In typical homes, air conditioning uses more electricity than anything else—16% of total electricity used. Each degree below 78°F increases your energy use 3-4%. Reducing the amount of air-conditioning is where savings are—for energy and cost.

• A 2.5-ton size central system uses about
  3500 watts.
• A window unit uses 500 to 1440 watts.

• A floor fan uses 100 watts even on the highest speed.
• Ceiling fans use 15 to 90 watts depending on speed and size.

​

Using air-conditioning wisely
​​Air-conditioning is to keep people more comfortable, not empty buildings.

• Set your programmable thermostat to turn off when occupants leave for the day, and to turn back on a half hour before you get home. If you do not have a programmable thermostat, manually set the temperature higher when you will be away from home and back to 78 degrees or higher when you are at home.

Note: It is a myth that it takes less energy to run the AC all day instead of turning it off and on.  Running it all the time when you're away uses more energy.

• The air from ceiling fans sending a breeze to you can make you feel 3 to 8 degrees cooler, allowing you to run AC at a higher temperature and still feel as cool. Central AC costs 70 times more to run than a fan.
• Check and/or change the AC air filter so it keeps air flowing and reduces effects of summer wildfire smoke.
• Plant shade trees or shrubs on the west side of the condenser so it does not have to work as long in order to cool. Just don’t block the condenser air flow.

(Sources: https://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/cooling.html)
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/24/health/how-to-stay-cool-without-air-conditioning-wellness/index.html

Here are some Tips to stay cooler with less or no air-conditioning

Action of the Month for May

Composting is a kind of recycling. Compost, also known as humus, is the rich soil that the composting process creates from suitable combinations of

• Air
• Moisture
• Warmth
• Carbon as its energy food
• Nitrogen as its protein food

The composting process is a natural process that uses organic waste—waste that is from living things—as its carbon and nitrogen sources. Composting is a process used throughout history on all continents. You use finished compost to feed the soil so that the soil can feed the plants the nutrients they need at the time and rate they need them.

Basic Action: Turn your food waste and yard waste into compost to create new nutritious soil
 
Why would you want to compost?

• To grow a better garden with soil nutrients
• To provide a soil that absorbs and retains more moisture
• To correct a soil that has too much clay or is too sandy
• To use as a mulch to control weeds and hold moisture
• To reduce greenhouse gasses
• To keep food and yard waste out of the landfill
• To store carbon as soil

​Typically, 20% of household waste is food waste and that adds up to 80 billion pounds of food waste in the U.S. per year. If food waste goes into the garbage and on to the landfill, it turns into methane gas. Methane is a greenhouse gas 70 times more able to absorb heat from the sun than even carbon dioxide.
 
We have solutions for that!
Place your food waste into a compost container instead of a garbage container.

​You can compost in your home yard or you can use a commercial composting service to pick up food waste curbside on a regular basis. The service adds other ingredients, too, and creates compost from it. Much of the local commercial compost is used by local farms to improve their soil and your locally grown foods.
 
If you have not composted at home before, you will need to learn how to select a place for it; what materials the compost pile, bin, barrel, or rotary tumbler will need added to it to make compost; and the processes you use to mix the compost periodically for its moisture and temperature needs. Finished compost is a dark, crumbly texture with a sweet and earthy aroma.

Resources about using a commercial composting service, an easy way to compost food waste:

• Bozeman and Belgrade, MT, are served by both Happy Trash Can and YES commercial composting services. Happy Trash Can also serves Livingston and some extended areas and YES also serves Big Sky.
• Both have programs to pick up your food waste curbside on a regular schedule in one of their 5-gallon buckets they provide. Their monthly fees are similar—currently less than $20, depending on the service and the program.
• Both have the ability for their subscribers to receive a share of compost back. Because YES uses vermicomposting, using worms in the composting process, a subscriber can select to receive worm castings organic fertilizer or compost.
• Each service provides information about what items they do collect and what they cannot collect.

 
You can find out more about their services at their websites with the links that follow.

         Happy Trash Can

         YES

​Resources for pickup of yard waste for composting
 
The City of Bozeman Yard Waste Compost Collection is for customers of the City of Bozeman garbage pickup. They can pickup yard waste on a schedule during May to August. Check the link above for the details if you are a City of Bozeman garbage collection customer.
 
