At the 2017 Annual Meeting, the Congregation voted to adopt Climate Change & Environmental Justice as one of our congregational social justice efforts. The Environmental Justice Team (EJT) is or has focused on 1) renewing our status as a Green Sanctuary Congregation, 2) reviving our Green Team with a focus on renewables’ planning, reuse & recycling, leaving no carbon footprint, and ethical eating, 3) educating the congregation on issues, 4) participating in issues such as member service and advocacy for carbon tax (with Citizens Climate Lobby), Water Is Life rally, March for Science, supporting pipeline protesters, and opposing open burning at Radford Arsenal, and 5) supporting Spiritual Care for the Earth. 

Check our resource library for articles on climate change and environmental justice. Send comments or suggestions to Bill Baker

 

Solar Panel Installation

In November 2021, UUC had 80 solar panels installed on our roof by Baseline Solar. Eighty 400-watt panels will provide approximately 80% of the building’s energy needs. The panels are the result of a new power purchase agreement and green energy initiative that enables a non-taxable entity to contract with solar power providers to buy electricity generated on-site as a way to offset what such entities would have to pay for the installation. This is the first such install in the New River Valley.