Green Team

The Green Team works on ways to help our congregation reduce its impact on the earth’s resources.

Projects Undertaken Thus Far:

• Energy Audit through Faith in Place
• Walk and Bike now Roll and Stroll Sundays
• Changing out over 100 lightbulbs to energy efficient bulbs
• Sponsoring Faith in Place speakers
• Helping to make church events sustainable
• Green Spots in the church newsletter
• Evaluation of possible solar installation
• Created a Rain Garden on the west side of the church. This sustainable project captures and moves storm water and sump pump outflow away from our building’s foundation and disperse it in an environmentally friendly and code-compliant manner. See pictures of the Rain Garden installation Click HERE>
• Summer Mulching for the gardens was applied in June 2020. One of our members, Joe Pomilia, volunteered to mow the grass himself this year so that the funds could be freed up to contract with a lawn care company for organic treatment of the grass. A benefit of mowing ourselves is that we are mowing when needed and not on a weekly schedule. Using the savings we paid Logic Lawncare to apply organic treatments to our lawn to help with weeds and to feed the soil. That combined  Clickwith the mowing and the rain has the west lawn looking very lush right now. Maybe you can consider some of these ideas for your home!
• In 2021 the Green Team planted a “pollinator strip” along the north fence line of the church. The space was full of day lilies which require minimum care but don’t provide a food source for bees and butterflies. The children have been given monarch butterfly kits to raise their own butterflies and watch them grow. Stop by and watch it grow!

• You can recycle poly padded envelopes, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, packing paper, and other mailing products for reuse. Bring them to St. Luke’s and place them in the containers located inside the alley doorway. The recycling is done by the entirely volunteer organization, EcoShip Chicago.  Learn more, including how to purchase recycled items, at their website, www.ecoship.org.

St. Luke’s Green Team is given a commendation by Go Green Park Ridge.