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Minutes, Greening Adelphi Discussion
01/23/2011

Session began at 8:30 am.

Convenors: Chase Clement, Ray Lane and Maggie Cahalan
Also Present: Will Kastens, Glenn Riley, Carole Hoage, Shelly Grow, Kate Praeger, Bud Antrim, John Stith, Dave Roberts, Rob and Lainie Duncan, Joan Clement.

The zero hour opened with silence, and Chase Clement read queries for discussion.

1. What do you think of when you think about Adelphi going green?
2. What is the spiritual basis for our commitment to sustainability?
3. How do economics factor into our sustainability plan? How should we evaluate the cost of green improvements?
4. What do we want this building and grounds to say about our testimonies? How important is it for Adelphi's sustainability to set an example?

==> The Sustainability Minute approved by Adelphi Monthly Meeting on August 11, 2007 was also circulated and is available on our web site.

To lead the discussion off — out of the silence — Maggie Cahalan shared a rough vision drawing of some thoughts she had about the concept of sustainability planning for Adelphi. These are largely ideas that flow out of the Adelphi Sustainability Minute which expresses the spiritual basis of respect for all life and the oneness of all life.

She shared that she was also inspired by some work she is involved in developing a sustainability plan for the city of Greenbelt and her review of plans of other faith communities. The concept of sustainability usually involves recognition of the rights for all of creation to equal respect and being mindful of future generations needs in making decisions now. She focused on short-term, low-cost things that can be done now at Adelphi.

1. Focus on understanding water flow and bio-retention of run off to reduce stress on our watershed and Chesapeake Bay — Use rain barrels to catch roof water and also rain gardens and small filter pond — State/County is requiring more stringent stormwater treatment for new construction and major renovations, means handling water flow and rain water on-site.
2. Sign up for 100 percent wind electric power. Many members and attenders have already done this with Clean Currents — very easy to do and price competitive.
3. Set goal to reduce the number of cars coming to Adelphi on Sunday by half by 2012 — enlist children to help count cars — foster bike-riding together to meeting, add bike racks, increase use of public transportation.
4. RE — tap into programs offered by Arbor Day Foundation, outdoor classrooms, grounds more open to the neighborhood.
5. Set zero waste goal, use compost bins and composting toilet.
6. Adopt a vegan snack and potluck policy — to help with world hunger, environmental stress, and reduce cruelty to animals.
7. Establish gardens/greenhouse at Adelphi to grow 20 percent of snacks.
8. Sponsor a CSA and become drop off for the neighborhood.
9. Engage in outdoor worship on regular basis — celebrate the seasons — get children outdoors in nature and ourselves outdoors.
10. Put simple low-tech window inserts to reduce heat loss — low cost and big return.
11. Consider green roof, solar coop, or solar installation in manner similar to Church of Brethren in Hyattsville.
12. Consider pervious paving of parking area.
13. Increase the connection between the building and grounds, grow more plants inside and outside.

Following this, a number of really good insights were put forth. Here are some:

• Many of these things would not only promote sustainability, but also a spirit of community — for example, car pooling and bike riding together would promote folks getting to know each other.
• There is support doing small things grounded in knowing and loving the space we have.
• A friend noted that things are very complex systems with many things related to other things — for example, water is attached to everything. If we wait too long, then civil society will go down and break down — can't wait too long — need to move forward.
• We should focus on what we can do now, commit to a course of action, and maybe could get some small grants for rain barrels.
• Sustainability connects with civil discourse — Work with all in the world around us — Need to change.
• Others noted the consistency with Quaker simplicity, in our culture we get caught up in busyness, struggles using public transportation and being on time to after school events, question of how we spend our time and energy — parenting, growing food, etc.
• There's a connection between sustainability of earth and sustainability of our community — carpools can help build Adelphi's community. We can sometimes get lost in the "overwhelmingness" of the problem, need second hours for info sharing and to serve our spiritual lives — but need to watch out for zealousness.
• Friend who conducted an energy audit at Adelphi a few years ago encouraged focus on our budget and working to reduce costs and increase our energy efficiency. Savings could be realized with relatively little cost or effort. Capital investment in energy efficiency will pay for itself-resident is monitoring and comparing use/costs with past years. Much that we could do to get a quick return on relatively low investment.
• All suggestions are good — should move on small things soon. One aspect is to proceed in a way that is visible — can be an example — for members and attenders and for other institutions of the same size. Serving as an example increases the impact we can have.
• Spiritual basis — There is a need for education and helping raise awareness of community — gateway is awareness and musings need to be aware — need to make aware. Some individuals and committees are aware and others are not aware — make decisions that do not reflect that awareness. Do not have this in their mind. When more aware — actions will be more in keeping with values.
• We do not have a minister — how to take care of community.
• Vagueness slows us down — how can we accomplish. Concern that there is a "culture barrier" at Adelphi — who needs to decide what is unclear — slows us down — afraid to step on toes, hurt feelings.
• This issue gives us an opportunity to raise awareness — draw together as corporate entity to decide where we want to move together. Realizing one person can not make a difference — need to know how to work with others — leverage what we are drawn to into our corporate life — also out of Go Forth what can we do together. This can show us how to bring ourselves together as community
• Spending money — this is a bottom line issue that will influence our decisions.
• Start with what we can do — Adelphi has shown that we can raise money when want to.
• Do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good — What can we do — does not have to be perfect — do what we can with our resources.
• How can our spiritual life as a meeting help us — one person recently participated in a "prayer to four directions" stand in circle and face East, South, West, North — very simple way of being with creation. Think about how our spiritual practice can be expanded to connect more with nature, and how the building and grounds design can support this. What kind of buildings would allow us to have that type of experience? What will help us be a spiritual community? At a minimum, our buildings should have good access to the outdoors and plenty of natural light.
• Economics of the environment
  • 33 tons of carbon each year
  • Solar-wind power
  • Different options: e.g.
    1. Paying a project far away — there are some that are good; offsets — 400; vs
    2. Investing in green technologies on our building site.
  • How often we use the buildings — importance of use of buildings for something. Could capture for others — investing in and get tax credits — 30 percent.
• Solar power:  we can get tax credits it we set up a structure to allow individual people to get the tax credits — Sidwell and Bethesda have already done this.
• New state storm water management regulations will require us to reduce water run off from our property.
• Current economic system does not reflect our values — all about return on investment without looking at environmental costs, etc. Need to shift to an economic system that reflects our values. Benefits and difficulties of dropping out of the cash economy were noted. Gardening more at Adelphi is one way to begin that process.

Session ended at 9:50 am

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Last updated:  01/23/2011