Generations have trod, have trod, have trod and all is seared with trade, bleared, smeared with toil… (from God’s Grandeur by Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J.)
For the six months or so, Loyola Press has had a “Green Team” which is charged with helping us become more environmentally conscious. We got rid of plastic cutlery and paper plates from the kitchen, we now use “green” cleaning products, and the Team has taken responsibility for supplying and laundering drying cloths so that we use fewer paper towels.
They helped us to replace our traditional water coolers with units that filter, then chill or heat tap water. We have swtiched to fair trade & environmentally sustainable coffee and we are re-evaluating what gets put into our food vending machine in the lunchroom.
So far it has been simple and easy. And here is the best part – it has saved us thousands of dollars! What’s not to love about that?
How ”green” are you at work and at home?
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Michelle 10.07.09 at 8:15 am
The college is working hard to be green in many of the same ways. I use a set of mugs for tea and coffee for meetings, rather than disposables. The joy here has been the occasional conversations with colleagues as we wash the dishes after a meeting.
At home – more dish towels, fewer paper; handkerchiefs instead of tissues; and we commute by bike!
Kim 10.07.09 at 12:52 pm
The parish I belong to has made great strides in being “green”. There actually is Creation Care Team that has been partnering with the student council, staff and Girl Scouts of the parish/school on a number of initiatives. This year at the fall festival there were plenty of containers in plain view to recycle pop cans, plastic and glass bottles, and even the plastic beer cups! The students in the school did a drive to collect silverware, so they are not using plastic in the cafeteria. With the “Food for Hogs” program, about 120 pounds of food waste per day is sent to hog farmers. They are nearing the completion of a soler energy installation proposal, and assessing the potential for a community garden. In addition, the Creation Care Team has advocated for climate change and has a “creation care corner” section in the bulletin. Lots of great stuff happening!
Eric 10.07.09 at 4:09 pm
My wife and I have not lived very green, but my daughter and son-in-law have surreptitiously, slyly, persistently introduced many green elements into our household. I guess we old folks are going to change our ways as the next generation drives us in the green direction.