If you use a different collection service, contact yours to ask what their procedure is for collecting yard waste and composting it. And you can also check with YES commercial composting service about their yard waste pickup service.

​​Using compost once you make it or receive it back from a composting service

It’s also possible to make a compost liquid by placing a handful or two of compost into a piece of permeable fabric like cheesecloth or burlap. Pull the fabric edges together and tie it into a compost-filled ball. Place that in your garden watering can and fill with water. Let it sit and steep until it is amber-colored. Leave the ball of compost in the can while you sprinkle the liquid around your trees, shrubs, and garden plants. You can use the same ball of compost and refill your watering can so it can steep into amber-colored compost liquid two or three times before taking the compost ball out and spreading the remaining compost contents into your garden.

​Advanced Action: If you already compost your yard and food waste, Thank You! Thank you! Thank you! Your advanced action for this month is to talk to others about the benefits of composting and how to get started.

Action of the Month for April

​Birds provide humans with so many benefits. Their colors can be beautiful, their songs can bring us joy and peace, and their behaviors can inspire wonder and appreciation. Practically speaking, they help control insect populations, disperse seeds for plants we need, decrease the spread of disease by consuming carcasses, and pollinate plants we need and enjoy.

Basic Action: Protect birds from dangers that are human-caused

Birds need our help now! The Cornell Lab of Ornithology reports that nearly 3 billion birds have disappeared from the U.S. and Canada in the last 50 years. The population of 40% of bird species worldwide are decreasing, including over half of all prairie birds. One in eight species are threatened by extinction.
 
We can be part of the solution! We can make improvements in our own environments that can safeguard bird lives. Birds need our help in to reduce these three important dangers:

​50% of the collisions leave no evidence below the windows because many birds that strike windows fly off and die later of their concussions and internal injuries. They can suffer for days before the end. And if that bird is a parent, their young are likely to die as well without their care. Numerous robins and cedar waxwings die by collision.

Window collisions are preventable by making your windows visible to birds in order to prevent window strikes. Treat your windows that face bird feeders or good bird habitat first. Here are some easy and economical ways to reduce bird window strikes:

• Close blinds in rooms you are not actively using at the time and in rooms that get bird strikes.

Note: At night, close your home blinds and turn off lights you are not using, particularly in any rooms with skylights. Some birds use constellations to steer them on their migration paths and night lighting from inside and outside of buildings confuse their navigation abilities.

• Use window screens to alert birds to the presence of windows.
• Check these links to find possible ways to make windows noticeable to birds and avoid strikes.
  • Acopian birdsavers for window treatments you can buy or make yourself
  • Feather friendly products for residential, commercial, or do-it-yourself window treatment supplies
  • CollidEscape for a variety of window treatments

​
​Bird habitats
Bird habitats have been degrading and destroyed in grasslands, forests, oceans, and neighborhoods.

,Cats
​We love our pets. And one of the best ways to protect feline pets is to keep them safely indoors. This also protects the bird population. Free-roaming cats kill about 2 billion birds a year and have contributed to extinction of some species. Even well-fed cats kill birds, so they do not kill just because they need food.
 
Cat owners, there are some actions you can take to benefit both your pets and the birds outdoors. Bring your cats indoors so that they are not subject to danger from vehicles or other animals, and it will also protect the bird population. Neuter or spay cats. Bring strays to the animal shelter for care and to find good homes. If you are committed to your cat being outside, use a collar with a bell on it to warn birds or tie on a brightly-colored little neckerchief that will show birds their movements nearby. You can love your cat and love the birds.

Action of the Month for March
 
Basic Action:
In March, as we begin our season of Lent, our Action of the Month asks you to commit to reducing your transportation carbon footprint by 10%. This is like a tithe to honor God’s creation. The ELCA church’s Social Statement on Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice, asks us to be a community committed to the principles of sufficiency and sustainability. The Statement advocates for an environmental tithe and other measures to limit consumption and reduce waste.
 
Examples below can help you achieve the 10% reduction of your transportation footprint.

Reduce vehicle engine idling – When your car idles, you are using gasoline to achieve 0 mpg! Idling more than a minute or two uses more gas than starting your car, except in the case of hybrids. Where can you reduce the amount of gasoline waste when you are not moving?

