Latest news
A previous issue of Community Life brought you an update on the ground source heat pump (GSHP) system we are investigating. Although more expensive than regular boilers, it is more than 300% energy efficient and annually reduces 80 tonnes of CO2. It also reduces our operating costs considerably. We had a 400-foot-deep borehole drilled this past summer
complete with a pipe loop used for such a system. This loop was tested to
determine the thermal conductivity of the property. We are pleased to announce that our site was deemed favourable, and planning of the technical design is continuing.
A final decision on the type of new heating system our church will have has not been taken yet but we will keep you informed. In the last year we have also embarked on a broader effort we are calling Fairlawn Green Action. Its vision is this: Fairlawn will be a green community that leads by example and becomes a voice to educate ourselves and others in the reduction of greenhouse gas missions at church, at home, in the community and in our workplaces.
To that end we launched an Energy Action Program in which over 40 families took steps in their own homes to reduce energy and hence green house gasses and of course, costs. We also conducted a four-part lunch & learn series to educate participants about the science and effects of climate change. It included a screening of Nobel winner Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth. Following this series we had enough folks interested to launch initiatives in six different areas of interest. Each met their spring objectives and are continuing with new ones. The areas are building improvement, which for instance installed compact fluorescent lightbulbs, gardening, local food, communication, advocacy and waste reduction.
As we continue on our journey, we are expanding our efforts to partner with the Neighbourhood Centre and other groups. In the fall, we spoke at a session of the Mumnet. On November 13, we partnered with Toronto
Green Community in their Five Pillars of Energy Conservation program in the neighbourhood.
So we are making these investments in our facility and taking actions to model some small steps in the right direction needed in our community to reduce global warming for a better world for all. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The time is always right to do what is right.”
Please join us in Fairlawn Green Action.
Taking Action
We completed Phase 1 of our Green Actions. Read the CURRENT STATUS by clicking on each of the six Green Action areas on the left.
What's next
Click BRAINSTORMING on the left to find out some of our ideas for Phase Two of Fairlawn Green Action. Contact us to participate!
Full report
To read the full report from the workshop, click the link on the left for "Taking Action Workshop Mar. 25/07".
Background
Fairlawn Green Action was initiated at our March 25, 2007 "Taking Action" workshop to address how we, as a Fairlawn faith community, and in partnership with the Fairlawn Neighbourhood Centre, would help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Our goal was to identify at least one Action Item for each of our six Action Areas, document the objective for each Action Item, and begin to plan the steps to successfully complete those Action Items.
