Faith Based Sustainability Event October 9

On Tuesday, October 9, U.S. Green Building Council – Missouri Gateway Chapter will host a Faith Based Sustainability event at Grace Episcopal Church (514 East Argonne Drive, Kirkwood, MO 63122).

The goal is to invite people to make a shift from an anthropocentric to a biocentric focus. This high level discussion reviews religious beliefs that affirm the planet’s sustaining life-systems should be consistent with human endeavors.

Attendees will explore three local faith based initiatives: the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, the Jewish Environmental Initiative and the Intercommunity Ecological Council, as well as two certification programs: GreenFaith and ENERGY STAR for Congregations.

The evening will conclude with a case study and brief introduction of ENERGY STAR for Congregations and its Portfolio Manager software, an interactive energy management tool allowing congregations to track and assess energy and water consumption in all their buildings. The meeting’s host location, Grace Episcopal Church, has gathered data since 2009. Parishioners successfully created awareness about energy efficiency and earned energy savings, freeing money for their mission outreach.

The three speakers are:

• Paulette Zimmerman, SSND, Justice, Peace, & Integrity of Creation Staff, Central Pacific Province for School Sisters of Notre Dame
• Gail Wechsler, Director of Domestic Issues/Social Justice for Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis
• Sabine McDowell, LEED AP, Co-Chair of Grace Creation Care Ministry at Grace Episcopal Church and founder of www.ourgreenchoices.com