Events
UCCDG's Caring for Creation Native Plants Raised Planter In late spring of 2017, our Caring for Creation team utilized the new triangular raised planter on the northeast corner of our church parking lot. Thanks to the design plan provided by one of our team's founder, Tom Eisenhart, we planted it with plants native to our local area. We hope to use the planter to help others learn about the benefits of planting native plants for years to come. Eco-friendly laundry detergent. Robin Oberle demonstrated how to prepare eco-friendly laundry detergent to our church members last fall and gain this spring. Some additional bottles of detergent are available for purchase with a $10 donation to the Caring for Creation team. Come to UCCDG's Sunday Service's Fellowship Coffee Hour and speak to Robin and get your eco-firendly detergent. Also watch the calendar for the next date and time for this creative and useful eco-activity. News UCCDG Receives an Earth Flag! On Jan. 3, 2016, our church, UCCDG was presented with an Earth Flag by SCARCE, a Glen Ellyn-based organization that works to inspire people and organizations, through education, to preserve and care for the Earth. The Earth Flag Certification Program was developed by SCARCE to help businesses and organizations to become more environmentally responsible. First Congregational joins organizations such as the Downers Grove Park District, Good Samaritan Hospital, Molex and North Central College who have earned a Earth Flag. Short Answers to Hard Questions about Climate Change (NY Times article) Click here to read this recent article published in the NY Times. Smart Thermostat Initiative Residents across Northern Illinois are eligible for rebates on smart thermostats that nearly cut the device costs in half. The smart thermostat initiative is a partnership between Environmental Law & Policy Center, Citizens Utility Board, ComEd, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas . It makes the ecobee3 and Nest Learning Thermostat eligible for up to $120 in rebates for utility customers with WiFi, central air, and a furnace. Their goal is to get one million smart thermostats installed in the next 5 years. Smart thermostats are WiFi-enabled devices that allow residents to control heating and air conditioning settings in a home through their smartphones, tablets and computers. The technology is “smart” because it adapts to user behavior over time and can generate energy savings automatically. The average Illinois consumer will save approximately $50-$130 annually on their heating and cooling bills – meaning that the smart thermostat pays for itself after just 1-3 years. Please visit ELPC.org/SmartThermostats for an overview of basic questions about the program. Help us spread the word by sharing this information with your friends and neighbors so they too can take advantage of this limited and unique opportunity. |