Greening Mount Zion

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Over the last few years, Mount Zion has undertaken several measures in an effort to become a greener and a more environment-friendly congregation. Some examples of our efforts:

  • as of June 2011 all office paper is recycled
  • old stationery has been turned into memo pads
  • light bulbs used in most of the building are fluorescent or are being changed over to fluorescent (with the exception of some original fixtures that cannot accommodate CFLs)
  • motion sensors have been installed in bathrooms and some classrooms to automatically turn off lights when no one is in the room
  • the building has zoned heating and cooling, and the filters on the furnace are regularly cleaned and changed
  • The building grounds are also receiving attention: grass clippings are left on the lawn as mulch, and the use of fertilizer is limited
  • The kitchen area is “greener” too with paper plates and cups made with recycled paper, and coffee supplied by Peace Coffee, which is organic and fair trade, and the deliveries are made by bicycle
  • The ice machine, dishwasher, and coffee machine have been overhauled to maximize their efficiency
  • Leftover food is either given to Jeremiah House or Neighborhood House, and other leftover items are frozen for future onegs or given to staff. Very little food goes to waste.
  • Coffee grounds get recycled in members’ gardens
  • Of course we cannot forget our major, long-standing recycling effort, the garage sale, where gently used items are given a new home and a second life.

Mount Zion will continue to expand our efforts and explore other environmental improvements. We welcome your ideas and suggestions, or your active involvement in this initiative. Please contact Larry Solomon, our Executive Director at 651-698-3881 with your ­suggestions or to get more information. We will keep you informed of our progress in ­future articles.