Welcome to Unitarian Universalist Society East
Sunday Services at 9:00 and 11:00
Sustainable Living & Climate Action
UUSE is committed to ongoing efforts to save our planet through green action. We are a certified Green Sanctuary.
Green Sanctuary News
Green Sanctuary News
I’m writing this article on Oct. 18 after the No Kings Rally in Hartford and other towns and cities across CT and the USA. Many of us UUs took part in person or in spirit. We refuse to give up our democracy and the rights of the people. We hold this administration responsible for the unlawful, inhumane, and vengeful actions happening daily while ignoring Congress, the Constitution, and human decency.
Among our many concerns are the actions ending programs, projects, and scientific research essential to caring for our land, water and air, and protecting us from the devastations from climate change, including many clean energy projects, all while ignoring past actions of Congress and subverting the powers of Congress and the courts as much as possible.
Thankfully, nations around the world are continuing to move forward on clean energy and other environmental efforts. CT and many other states are fighting back. We can help support state actions and efforts in our towns and homes as well to increase and support sustainability.
Did you know that Manchester has just been “recognized for achieving Sustainable CT Gold certification. Sustainable CT, a statewide initiative that inspires and supports communities in becoming more efficient, resilient, and inclusive, is awarding Gold to Manchester and a few other towns, including Vernon. “Earning Gold Certification is not just a milestone, it’s a reflection of Manchester’s values,” said Mayor Jay Moran. You can read all about it here: https://www.manchesterct.gov/Government/Latest-News/Gold-Certification-from-Sustainable-CT.
So far this fall the Sustainable Living Committee at UUSE sponsored and showed the Climate Future Film Festival, promoted and attended the SUNday events in New Britian celebrating and promoting Solar Energy’s growth and promise, and sponsored a program on Downsizing helping us to simplify our lives and reduce our wastefulness and energy consumption. Let’s keep these ideas in mind as we enter the holiday season by focusing on what’s most important in our lives and communities. Can we protect the earth, water, and air we live in by consuming less and wasting less?
Go Solar!
The Sustainable Living Committee is thrilled to report that UUSE has contracted with Connecticut solar provider, Savkat, to resume our popular solar program! Savkat has agreed to donate $25 to UUSE for every appointment and $1,000 for every signed solar contract. The program begins immediately, and is available to all UUSE members, family, and friends. Just tell them you were referred by UUSE!
We will be hosting several informational sessions with our Savkat representative on Sunday mornings during coffee hour to answer any questions congregants may have. If you're interested in learning more about getting solar installed, you can make an appointment at this time.
Already know you want to reduce your carbon footprint by installing solar? You can contact our Savkat representative, Jordan Bernstein, right away! His contact info is below.
Thank you for caring about our planet!
Jordan BernsteinLead Manager
203.441.7961
Schedule a Meeting
Green Actions You Can Take
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Join our ecological landscaping team
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Help with recycling and composting
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Help sell "Fair Trade" coffee, tea, and chocolate after Sunday services
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Help with the annual organic veggie garden
About the Green Sanctuary program
UUSE has been a certified Green Sanctuary congregation since the spring of 2006. The Green Sanctuary program was developed and begun by the UU Ministry for Earth for UU congregations. The program at UUSE was led by the Sustainable Living Committee with approval and involvement of the policy board, staff, various committees and the full congregation. Goals and projects were developed in four different areas: worship, religious education, sustainable living and social/environmental justice. Our Action Plan for 2005 included 15 different projects, heavily focused on our response to global warming. It included implementing recommendations from an energy audit, starting our children’s organic vegetable garden program, starting recycling and composting programs, working with other state and local organizations on common goals, and much more. The congregation-wide support and success of the program led us to seek out the greenest way we could afford to implement our planned building and expansion project.
Between 2007 and the spring of 2010 we were deep into the planning, fundraising for and implementation of our building project. The Growth of the Green Sanctuary Program allowed it to become a project of the UUA. And by 2011 we were encouraged to apply for Re- accreditation. Our application for Re-accreditation included various projects in the areas of worship and celebration, religious education, sustainable living, and active environmental justice efforts, such as helping to pass CT’s first environmental justice law, working with local groups to start school and other community gardens and to help low-income residents benefit from CT’s Home Energy Solutions program. We documented all the work done in the UUSE building project including energy conservation work, the geo-thermal system and eventual solar panel system, and Energy Star certification with a 98% score in 2013, as well as various ecological landscaping projects. On February 17, 2013 we received the notice we were awarded Green Sanctuary Recertification. We were encouraged to continue our efforts to become a net zero facility and continue with our outreach and advocacy work.