks, recycling centers, etc. Volunteer at local recycling centers. Volunteer to help elderly make green improvements to reduce costs.
18. Have an energy drive, games, a lot of things to help teens get pumped for it. All money earned will help save energy and homeless.
19. Recruit from outside of Johnson County.
20. Have each social club - teen, women’s club, etc. identify a green project.
21. Give responsibilities especially to children. Let them have a plot of garden to have as theirs.
22. Teach children the simple method of growing food.
23. Contests/reward program for whoever collects the most recyclables or glass.
24. Invite them to have a garden plot.
25. Ask them what they’d like to do.
26. How can we assist older parishioners who would like to recycle but physically can’t.
27. Plan earth friendly, recycled art projects for children.
28. Make choices fun & easy.
29. Publicize local happening in bulletin.
30. Encourage children’s plot in garden.
31. Tie it in to JPII & Bishop Miege, especially in regards to community service hours.
32. Crafts & Christmas decorations made from nature or green products. They could be sold or raffled off.
33. Celebrate Earth Day.
34. Tell them simple things to do like recycle, pick up liter. Ride bikes in summer instead of using cars.
35. Community picnic at a park (spring & fall( Events: soccer game, nature hike, nature treasure hunt, open stage for musicians/singers/groups with skits. Have a dinner with a donation to go of used things that are needed around the parish.
36. Recycling clothing and or toys drive to give to organizations in our community.
37. Field trips to help clean our community.
38. Talk to Shawna (SOR) & the Ponnurus (Youth) & JPII. I’m sure together some great ideas for service projects can come from that meeting of minds.
39. Piggyback above activities (computer & cell phone recycling) to mass or meetings night after mass to facilitate attendance.
40. Have the SOR kids compete by grade to see who can recycle the most. Just one Sunday and pick paper, glass, or plastic.
41. Teen clubs should shovel snow for elderly neighbors.
42. Have a Saturday playground day for kids & adults to get away from television & video games.
43. Generate some fun form of competition that crosses all age groups in the parish – a united way approach, have different categories to complete.
44. Have the teens walk the streets and pick up the trash along the curbs. Same concept as “Adopt a Highway”
45. Make groups.
46. Have Father Ken announce opportunities to be on the committee more frequently.
47. Offer mulch back from above operations (start community compost site) & top soil. Offer pickup service for seniors & others.
General comments or suggestions:
1. Keep up the good work!
2. Please consider working with the City of Mission. Debbie Kring
3. I’m glad they collect glass. It helps so much to keep it out of the landfills.
4. The community garden is a great thing for the community.
5. Your are already going a great job.
6. Keep up the bulletin green tips. I really use them.
7. I really appreciate the glass recycle. It’s so much easier than hauling it out to 119th on my own. Thanks.
8. Encourage women to not color their hair or pay exorbitant prices to look good. Women should appreciate what God gave them.
9. Good for you!
10. Advertisement on church grounds. Nonparishioners would like to see it & be involved.
11. So far everything is great.
12. Keep community garden, glass & other recycling.
13. You all are doing wonderful things.
14. Capture the children & you capture the parents, plus the future.
15. It looks like you do a lot for the that promotes being green.
16. Good job! The accomplishments are wonderful! (from a new parishioner)
17. Continue to offer a variety of ways to participate, that way if people are inclined to participate, they’ll have choices.
18. Publicity – Leaven, Star, Sun, TV, radio
19. Remind people to put the song books & Today’s issue upright in pew before leaving mass. Much help for greeter who has to do this after mass.
20. You guys are doing a great job, keep up the good work.
21. Would like to see the rain barrel project again.
22. Thank you! You group is great.
23. Biking or walking to church when possible.
24. When deciding things to do to make this parish more green, keep in mind the cost of implementing these things.
25. Great job St. Pius.
26. I hope this survey was from recycles paper!
27. We need to become more energy efficient most definitely.
28. Please continue glass recycle.
29. Good job creating awareness of need for recycling and using God’s gifts wisely.
30. I think your garden has been beautiful. Thank you.
31. Keep up the good work!
32. Give blankets, scarves, etc. in cold weather, food as well
33. The rain & vegetable garden was a huge success!
34. You’re doing a fantastic job. What dedication. Thanks
36. Another rain barrel workshop.
37. Share tools, etc.
38. Great job
39. Church envelopes, maybe not send to people who are not using them at least monthly.
40. Keep encouraging green attitude in the parish.
41. Thank you! We appreciate the glass recycling on Sundays and love the idea of the community garden.
42. All these efforts are appreciated and should be continued.
43. Are you ever going to have another workshop on making a rain barrel?
44. I like the current programs.

