RISEN SAVIOR CATHOLIC COMMUNITY, BURNSVILLE
Risen Savior Catholic Community is located at 1501 County Road 42 East, Burnsville, MN 55337. It's website can be found at https://risensavior.org/ . The list below is provided by Ryan Currens, Parish Administrator at the church.
Conscious Environmental Decisions
- Tinting the windows in the nursery and library
- Shades open/closed seasonally in resurrection hall
- Metered soap and paper towel dispensers (sensor operated) in main floor restrooms and sacristies
- Janitorial chemical dispenser (safer thenon-site mixing and prevents incorrect mixing ratios)
- Insulating the west boilers ductwork (this was previously un-insulated)
- Timer on vent fans in restrooms
- Pre-covers and guards on all HVAC units to prevent cottonwood buildup and inefficiency
- Motion active lights in areas that commonly were left on
- Smart programming of area thermostats
- Dakota County recycling incentive grant program to increase recycling and decrease trash
- LED lighting conversion behind the altar
- LED lighting conversion in the office
- LED lighting conversion in the classrooms
- LED lighting conversion in the commons
- LED lighting conversion on the yard lights pointed at the cross at night
- Environmentally friendly asphalt (Aquaphalt) patching (no VOCs)
- Switching lawn chemicals to "green" lawn chemicals
- White rock used on all replacement roof rock for lighter color roof
- Passive air fresheners used in restrooms instead of aerosol
- Replacing old "high flow" toilets (2 per year) with new commercial efficiency toilets
- Original windows replaced in rectory basement with energy star windows
- Paper towels replaced with hand dryer in lower level restrooms
- Calibration of all campus thermostats
- Compostable single use items (paper towels, napkins, plates, trash bags, cups (hot and cold), silverware)
- Kitchen compost capture
- LED lighting conversion in parking lot
- Working with Catholic energy on a solar project for the roof
Episcopal Church of the Nativity is located at 15601 Maple Island Road, Burnsville, MN 55306. It's website can be found at https://nativitymn.org/ . The following are some of the projects that the church Building and Grounds group is working on as presented by Diane Grier.
- Installed LED lights throughout the church about five years ago but still working on a few more.
- Installed LED lights in the outside tower about two years ago.
- Programmed thermostats in different areas of the church to correspond to when they are being used.
- Provided for a community garden on site since 1998 that has been utilized over the years by parishioners as well as groups from various agencies including one with physical limitations and more recently immigrant groups. Some of the produce has been donated to the Food Bank. At one point Allina provided a grant to do nutritional education through the U of M which involved the garden. It has served many purposes over time and the church is proud of the message it sends to all who drive by that their yard isn't one, like others, that has to be mowed.
PRIOR LAKE
Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church is located at 3611 North Berens Road NW, Prior Lake, MN 55379. It's website can be found at https://www.sollc.org/ . The following is a brief summary of what SOLLC has done to become a more sustainable community partner as provided by Dr. Paula Thomsen.
- Engaged http://enerchange.org/ for a free energy audit. Most actions were identified in their findings.
- Upgraded building management software (heating & cooling) to improve efficiency.
- Completed internal lighting inventory. This examines current fixture wattage, average hours per month, replacement wattage, cost (after MVEC rebate), and leads to payback months, which also lines up with most CO2 emissions reductions per dollar invested. Based on this, replaced (so far) lighting with LEDs in the parking lot and external accent lights, Chapel and upper overflow seating and offices.
- Changed baptismal waterfall pump from running 24/7 to be switched on only during worship services.
- Signed up for the Greensource Renewable Energy Credit Program through our electric utility, Minnesota Valley Electric Coop. In doing so, we are purchasing wind energy for 100% of our electricity needs. This represents over 70% of our energy purchase carbon footprint. The program is very economical and easy to join.
OAK GROVE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BLOOMINGTON
Oak Grove Presbyterian Church is located at 2200 W. Old Shakopee Rd., Bloomington, MN 55431. It's website can be found at http://www.oakgrv.org . The following is a brief summary of what Oak Grove Presbyterian has done to become a more sustainable community partner as provided by John Crampton.
- We produce 120% more clean energy electricity than we use from rooftop solar, community solar and Windsource costing us less money than we once paid for fossil fuel-powered electricity.
- Next step: reduce/replace natural gas use through conservation and fuel switching to renewable energy.
- All lights inside and outside are LEDs, reducing electrical usage by 35%.
- Two rain gardens capture, clean and infiltrate thousands of gallons of storm water runoff per year into the groundwater, while providing pollinator habitat.
- Complete recycling, composting with a dramatic reduction in trash.
- Annual EV Expos teach members and public about EVs, e-bikes, e-lawn care and e-mobility. Two level 2 EV charging stations for quick recharging.
- KidWind program to teach kids how to build and test model wind turbines.