• Are there times when your car is on and no driver is in it?
• Is it idling it while someone runs into the store?
• In the carwash? 
• Waiting for a train to cross?
• While dropping off your recycling?
• Waiting for a friend to come out and join you?

Minimize air travel
The average domestic commercial flight in 2019  emitted 0.39 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents per passenger mile. How many miles did you fly in 2021? Multiply that by 0.39 to calculate your share of carbon emissions. from flying.

• Can you fly 10% less this year?
• If you must fly, can you use a bus or an airport shuttle from the airport to your lodging instead of a rental car?

Check to see your progress.
Compare your gasoline expenditures or frequency of fill-ups.

• If you typically save your gasoline receipts each month, you will be able to compare your March expenditures with previous months. You can also track your miles flown and compare those with past miles flown per month.
• Or can you go more days before filling your vehicle with fuel? If you filled up every 10 days and now can make it to 11 days, that can show a 10% savings.

 
In these days of higher transportation fuel costs, using these methods to save on transportation use can also save you money.

​DID YOU KNOW…
The transportation sector is the largest source of carbon emissions in the U.S. and creates about 1/3 of our annual global warming emissions. It is also a major source of air pollution. Low-income communities of color are especially impacted by living close to major highways, warehouses, airports, and ports where the air pollution is higher. (Source: Sierra Club 2021 Summer Newsletter, “What We Want for the Next Generation” by Michael Brune)

Advanced action:
Make a big reduction by choosing to reduce dependence on fossil fueled transportation in a big way. If it is time for a shop for a newer car, upgrade to an alternative fuel vehicle—electric or hybrid—or one that has significantly higher miles per gallon fuel efficiency than your previous model.

For February, the month in which we celebrate Valentine’s Day and Love, our Action of the Month is to contact four (4) either individuals or organizations—business, non-profit, or public sector organizations—and express thanks to them for something they have done as a practice or a policy that helps protect our environment. You can communicate your message through your choice of email, phone call, or written note.
 
Need ideas? Here are a few examples to think about as you consider your choice of recipients: More examples are included when you open the link below.

• Persons working on local, state, national, or international level environmental policy that reduces or sequesters carbon, reduces plastic pollution, protects wildlife, and/or supports food security
• Non-profit groups advocating policies or practices that protect the Earth
• Businesses that have promoted practices that reduce carbon, reduce plastic pollution, protect wildlife, and/or support food security

 
More examples of friends of the environment – click here
 
What are some things you can mention?

• You can thank them for their commitment and the hope that they inspire in you.
• You can express your appreciation for their making a difference and ask them to continue their efforts.
• You can tell them some positive action you took because of their influence.

 
And, after you send your messages to them, please say a prayer to ask blessings on them and their continuing actions.
 
Advanced option: Go ahead and send to additional people or organizations.

​If you have been participating in Creation Care’s Action of the Month Program during October, November, and/or December, we would like your feedback about your use of the program. The announcement of the January Action of the Month follows this questionnaire.
 
We are not asking for your name or any identifying information. We are interested in our levels of involvement across our group of participants for these three months. We would like to report back to the congregation the kinds of steps that are being taken by our respondents to care for creation by caring for the Earth.
 
There are five (5) items to answer. For each item, please click any of the checkboxes that show an answer that applies to you. You can check multiple boxes for each item if they apply.
 

Action of the Month for January

Basic Action
Choose to eat no meat on at least one day each week.

With drought conditions here in Montana, water conservation is so important. Did you know that It requires 2500 gallons of water and 5 pounds of grain to make one pound of beef? (Source: footnote #1)
​
Beef is one of the most water-intensive foods. Shifting away from animal products to a plant-based diet can shrink your water footprint significantly. (Source: https://learn.eartheasy.com/guides/45-ways-to-conserve-water-in-the-home-and-yard/)
 
If residents of the thirty-six countries who are members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, which includes North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel, practiced just one meatless day each week, the world would gain 120 million tons of grain which could be used to feed the hungry this year.” (Source footnote #2) Think of the difference weekly Meatless Mondays (or any other day of the week) could make to feed the hungry.

DID YOU KNOW...

