St. Louis, MO-Everyone knows about Al Gores efforts to promote awareness about global warming and sustainable living. However, much of the grass roots leadership of this movement is coming from progressive churches and other organizations like the First Unitarian Church of St. Louis (First Unitarian) which will illuminate its Christmas tree this year for the first time using energy-efficient LED Christmas lights.
The First Unitarian, organized in 1835, will illuminate its 12' live Christmas tree this evening with over 1800 LED Christmas lights. The church decided to switch to LED Christmas lights as a part of the First Unitarian's ‘Green Sanctuary Program", a national effort by the First Unitarian Church to promote sustainable practices throughout its congregations. "I think it is really important that organizations like ours provide some leadership for our communities with respect to responsible environmental practices," said Donna Agah, a member of the First Unitarian Church and one of the leaders of the St. Louis congregations green movement. "The LED Christmas lights are great and the church will save a lot of money on electricity this year, but this is really only one of many things we are doing," added Agah.
The First Unitarian also has a comprehensive recycling program; uses no paper products for its dining events; has changed to all fluorescent lights; and is working toward a complete organic waste recycling program. "It's really encouraging and inspiring to see organizations like the First Unitarian leading the charge in promoting environmentally sustainable practices," said Philip C. Curtis, co-owner of HolidayLEDS.com, the company who supplied the LED Christmas lights to the church.
The minister of the St. Louis First Unitarian Church, Suzanne P. Meyer, actively preaches and promotes discussion in her congregation about environmentally sustainable practices. "She's really done an excellent job of driving this movement in our congregation," said Agah. Minister Meyer will officiate the ‘Hanging of the Green' ceremony tonight which will include a dinner, a tree lighting ceremony, holiday decorating, and a visit from Santa.
Safety was also a major consideration in the First Unitarian's decision to switch to LED Christmas lights. "The decision to switch to LED Christmas lights was based on environmental and safety concerns," Agah advised. The highly efficient LED Christmas lights consume about 85% less energy than standard incandescent Christmas lights, will last for over 100,000 hours, and operate at only 1 degree above ambient temperature so they are much safer than traditional Christmas lights.
LED Christmas lights can be purchased online at http://www.stltoday.com/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLK7D/www.holidayleds.com. To learn more about the First Unitarian Church of St. Louis and its environmental programs visit its website at http://www.stltoday.com/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLK7D/www.%20www.firstuustlouis.org.