2009-06-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Sanctuary of Hope for the Fencing!

Buy local food

2009-05-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

The green star award winner for May 2009 goes to Toni Dodd for buying local, organic milk.

How does buying local food protect the environment?
Local food doesn't have to travel far. This reduces carbon dioxide emissions and packing materials.
Buying local food helps to make farming more profitable and selling farmland for development less attractive.
Knowing where your food comes from and how it is grown or raised enables you to choose safe food from farmers who avoid or reduce their use of chemicals, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified seed in their operations.
See www.foodroutes.org to learn more.

No more plastic bags!

2009-03-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

The Green Star Award for March goes to Sybbie & John Fox and to Dorothy & Don Chamblin for taking reusable bags to the grocery store instead of using plastic bags!

Oceans and Marine Species at Risk

2009-03-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

According to Greenpeace, overfishing and destructive fishing are among the most significant threats facing our oceans. Many fish are on the RED List, meaning they are being pushed closer and closer to extinction. Some of the more commonly eaten fish on the list include: Atlantic Cod, Atlantic Salmon, Bluefin Tuna, Bigeye Tuna, Orange Roughy, South Atlantic Albacore Tuna, and Yellowfin Tuna. (Did you notice Four kinds of tuna are on this list?) To see the complete list go to www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/oceans/seafood/red-fish Please be careful and try to avoid eating the fish on the red list.

green cleaning- laundry

2009-03-03T11:36:00.001-08:00

Another Green Cleaning idea...

Since laundry detergents pollute water and can poison children, it would be more environmentally friendly to use borax or washing soda. Just add 1/2 cup of either one to the washing machine with your clothes. Borax and washing soda can be found in the detergent section of the grocery store.
OR you can buy an environmentally friendly brand of laundry soap. More and more green products are becoming available all the time. Here are some I've noticed: Seventh Generation and Mrs. Meyers can be found at our local HyVee in the Health Food Area, biokleen is available at Whole Foods. You can also order laundry soaps from Shaklee at www.shaklee.net/nomoretoxins or from Gaiam at www.Gaiam.com/EcoLaundry.

Toilet Paper

2009-03-03T11:33:00.001-08:00

Please buy recycled Toilet Paper

Did you realize we use a piece of toilet paper for less than 3 seconds? Did you realize toilet paper is made from trees and chemicals are used in the manufacturing of it? 98% of toilet paper used in the United States comes from virgin forests, whereas 40% in Europe and Latin America come from recycled products. We can do better.

To read more go to: http://www.guardian .co.uk/environme nt/2009/feb/ 26/toilet- roll-america.

To sign a letter requesting more toilet paper be made from recycled products go to: http://usactions.greenpeace.org/action/start /236/

Teaching sustainable Agriculture

2009-02-10T10:01:00.001-08:00

Green Star Award: February 2009

Ona Ashley Poe is the program facilitator at Johnson County Community College for a program in sustainable agriculture. They are teaching students, as well as children in their daycare center, about nuitrition and how to work with the earth, through sustainable techniques, to meet one of their basic needs. The children at the daycare have been planting, harvesting and eating some of their own food. Way to go, Ona!

Green Glass Cleaner

2009-01-27T10:59:00.000-08:00

Green Cleaning

The average American home today uses more chemicals than were found in a typical chemistry lab at the turn of the 20th Century. Most of those chemicals pollute our water and air as well as our bodies. Often homemade cleaners can be made easily from ingredients in your cupboard for less money than you pay for cleaners bought at the store.

Example #1. Instead of buying glass cleaner, mix 1/4 cup of vinegar and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle and use to clean glass and mirrors.

