"A Green ReCreation Center!"

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers-the moon and the stars you set in place.

What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?

Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.

You gave them charge of everything you made,

Putting all things under their authority-

The flocks and the herdsAnd all the wild animals,

The birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,

And everything that swims the ocean currents.

PSALM 8:3-8

Being in charge of something also means that you must “care” for what you have been given charge over. These verses started me thinking…. how are we doing with our “care” for what He has given us here at Washington Cathedral? I mean… we have this wonderful, new ReCreation Center that God has given us charge over to build for Him. Have we taken great “care” inbuilding it?

Well, I didn’t have to go very far to get some answers to my questions since my husband, Bruce, stepped up to answer God’s call for someone to manage the project. He was a great source of information, so I thought I’d share it with you today. But then… I had one more thought… “maybe you’re not the only one with this thought, Naomi.” So I searched out a dear sister in Christ, Sara Clark, who I know loves God’s creation. Sara and I have a few things in common. We both love to worship Jesus through music! We are both allergic to wheat, milk & soy (bummer). And we’re both dedicated recyclers (Go Green!). So here’s what we both came up with:

Some Green Aspects of Washington Cathedral's ReCreation Building

1. We've chosen to build our building into the hillside for major energy efficiency both in the winter and the summer. And we’ve really insulated our new building.
   
2. We've used recycled materials in our linoleum, auditorium flooring & wall paneling.
   
3. We've invested greatly in storm water retention and water quality facilities to minimize the impact of water runoff on the environment. The design of these storm water ponds combines engineering requirements with aesthetics to create natural looking landscape features for the Community. Our runoff is released at a rate that corresponds to an old growth forest; is re-circulated in water features; or is used in irrigation.
   
4. Rainwater and well water will be used for irrigation, which reduces our use of precious Community drinking water resources.
   
5. We've incorporated low maintenance landscaping that reduces the amount of energy needed formaintenance and lowering our fertilizer requirements.
   
6. We've used energy efficient lighting throughout the building, making use of motion sensing and light sensing systems to maximize energy efficiency.
   
7. We've incorporated energy recovery systems in our heating system to reduce energy use.
   
8. We've aesthetically designed a trash storage building that drains to the sewage system to preventcontamination of run off from waste materials.
   
9. We're using recycled concrete blocks, which eliminates concrete waste and destruction of the environment.
   
10. Our windows are Low E glazed energy efficient windows.
    
11. We designed our site to be sensitive to the steep slope and stream to the east of our property.
    
12. We lovingly participated in neighborly green activity by designing the parking lot along our southern border to include landscape buffers of trees and vegetation for our neighbors.
    
13. Our parking lot light design was chosen to minimize light pollution for the Community.
    
14. Local materials were used in our project. The concrete, wood, retaining wall blocks, gravel and paving…which make up the bulk of the projects weight, were all manufactured locally.
    

Pastor Naomi & Sara Clark