This document provides tips and suggestions for individuals and workplaces to reduce their environmental impact through small lifestyle changes and establish more sustainable practices. It encourages turning off lights and electronics when not in use, installing insulation, line drying clothes, growing gardens, recycling, using less water and toxic chemicals, and choosing more sustainable transportation options. The document advocates that making simple adjustments together can help address issues like climate change and benefit the environment.

1. Mercy Taking Action
A Call to Live Out
Mercy’s Critical Concerns

2. Acting in Harmony
With All Creation
Together…we can
make a difference!

3. Earth is suffering.
Climate change and global
warming are caused by carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Making a few simple changes at home
and work can help.

4. Pay attention…
 Turn off lights when you leave a room.
 Turn off/unplug appliances when not in
use.
 Set your heat at 68, and A/C at 74.

5. Choose…
 If every American home replaced 5
frequently used lights with energy
efficient bulbs resulting savings would be
close to $8 billion each year in energy
costs and lower greenhouse gases
equivalent to the emissions from nearly
10 million cars.

6. An environmentally friendly home…
 Insulate home and seal windows and
doors.
 When upgrading appliances, replace with
energy efficient ones and dispose of the
old ones properly.
 Line dry your clothes.

7. Earth-friendly eating…
 Grow a garden. Compost.
 Buy organic food.
 Get at least 10% of your food from local
farmers.

8. Recycle!
 Find your local recycling center and
check what products they accept.
 Store leftovers in airtight containers and
recycle the original package.
 Buy glass containers instead of plastic
and recycle them.

9. Check those cupboards…
 Buy products made from recycled
materials (toilet paper, paper, etc.)
 Avoid buying “disposable” items (diapers,
razors, Styrofoam/paper cups and plates,
lighters, napkins, etc.)
 Use cloth shopping bags.

10. The precious resource of water…
 Letting your faucet run for 5 minutes uses as
much energy as a 60-watt bulb running for 14
hours.
 Only run water as needed while:
– Brushing teeth
– Washing dishes
– Watering yard / garden - best to water in the evening
– Washing car
 A bath requires 70 gallons of water while a
shower uses 10-25 gallons.

11. Reduce the use of “toxics”:
Chlorofluorocarbons - (CFC’s)
 Look for “ozone or Earth-friendly”
products (cleaners, hair sprays,
detergents, etc).
 Eat one meatless meal a week.
 Walk, carpool or ride a bike. If you
must drive, reduce your speed.

12. Workplace Recycling
 MAKE IT FUN!!! Encourage creative ideas!
 Go paperless when possible.
 Provide regular dishes, cup/glasses instead of
plastic or styrofoam.
 Have every employee keep a recycle box under
their desk.

13. Workplace Recycling
 Have recycle bins to sort the waste from
lunches.
 Recycle all cans/plastic – do not use
Styrofoam…it is not recyclable.
 Buy office products made from recycled
materials (ink cartridges, copy paper,
envelopes, etc)…and recycle them.

14. Together we CAN change the World!
“…the adage ‘Never too
old to learn’ is a great
comfort to me.”
~Catherine
McAuley

15.  To find out more about the organization, or to
purchase a copy of the song go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFy54NmYPyc
 100% of the money from the song “Together
We Can Change The World” goes back to the
Ugandan orphans who inspired its creation.

16. Join With us!
Become a Mercy advocate for Earth
www.sistersofmercy.org/advocacysignup
Check out other Mercy resources
www.sistersofmercy.org/mercytakingaction

17. Mercy Taking Action |
Small Group Process Module
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