January Green Star award

2009-01-06T11:41:00.001-08:00

We have all heard about the Three R's: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. The 5th Grade SOR class has found a wonderful way to Reuse plastic bottles and help the homeless at the same time. They have been collecting used plastic bottles and donating them to Uplift (www.uplift.org), who then fills the bottles with beverages to gives to our homeless brothers and sisters.

A pat on the back goes to David Velasquez, Elisa Wetz, Colby Steck, Shelby Steck, Colin Vera, Ali Lee, and their teacher, Ann Braden. Way to go!

Finding peace in December

2008-12-09T07:44:00.001-08:00

CARING FOR CREATION:
Advent is meant to be a time of spiritual deepening, yet busyness can crowd this out. Simplifying your holiday preparations and activities is a great way to made more room for God. Taking walks outside appreciating nature's beauty and peace is also a good way to slow down and encounter God. For his birthday, Christ wants our love, efforts for peace and justice, outreach to the poor, earth care, and compassionate service. Happy Advent!

Things to consider before buying gifts

2008-12-06T12:35:00.000-08:00

CARING FOR CREATION:
One way you can help protect God's earth is to be more intentional about what you buy for Christmas gifts. Consider the following before you make a purchase:
do they need it?
how much will they use it?
how long will it last?
was it made from renewable resources?
does it have excess packaging?
is this gift good for the earth?
will it have lasting value?
can I purchase from non-profit organizations?
The St. Pius Green Committee thanks all of you who have supported our parish green activities this past year. We also commend you for your efforts to follow the suggestions made in this column to live more sustainably at home. We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, filled with God's love, family caring, and gratitude for all God's gifts that flow from our abundant earth!

wrapping paper-less holidays

2008-12-02T09:51:00.001-08:00

Caring for Creation -

How the Pope is Saving the Earth:
Pope Benedict XVI has spoken passionately about the urgent need to protect the planet from climate catastrophe and has done something about it! He has created a carbon-neutral economy at the Vatican by restoring 37 acres of forest in Hungary that had been cut down in the Middle Ages. These trees will absorb enough carbon dioxide to offset the pollution from the fossil fuels used to power Vatican City.

What You Can Do:

One small thing you can do for the earth this Christmas is reduce or eliminate your use of wrapping paper. Each year in the United States, 4 million tons go from logs to landfills to make wrapping paper and holiday shopping bags. Alternatives are: use reusable gift bags; wrap with the newspaper comics, kids drawings, the artwork from old calendars, or usable fabric; or present the gift unwrapped or in reusable materials and containers, such as decorative boxes, scarves, or tote bags.

Christmas card options

2008-11-18T15:39:00.000-08:00

Celebrating a simple Christmas honors Christ who was born and lived simply. It also saves resources for the poor and protects God's earth.
Americans spend $4 billion for holiday cards (enough to fill a football field eight stories high!) That's a lot of money, trees, and fossil fuels.

Alternatives are:
1. Send a note this year saying you won't be sending cards in the future.
2. Send cards to only half your list this year, and the other half next year.
3. Send cards only to people you will not see in person.
4. Discontinue sending cards altogether or do it every other year.
5. Pare down your list: people you haven't seen or spoken to in 2 years; neighbors; services providers; college roommates and business associates.
6. If you feel guilty not sending a card to someone, say a silent prayer and blessing for them instead.

Xeroscaping

2008-10-21T11:09:00.001-07:00

Green Star Award

Kevin Smith is the award winner for October! Kevin uses plants that don't need too much water in his landscaping at work and at home. And, he took the time to share his knowledge with others so we can all be better at xeroscaping. Thank you Kevin!

Five Green Things

2008-10-21T10:41:00.001-07:00

Thanks to all who attended the First of our Green Speakers Series on October 7th!

We learned that Bridging the Gap has a "Do 5 green things" campaign going on right now. Everyone is invited to go to their website (www.bridgingthegap.org) and sign up! Here are the first 5 things to get you started:

1. Give up bottled water - Average household reduction of CO2 emissions: 216 pounds a year
2. Wash your laundry in cold water - Average household reduction of CO2 emissions: 327 pounds a year
3. Switch to compact fluorescent lightbulbs - Average household reduction of CO2 emissions: 566 pounds a year
4. Set thermostat at 68° in winter, 78° in summer - Average household reduction of CO2 emissions: 553 pounds a year
5. Cut your gasoline use by one quarter - Average single car reduction of CO2 emissions: 2500 pounds a year

After you meet one of these goals, you learn another way to help the Earth! Good luck!