- Join us! We have fun and get stuff done! Contact: John Crampton 612-396-6010 jcrampt48@gmail.com
CHRISTIANIA LUTHERAN CHURCH, LAKEVILLE
Christiania Lutheran Church is located at 26691 Pillsbury Ave., 
Lakeville, MN 55044. Its website can be found at https://www.christianialutheranchurch.org/. The following is a brief summary of what Christiania Lutheran Church has done to become a more sustainable community partner.
- Maintains a 3 acre wetland area on the church farm benefiting water and wildlife.
- Church kitchen and Dining room are a Styrofoam free zone.
- "Urban Ventures" organization maintains beehives on church property.
- Replaced older light bulbs with more efficient LEDs.
- Replaced heating & cooling units with more efficient models.
- Maintain three acres of old growth native hardwood forest as a wildlife habitat benefiting the water cycle.
- Established a two acre pollinator plot of land.
- During upcoming remodeling we plan to reinsulate roof and improve window energy efficiency.
GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, APPLE VALLEY
Grace Lutheran Church is located at 7800 West County Road 42, 
Apple Valley, MN 55124. Its website can be found at https://graceofav.org/ . The following is a brief summary of what Grace Lutheran Church has done to become a more sustainable community partner.
- Switched over from disposables to reusables for weekly coffee hours. (2018)
- Switched coffee supplier to Lutheran World Relief (2018).
- Sponsored "green" baskets at Silent Auction (2019).
- Introduced collection boxes for member drop-off of light bulbs, batteries, crayons, markers and snack wrappers (2019).
- Completed an energy audit (2020).
- Replaced lighting with more energy efficient bulbs: to date, have replaced 156 33 -watt fluorescent light bulbs with 9.5 watt LEDs (2021).
- Organized for members of the MN Electric Vehicles Group to display their EVs, engage with attendees and answered questions at Grace Summer Block Party (2022).
- Introduced a building-wide recycling and composting program (2018-2020).
- Recycled more than 690 lbs of the church's electronics (2019-2022)
NEW SPIRIT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, SAVAGE
New Spirit United Church of Christ is located at 14394 Quebec 
Ave. South, Savage, MN 55378. Its website can be found at http://www.newspiritucc.org/. The following is a brief summary of what New Spirit United Church of Christ has done to become a more sustainable community partner.
- During construction, exterior walls were changed from 2x4 to 2x6's to allow for more insulation.
- Preserved existing wood lots on the property.
- Using electric range and water heater.
- Use remote control thermostats to regulate heating/cooling with non-function alerts.
- Replacing incandescent and halogen lighting with LED.
- Utilize low flow toilets.
- Exterior lights are on timers.
- Less mowing allowing for natural grasses.
- Had professional evaluation for energy effectiveness.
- Recycle Sunday bulletins.
- Non-paper products used for refreshments.
- Utilize climate friendly cleaning products.
- Bulletin board containing recycler information and updated environmental information.
- Provide access to library with books that explain environmental best practices and information.
PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, BURNSVILLE
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church is located at 13801 Fairview 
Drive, Burnsville, MN 55337. Its website can be found at https://popmn.org/. The following is a brief summary of what POP has done to become a more sustainable community partner.
- Membership voted to approve a "Creation Care Covenant" to encourage thoughtful stewardship of the earth. (2022)
- Converted from Styrofoam to ceramic coffee cups (2022)
- Added a rain garden to new construction (2021).
- Mission Outpost redistributes gently-used clothing and furniture.
- Mission Outpost Food Bank diverts tons of food waste away from landfill to compost.
- Received grant from Dakota County to upgrade recycle and organics receptacles (2022).
- "Church Mice" Men's group collects and recycles over 50 tons of waste metals.
Robin Riley's film JOURNEY OF HOPE documents how the Minneapolis congregation Mayflower United Church of Christ courageously forged the path to become energy sustainable by 2030. The film brings new insights into how faith organizations can tackle climate change issues and forge a new path for building sustainable communities of hope and promise. Robin was a member of the Creation Care Small Group of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Burnsville and since has moved to Colorado where he is pastor of Wheatland and Chugwater UMC and is a videographer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeRKsBH77BE&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=RobinRiley
JUST SOLAR: THE SHILOH STORY
A North Minneapolis Church and Mosque lead the way to provide solar energy and economic development to local residents. Source is MNIPL May 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okEv2J6MLRw&ab_channel=MinnesotaInterfaithPowerandLight
INTERFAITH POWER AND LIGHT'S STORY OF FAITH AND HOPE ON 24 HOURS OF CLIMATE REALITY
On September 16, 2014, Interfaith Power and Light of Minneapolis was featured as a story of hope in the face of climate change to a worldwide audience. The event sponsored by the Climate Reality Project showed off examples of how communities around the world are mobilizing to curb global warming. Two IPL congregations from the Twin Cities were profiled as models of faith in action for a safe climate. In the link below you can watch them installing solar panels, inviting youth leaders into the pulpit, planting vegetable gardens, holding a Native American blessing, and greening their facilities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKIXFLxMZhE&ab_channel=ClimateReality
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