Michael Pollan, well-known author, journalist, and Professor of Science and Environmental Journalism, observed that the average nine ounces of meat eaten per day per American is a significant part of the carbon footprint. While there is a place for meat eating, he says, it’s tinier than what we consume now. He recommends cutting down on meat, even if you do not eliminate it entirely. His opinion is that this change in diet is more important than anything else that you do to tackle climate change—and that we do need more vegetarians than we currently have. (Source footnote #3)

Advanced Action for those already eating meatless one or more days per week

If you already eat meatless one day or more a week and eat eggs and dairy, on one of your weekly meatless days  eat a plant-based diet without eggs or dairy.

Find out more…
tips-about-eating-meatless.pdf Click here
Find out more about meat alternatives, plant-based proteins, and recipes on this tips page.

1  Rogers, Elizabeth, & Kostigen, Thomas, M. (2007). The Green Book, New York: Three Rivers Press. p. 69.
2  Jahren, Hope (2020). The Story of More. Publisher p.50.
3 Ebersole, Rene, (2014). Food Fight. Audubon Magazine, November-December, 2014, p. 61.

Action of the Month for December
 
Basic Action
Installing and using a programmable thermostat properly is one of the easier ways to save energy and money and help fight the global change of climate. It allows pre-programmed settings to regulate the temperature of your residence in both winter and summer. In winter, use one setting when you are home awake. Use a lower one when you are asleep or away from home. U The point of using heat is to keep people comfortable, not empty houses. Set it for colder when you will be sleep or away from home for 8 hours or more.

A WiFi thermostat, sometimes referred to as a Smart thermostat, can be used as part of a home automation feature to control heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in a home.

If you shop for a programmable or WiFi thermostat, look for a model with the EnergyStar label. You can view a video about choosing an EnergyStar thermostat ahead of your purchase.
 
If you are a qualified Montana NorthWestern Energy residential customer, you can look for either electric or natural gas rebates for a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat. Learn about their rebate programs for these thermostats, and download their forms from the above link to apply.
 
After installing your programmable or WiFi thermostat, experiment to find your best minimal heating needs for when you are home awake and for when you are home asleep. You can start your experimental settings with 68 degrees during the day and 55 degrees at night. If you want, you can try moving it up or down from there. Many people set their heat to 55 degrees at night programming their thermostat 10 to 15 degrees lower for the eight sleeping hours.
 
If you use more than one thermostat in your home because you have heating or cooling zones, you will need a programmable thermostat for each zone. Your advantage is that you may be able to significantly reduce heating or cooling to zones that are not currently in use—for example, the kids’ bedrooms when they are away at college or a guest area not in use.
 
Switching from a traditional thermostat to a programmable or WiFi thermostat can leave you with the warm feeling of knowing you are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and taking a part in improving the environment for generations to come. 

Tips-for-programmable-thermostats.pdf

Advanced Actions for those already using a programmable or WiFi thermostat:
If you are running your sleep setting and/or away-from-home thermostat setting at 57 degrees or higher, try lowering your thermostat settings in the winter by at least 2 degrees lower than you used before. Check out the tips at the link above, too.
-or-
Help a friend install a programmable thermostat.

Action of the Month for November

Between Thanksgiving to New Year’s, household waste typically increases by over 25%. This includes food and items used to serve and eat with, gift packaging, decorations, and more.
 
It’s time to start preparing for the holidays. For this month’s action, look through the list of the six Basic Action categories below and select one to work on this month.
 
Basic Action Categories--Choose one with some items that are new for you

Saving Energy

• Switch your inside and outside holiday lights to Energy Star rated LEDs. Use a timer to run outside Christmas lights in early evening, not overnight.
  If you are a NorthWestern Energy residential customer, check out their rebates on LED strings of holiday lights and on timers. Download their form before you go shopping so you know what to look for.
• Purchase gifts from local sources to save the need for longer transportation to reach you.
• Combine multiple errands into a single trip.

​Freeing up space: Find good homes for good items you no longer will use

• Have fun with a gift exchange of homemade products, used games, or used books.
• What you are still storing but no longer use? Is it in a good enough condition that others could want to use it? It’s a good time to pass along new or gently used items to thrift stores or groups that can use them.
• Can older electronic items be recycled?