Holy Spirit Parish/Newman Center

Current Sustainable Practices

Below are the initiatives Holy Spirit Parish/Newman Center has completed on the Green Check scorecard.

Sustainability Management and Green Team

• Develop a written comprehensive sustainability plan.
• Designate a Sustainability Coordinator or Green Team responsible for managing sustainability initiatives.
• Hold quarterly Green Team meetings.
• Provide time for quarterly updates from Sustainability Coordinator in upper management meetings.

Awareness, Education, and Outreach

• Include sustainability tips in a monthly newsletter.
• Promote sustainability accomplishments in external marketing materials.
• Provide volunteers for community environmental events annually.
• Host an environmental event at your location.
• Attend a sustainability workshop.

Energy Efficiency

• Establish a power-down policy and checklist that includes items such as shutting off lights at night.
• Replace incandescent or CFL lights with LED lights – 25-50% replacement.
• Establish a regular filter maintenance policy for your HVAC system.
• Have your HVAC system evaluated every two years by a certified service provider.
• Install power strips and equipment to power down during non-business hours.
• Install programmable thermostats and use them to adjust temperature during unoccupied hours.
• Install occupancy sensors in bathrooms, meeting rooms and other infrequently used areas.
• Perform external lighting audit.
• Daylight work spaces wherever possible.

Waste Reduction and Recycling

• Implement a basic recycling program.
• Provide clearly marked recycling bins at work stations and/or in common areas. Recycling bins are paired with a waste bin.
• Train and require janitorial service or staff responsible for cleaning to segregate waste and recyclable materials.
• Use reusable mugs and dishware instead of disposable plates, cups, and utensils.
• Establish a policy for environmentally friendly printing such as two-sided printing, reusing copy paper, and electronic document sharing.
• Create a landfill diversion goal.

Water Quality

• Organize or participate in a storm drain stenciling.
• Establish a policy for proper disposal of fats, oils, and grease, distribute to staff, and post in key areas.
• Coordinate or participate in a community litter clean-up.
• Install outdoor ash trays to prevent cigarette litter, and make pocket ashtrays available to staff who smoke.

Urban Forestry and Landscapes

• Participate in a community reforestation project.
• Establish a native species-only replacement policy for tree and shrub planting.
• Remove all invasive species from property.

Sustainable Purchasing

• Establish a policy to purchase non-Styrofoam cups and plates for use at the workplace and at events.
• Establish a policy for purchasing locally, if available.

Transportation Efficiency

• Adopt a telecommuting option and make it available to employees.
• Install a bike rack with sufficient space for at least 10% of your employees.

Innovation

• Includes a “Care for Creation” tip of the week in the church bulletin.
• Organized a stream cleanup at Cumberland Falls.
• Leads tree walks around campus.
• Working with Habitat Restore in deconstruction process.