Green Star Award 9-08

2008-09-18T07:38:00.001-07:00

The green star award for September goes to Mary Ann Brown!

Mary Ann is the science teacher at JP II and has been driving her moped from Shawnee to St. Pius every week for church to reduce the amount of gasoline she uses.

Thank you Mary Ann!

Pope is having trees planted cfc Aug 23/24

2008-08-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

How the pope is saving the Earth
By Glenn Hurowitz

Pope Benedict XVI, like many world leaders, has spoken passionately about the urgent need to protect the planet from climate catastrophe. But unlike his fellow heads of state, the pontiff has actually created a carbon-neutral economy -- and done it cheaply and quickly.The Vatican announced last year that it would restore 37 acres of forest in Hungary that had been cut down in the Middle Ages. Those growing trees will absorb enough carbon dioxide to offset all the pollution from the fossil fuels used to power Vatican City.

For full story, visit: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/sunday/commentary/la-oe-hurowitz14-2008jul14,0,5390201.story

eco friendly laundry - cfc- Aug 30/31

2008-08-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

Eco-friendly laundry
Here are some ideas for saving electricity while washing your laundry:
~using low temperature water
~Only wash full loads of laundry
~Only wash the clothes that are dirty
~If you need to replace your washing machine, look for an energy star washer or a front-loading washing machine. Front loading washing machines uses less energy and 40-60% less water.
Laundry detergents can be hard on own skin and on the environment because they don't break down. Look for brands that are derived from natural ingredients and come in recycled and recyclable packaging. Most of these are highly concentrated so although they seem more expensive, the cost is actually on-par with traditional detergents because the high concentration means more wash loads per bottle.

Waste-Free Lunch

2008-08-12T08:18:00.000-07:00

Packing a Waste-Free Lunch

With school starting, this is a good time to think about the lunches we pack for our kids and ourselves. Typical American sack lunches produce lots of trash.
Waste-free lunches are not only a wise environmental choice, but they are less expensive as well.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
`Pack food in a reusable lunch containers instead plastic bags
`Avoid prepackaged, individually wrapped servings of food
`Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins
`Use stainless-steel forks and spoons instead of plastic forks and spoons
`Use reusable drink containers instead of disposable juice boxes, juice pouchs, soda cans, water bottles, or milk cartons
`Use reusable lunchboxes instead of disposable paper and plastic bags
For more ideas go to www.WasteFreeLunches.org

Walk, walk, walk

2008-08-06T14:06:00.001-07:00

Green Star Award
Two parishoners have been spotted saving gasoline by walking instead of driving in our community. Linda Bleyenberg can be seen walking to and from Price Chopper and even continues to walk to church in this hot weather. In downtown Mission, William Sifuentes has been seen walking to complete errands.

Good Job Linda and Bill! Thank you for caring for creation!

Ozone alert days - CFC August 2/3

2008-07-30T08:17:00.001-07:00

Mid America Regional Council has a service that sends alerts by email when an Ozone Alert Day is anticipated. Last Monday, July 28th, was an Orange Ozone Alert Day. To sign up for the service and learn more ways to reduce air pollution go to www.marc.org/Environment/airQ/.

For example, MARC suggests the folllowing practices to reduce air pollution on Ozone Alert Days:
1. Carpool (or ride the bus for only 50 cents),
2. Refrain from mowing your lawn, and
3. Refuel vehicles only after 7:00.

Landfill program, sounds interesting!

2008-07-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

The Johnson County Recycling Road Show
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008; 7-8:30 p.m.Central Resource Library

Where does all the stuff you put out at the curb each week go? Come follow the trail of your trash and recyclables and learn all about sanitary landfills, recycling centers and yard waste composting. Discover how recycling saves energy, natural resources and landfill space and creates less pollution. Staff from the Johnson County Environmental Department will present the county’s new Solid Waste Management Plan and share strategies we can all use to reduce waste through recycling, composting and responsible consumer choices.