As though it wasn’t enough to lead a service, Green Team continued the message in Gore Hall. The Go Green Mini-Fair shared information about solar by Mary D. and Energy Ideas (ideas and ways to apply for IRA monies) for your home by Lisa R., Zero Waste products by Debbie M. and Lisa-Marie and fresh vegetables and seeds at the Mystic Grove table. If you want any additional information about these topics, ask Mary D. to connect you.
Children and adults created art after Service in the Garden. Bev A. created the 8th Principle chalice and Lisa Marie ,a lifelong equesterian, shared her charcoal on paper titled Serenity and a digital piece titled “Wide Web.”
The Ready, Set, Solar program on Sunday explained the 30 percent federal tax credit available for nonprofits to help reduce the overall costs of installing solar energy for their buildings. The program was hosted by Solar United Neighbors of Florida (SUN) and the interfaith Environmental Alliance of Central Florida and took place in our 1U Sanctuary and on line.
Heaven Campbell of SUN also explained that Solar United will assist each nonprofit through the energy audit process and the paperwork. Mary Dipboye and Michael Cohen of the 1U Green Team, founders of the Florida Solar cooperative initiatives, and greeted attendees and helped during the question and answer period.
Very interesting were the questions at the end of the program which displayed high interest in reducing utility bills and going solar. Everybody thanks 1U’s tech team for great sound and support.
1U was there from beginning to end-Ready Set Solar Program on April 30, Solar Coop for Orange County Sign up, information about our liberal and energy conscious church and members, Right to Clean Water petitions at the League of Women Voters of Orange County table (350 petitions collected), and the Coalition of 100 Black Women table working with 1U on air quality as well as quality of life issues for the Parramore area, the Farmworkers of Apopka and Ten Thousand Villages.
We were able to offer free booth space because the organizer of the Earth Day Festival is Vegetarians of Central Florida who has hosted a monthly potluck at 1U for many years. As a thanks to 1U, 1U receives a free both at VegFest and Earth Day and invites us to give free booth space to a few organizations aligned with our mission.
A special thanks to our Volunteers: Mary wrote: Thank you for being an amazing team of 20+ for Earth Day 2023.We were blessed with your energy and good will as you brought the good news of 1U to hundreds at the Festival. Children and families so enjoyed the children’s activities and offer of seeds for planting and our new church brochure and our fans were a great gift for visitors.
Earth Day on April 22 at Lake Eola scheduling and the final preparation for the Green Service on the first Sunday in May as well as the GO GREEN Mini-Fair after service kept the Green Team occupied at the April meeting.
Reminder about the Ready, Set, Solar Workshop being held at First Unitarian in the Sanctuary on April 30 at 3pm-5pm which is designed to inform churches and nonprofits how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) federal program can reduce the cost of solar. Chris Castro, an old Green friend from the city ofOrlando, will speak as the new Chief of Staff for Office of State and Community Energy Programs at the U.S. Department of Energy about federal incentives.
On Sunday, Feb 19, “Empowering Food Security” was the theme of the event sponsored by the Interfaith Environmental Allianceof Central Florida in the historic Black neighborhood of Paramore.
Over 20 persons attended including 1U members Michael and Cindy C, Beth T., Laura S., Wende P. and Mary D.
The first part of the event consisted of a tour of Infinite Zion Farms led by co-founder, Raymond Warthen, a fifth generation Black farmer, working to address food insecurity.
The second part of the event was a discussion led by Aminah Hamidullah at the school she founded called Knowledge for Living on Paramore Avenue. Aminah has offered courses for 20 years to the neighborhood residents that are designed to impart life skills. Also, she has secured scholarship funds for youth going to college and other post high school training programs.
The Green Team (GT) will be discussing the past and possible future involvement of Interfaith Power and Light’s in Florida at their January meeting (2nd Sunday of the month). This information may be relevant to a Green Sanctuary project. Becoming a “Cool Congregation” is another possible initiative for the congregation.
During the discussion of the The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), an excellent guide for energy information for households called Go Electric was shared. It is on the website Rewiring Electric; the link to the guide is here.
Question: Do you know about heat pump use in Florida? Come share your experience next meeting. What are the benefits and costs for households and are they a viable energy reduction choice?
SAVE the DATE: Sunday, April 30 (3 to 5 pm). Green Team, along with Interfaith Environmental Alliance of Central Florida and Solar United Neighbors of Florida will host a meeting in the 1U Sanctuary to share the most up-to-date IRA information with the Orlando faith community.
The 1U tent was up and ready early Saturday at Central Florida Veg Fest in the Orlando Festival Park. It was an adventurous day of colorful exhibits, activities and food! Veg Fest, now in its 17th year, is one of the biggest and best vegan festivals in the country! It is presented by Vegetarians of Central Florida. And, next door to 1U was the League of Women Voters reminding everybody to GET OUT to VOTE.
The event was coordinated by Mary Dipboye, leader of the Green Team. May thanks to her and all the volunteers who turned out to support our presence at this important event: Joan E, Martha and John H, Charlotte K, Lori M, Lisa M, Toni M, Drew M, Justine M, Joan N, Wende P, Judith S, and Yvonne V.
The Green Team met the second Sunday at noon. They reviewed the status of ongoing projects and heard from Michael C. about the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as it relates to individuals and nonprofits. A program is scheduled for February 2023.
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