Carbon Neutrality Project, Diocesan Resolution R1-22

In the fall of 2022, Resolution R1-22 was put forward and passed at the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California Annual Convention. This resolution called for member parishes to create and submit a plan, by the end of 2024, to their respective Vestries or governing boards, for becoming carbon neutral by the year 2030.  This resolution was in support of carbon neutrality resolution A087 that was passed at the Episcopal Church General Convention in July of 2022.

What is Carbon Neutrality (CN)?  The burning of fossil fuels to create electricity or powering automobiles results in carbon dioxide (CO2) being released into the atmosphere. In a nutshell, to be Carbon Neutral, we must calculate the CO2 that is created due to the operation of the church and then take actions to absorb and/or offset an equal amount of CO2.

To assist in achieving the 2030 CN goal, the diocese created the Commission on the Environment (COE).  The COE provides tools as well as funding to help us in meeting this goal.

In simplest terms, the process is:

1.    Collect data and calculate how much CO2 is created by the operation of St. Stephen’s.

This is not an easy task, but the COE has partnered with outside resources to give us an online calculator that does the heavy lifting in calculating our CO2 creation. This is often referred to as our “Carbon Footprint” (CF).  I have already input a lot of this data and have an estimate of our CF. This will have to be updated periodically for changes such as when The Playground Café comes online.

2.  Minimize our Carbon Footprint.

The COE provided an assessment by Energy for Purpose to St. Stephen’s at no cost to us.  I met with the auditor and we toured the site and a comprehensive report was produced.  In short, the report recommends converting all our lighting to LED based fixtures, installing energy efficient heating/cooling systems, smart thermostats, purchasing our electricity from non-carbon emitting sources, etc.

3.  Install Solar Panels and/or purchase Carbon Offsets in quantities sufficient to balance against our CF.

I think everyone knows what a Solar Panel is but…What’s a Carbon Offset?   A Carbon Offset is a cash investment in companies/organizations that participate in activities that create clean energy or provide means of CO2 absorption from the atmosphere. Examples would be a company developing a solar panel farm or wind turbine installation.  Another would be an organization planting trees for re-forestation.  Carbon offsets are available for purchase and have a specific CO2 offset value. Purchasing Carbon Offsets would be the last step in bringing St. Stephen’s to a Carbon Neutral status.

At the January Vesty meeting I presented to the Vestry a more detailed outline of a plan to get St. Stephen’s to Carbon Neutrality by 2030. This fulfills the requirements of R1-22 that we committed to at the 2022 EDNC Convention.

Successful implementation and completion of the 2030 Carbon Neutrality project will require the development of a “Green Team” here at St. Stephen’s. The Green Team will partner with the Vestry in planning and working towards the 2030 goal.

My hope is that you will agree that this project is an important step in helping to fight climate change and that you will support the effort. If you have any interest in helping to define and participate on the St. Stephen’s Green Team, please contact me or Reverend Christy.

Best regards,

Marshall Ward, Treasurer