Film Series
We had a great series of films last year, with more to come for this year. For more information about any of the films mentioned below, click here to email the Ministry for Earth.

Hot World, Cold Comfort
PBS video hosted by David Brancaccio. Recent evidence about the implications of melting glaciers for rising ocean levels. Talks to one coal-burning energy company that has voluntarily pledged to stabilize its greenhouse gas emissions.

Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America
By UU filmmaker, Jeff Barrie. The film details a search for solutions to some of the most urgent environmental problems of our day: mountain top removal [coal] mining, global warming, and childhood asthma.

The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream
Explores the American Way of Life and its prospects, as global demand for fossil fuels begins to outstrip supply.

Letter Writing
On many Sundays after church, the Ministry for Earth sets up a letter writing table to make it easier to convey your opinions on important environmental issues to legislators, policy makers, news media, and so on.

Visit the Texas Legislature Online at www.capitol.state.tx.us. From there, click How do I contact my legislator? to find out who represents you and how to contact them.

Recycling
The Computer Recycle Collection in January was a big success! We collected 24 computers, 18 monitors, 8 printers/scanners, and 4 boxes of keyboards, mice, speakers, and cables, saving them from the landfill. Donations were almost equally split between members and nonmembers. If you missed the collection at Emerson, you are welcome to drop off equipment to Techs and Trainers at their new address: 5933 Bellaire, #111 or check their website for collections at other locations. The systems are cleaned, checked out and distributed to senior citizens and people with disabilities.

Renewable Energy
A number of our members have elected to purchase their home electricity from Green Mountain Energy, which generates most of its power from giant wind mills located in Texas. To learn more, visit www.greenmountainenergy.com.

Wind Power For Your House Houstonians now have the ability to select their own electric power provider. One of the Texas Choice approved companies is Austin-based Green Mountain Power, which derives all its power from green resources, particularly from a giant, efficient wind-farm north of Dallas. To find out about the Texas Choice program, visit their website at www.powertochoose.com. From there you can link to Green Mountain Energy’s website.

To Compare Electric Power Providers in Houston, including those using renewable energy sources, click here to visit www.houstonconsumerchoice.com. Emerson Church has elected to buy its electricity from StarTex Power.

One of the credits toward our LEED Certification was to pay a premium for Wind Energy. Since no wind power was available for commercial buildings at that time, we paid our premium to The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA™), in Colorado. AWEA promotes wind energy as a clean source of electricity for consumers around the world. Visit www.awea.org to learn more.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica.