Arecology

"Ecology" is the relationship between organisms and their environment.  This is the word that the Association for Religion, Ecology, and Society chose to use in its title in order to capture the interrelationship between all species (especially humans) and the natural environment.  The relationship of our species to the planet is unique: we have the ability to utterly devastate the environment, we have the ability to understand the impact we make on the environment, and we also have ability to make choices that lessen and eliminate ecological destruction.  On this page you can find ways to become educated about the global environmental condition and ways to live a more green lifestyle in your house or religious group.  The emphasis has been placed on practices and areas that one may not consider at first thought in relation to environmental ethics, since most of the basics of green living can be found on the many links we provide.

Jump to a Practice

Green Your Home/Building
While eco-friendly architecture and green remodeling are gaining popularity, there are more affordable means to greening your home or building.  The following are four areas that the potentially eco-friendly family, faith group, business or institution should address:
1) Water Usage:The quickest ways to reduce your water use are simple yet extremely effective.  For instance, a low-flow shower head and a faucet aerator can be installed in less than an hour and reduce water usage in the shower and sink up to 50%.  Get directions on installation and learn about their benefits at Eartheasy. Another effective water saving practice is to install a water saving toilet.  While the average toilet uses 3-5 gallons a flush, a water saving toilet generally uses less than 2 gallons.  For an economic alternative, place a weighted water bottle in the holding tank of your current toilet to displace much of the tanks normal holding capacity. For two extensive lists on water reducing practices see American Water and Energy Savers and Eartheasy.
2) Electricity Efficiency:Electricity is a secondary energy source, which means we get it by conversion of other sources of energy like coal, oil, or petroleum. The conversion emits extreme amounts of pollution and greenhouse gases.  Unfortunately every home is dependent on electricity.  Here are few simple and affordable ways to make your home less dependent on electricity: turn your thermostat down to 68° in the winter and up to at least 78° in the summer; turn your water heater down to 120°; dry laundry on a rack or line outdoors; use all energy saving settings on appliances; and replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.  For a more extensive list of ways to increase your home’s efficiency, see the “Home Energy Checklist for Action” from the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy.  Also, learn how to conduct your own comprehensive home energy audit by visiting Home Energy Saver.
3) Consumption/Waste:The average family or institution consumes far more than they are aware, and hence produces vastly more waste than they realize.  There are many easy ways to significantly reduce your waste.  Recycling 10 pounds of paper can save not only the 10 pounds of waste headed for landfills but also 10% of a tree, 20 Kilowatts of energy, 35 gallons of water, and 2 gallons of oil.  Some cities have more convenient recycling programs than others, but almost every urban area has at least one facility for recycling.  To find the nearest recycling center for everything from aluminum cans to used motor oil visit Earth 911. Another extremely effective way to curb your waste production is by composting.  A family or institution that composts can reduce their overall solid waste by 25% and instead turn that organic waste into nutrient rich soil amendments for gardens, planters, or potted plants.  To learn more about composting techniques and benefits, visit How To Compost and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  To learn many more waste reducing practices for your home, office, or faith community visit Earth 911.
4) Landscape:Many people forget that greening a home or building includes the landscape around the facility.  When it’s time to plant that summer flower bed or lay sod for your front lawn, consider a more ecologically friendly method.  An eco-friendly landscape generally satisfies three ecological benefits over traditional landscaping without a necessary decline in visual appeal: reduction in water usage; little to no fertilizer or pesticide use; and less use of fossil fuels due to drastically reduced maintenance requirements. Xeriscaping and Naturescaping are the two prominent, eco-friendly landscaping philosophies.  Xeriscaping is landscaping where increased emphasis is placed on water conservation while Naturescaping emphasizes the use of native plant species.  To learn more about Xeriscaping and its benefits visit Eartheasy. To learn more about Naturescaping and its benefits visit Plant Native.

Buy Locally
Buying local is simply the attempt to buy food which is grown close to your home.  The benefits of buying locally include reducing fossil fuel usage in food transportation (Food Routes), having more nutrient rich and preservative free food, and financially supporting the local community (Sustainable Table).  There are three prominent ways to localize the source of your food products: CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) programs, Farmer’s Markets, and home or community gardens (see Gardening section). Community Supported Agriculture is farming supported by a community of “share-holders.”  Individuals, social groups, religious institutions, families, or companies are the consumers and “invest” in advance to cover a farm’s cost of operation.  In return, the consumer receives the farm’s weekly yields. CSA programs provide financial security for the farm, which allows the farm to incorporate sustainable farming techniques and organic products.  Farmer’s Markets are generally open-air markets that facilitate the direct sales of farmer’s goods.  This form of exchange assures the consumer that the food being sold is grown within driving distance and the “middle men” are entirely eliminated, allowing higher profits for small farms and lower costs for the consumer.  To locate CSAs and Farmer’s Markets in your area and to learn more see Local Harvest or USDA.

