Eco-project Overview
A growing number of congregations and faith-based organizations (e.g. camps) are engaged in sustained efforts to make their settings sustainable, educational, and inspiring. Below are examples of Iowa-based projects created with a focus on sustainability, climate change, resilience, ecological care, and/or education.
Start a Project
Feeling inspired to do something similar in your setting? Reach out to an organization’s contact person. If one isn’t listed, contact the organization’s office.
You can also connect with our team about your idea. We’d love to help you take the next steps!
Submit Your Project
Has your organization installed solar or a heat pump? Do you have a prairie, community garden, or bioswale on your property? Have your members worked together to increase resilience in your faith community and beyond? Tell us about your project using this form so we can add it to the map.
Iowa Faith-based Eco-project Map
- Solar Panels
- Heat Pump(s)
- Geothermal
- Energy Efficiency / Cool Congregations
- Prairie/Pollinator Garden
- Active Green Team
- Tree Planting
- Other
Our green team has been active since 2015, when Laudato Si', the letter of Pope Francis on Care for our Common Home, was published. We have done educational and worship events, eliminating styrofoam, recycling, composting, bulletin and Catholic Messenger articles, and interfaith partnerships. We celebrate the Season of Creation each year with Stations of the Cross with All Creation, a Peace Pole blessing ceremony, guest speakers & workshops, children's activities, and Sunday worship added prayers. Our church was built in 2009 with LEED Certification and geothermal HVAC. We just expanded this year, adding state of the art heat pumps and are planning solar in the coming years. We have a meditation path in the trees behind the building. This year we are establishing an online Laudato Si' Parish Plan with goals to Learn from the Earth, Hear the Poor, Live Simply, and Help Heal the Planet. The Plan includes a participation form/survey for individuals, families and parish organizations to register their commitment and share ideas, which you can see here: https://www.stmparishfamily.com/st--thomas-more-green-team