Plant a Garden
Community and home gardens are excellent ways to have a positive ecological impact.  Community gardens strengthen community bonds by bringing youth and adults together in beautifying the neighborhood, they provide alternative recreational opportunities, they preserve open and sustainable spaces (especially in urban areas), and they offer a source of affordable and healthy food.  Planting a community garden is an effective way to promote environmental awareness and education. The American Community Garden Association provides extensive resources on every step from planning to maintaining to harvesting community gardens.  Many of the same benefits apply but on a smaller scale with home gardens. A home garden can yield vegetables and fruit without traveling hundreds of miles while burning fossil fuels, are organic, and full of the best flavor and nutrition.  You also know where your food is coming from, who has handled it, and what went into making it, which brings great piece of mind.  To start a home garden or for tips, visit The Garden Helper or The Helpful Gardener.

Adjust Your Diet
In ecological terms, our diets have an enormous effect on the earth’s water, topsoil, forests, and atmosphere, and this is especially so regarding meat consumption.  The subtantial report by the United Nations Farming and Agriculture Organization regarding the state of the environment (Livestock’s Long Shadow—Environmental Issues and Options) highlights the destructive consequences of the luxury of eating meat.  It concludes that livestock are among the most significant contributors to environmental degradation. Specifically, it concluded that the livestock sector generates more greenhouse emissions than all other transport. Some statistics: water waste - for every pound of beef avoided, 2,500 to 5,000 gallons of water is saved—that’s equivalent to several months of showers; carbon emissions - the production of one pound of hamburger emits up to 25 times the amount of carbon that an average car produces in one day (75 kg vs. 3kg/day); deforestation - every second nearly 15,000 square feet of tropical rainforest is clear-cut for cattle grazing; topsoil - between 70 and 90% of western national forest lands and Bureau Land Management land is grazed by livestock, most of which suffers compaction, erosion, or loss of natural fertilization.  Moreover there is the issue of animal rights and cruelty to animals.  Overall, one of the most immediate and positive effects we can have on the environment is to reduce our meat consumption. For more, visit Farm Animal Reform Movement, Earth Save, and the United Nations FAO.

Educate Yourself
Due to the wide range of public discussion about the environment, it is often difficult to discern a picture of the current eco-crisis.  Here are some recommendations for educating yourself on the key issues.  A good place to start is with the classic literature in the fields of environmentalism and ecology, a working list of which can be found at Environmental Defense.  Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, the first real book of the environmental movement, is a good place to start.  Any classic environmental book will provide you with the basics of the political, economic, and cultural dimensions of the eco-crisis.  A sure way to bolster your understanding of these dimensions is to consistently read online eco-news. Several helpful sources are the Environmental News Network feed (whose feed can be found on the ARES Home Page), Truth Out, or any news letter provided by environmental organizations (see links throughout the ARES site).  Newer books, such as The Weather Makers by Tim Flannery and Diet for a Dead Planet by Christopher Cook are highly recommended. A final step in becoming eco-wise is to critically interact with your religious community’s positions in regards to caring for the environment, with reference to such sites as the Religion and Environment Initiative, The Forum on Religion and Ecology, and The National Religious Partnership for the Environment.

Be An Activist
There are many ways in which you can be an active supporter of ecological justice.  One simple way is displaying bumper stickers or wearing clothing, etc., (CafePress) that references eco-concerns or organizations.  Speak out about environmental issues whenever you have the chance and see what a difference showing your passion might actually make.  Environmental organizations often have demonstrations and other opportunities to publicly display your concerns in your local community.  Write letters to your politicians describing your concerns about specific ecological issues or send in petitions.  An easy way to do this is to visit eco-org sites which have ready prepared written letters and petitions that you can sign and send with thousands of other people to state and federal governments as well as private corporations and industries.  These "e-activist" opportunities can be found at many environmental org sites (Environmental Defense, Greenpeace, Sierra Club).  Join one of these environmental organization such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, or others for the numerous opportunities and resources they present for environmental care and defense.  Lastly, another simple way to publicly support the well-being of the planet is to join the "Call to Action" associated with the upcoming climate change movie, The Great Warming (of which the ARES is a collaborator).  Here you can join the coalition list with prominent scientist, celebrities, and activists.