Berean Baptist Church

February's Creation Care Theme: Water Heaters

Scripture:

Job 38:8-11

8 "Who shut up the sea behind doors

when it burst forth from the womb,

9 when I made the clouds its garment

and wrapped it in thick darkness,

10 when I fixed limits for it

and set its doors and bars in place,

11 when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther;

here is where your proud waves halt'?

ABC STATEMENT

The image of God within us makes it possible for people to be aware and responsive to God's self-revelation in the creation. We have the gift of God

which enables us to perceive and reflect upon the life within us and around us. The distinctive human vocation is to bring creation's beauty and order to

consciousness and to express God's image within us by caring for the creation. In the ability God has given us to make choices also lies inherent danger. We

can choose to disobey, to be irresponsible, to disrupt and disturb the peaceable relationship of creature and creation. We can choose to use nature's resources only for what we perceive is our own immediate interest.

Such action is sin. It is a violation of the basic covenant wherein we are called to stewardship. It is an unfaithful refusal of the responsibility entrusted to us. Often we tend to think of sin in terms of individual actions. Yet decisions and actions which we make as groups, communities and societies constitute corporate sin. These corporate decisions and actions reflect values and interests which conflict with the vision of shalom and ecojustice consistent with created order. Our task is to discern the conflict and to choose ways of living which build an eco-just community and world.

Fact:

Water heaters may not be the most exciting energy device out there, but they’re certainly important. In a typical home, they account for 20% of energy use, and even more if you live in a warmer climate (average of 35% in California, for instance).  The most efficient combustion heaters can save 50% compared to standard models, while a solar water heater could cut 80% or more from your annual water heating bill.

Pasted from <http://www.lowimpactliving.com/blog/category/environmental-impact-calculator/>

The average US household generates over 45,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year, counting both household and transportation uses (assuming a single family home, and two cars)10. While most attention has been focused on the cars we drive, household emissions (through electricity, natural gas, etc...) are often at least as much as those given off by our cars. Of the 45,000 pounds above, 25,000 come from home-based energy consumption. So buying a hybrid car certainly helps, but so does making your home as energy-efficient as possible.

Pasted from <http://www.lowimpactliving.com/pages/your-impacts/global-warming2>

 Commitment:

Immediate - take shorter showers.  Don't let the water run when you are washing the dishes.  Check out the water heater in your home.  Set your water heater to 120 degrees F, which will produce plenty of hot water and still save energy.  Wrap your water heater with a water heater blanket, especially if it's in an unheated area of your home.  The blanket could save you up to 10 percent on water heating  costs.  (Some newer models are so well insulated that you don't need to wrap them.  Check first to see if adding an insulating blanket to your water heater will affect the warranty).  Conserve hot water by installing water-saving showerheads.

Long Term - High- efficiency water heaters.  One can also purchase 'tankless' water heaters - and they can reduce energy consumption up to 20%.  Even better, install a solar water heater to reduce energy use and cut down on pollution.

Daily Prayer:

Holy God, with the waters of baptism you have claimed us as your children.  Give us the commitment, as we heat the water that washes us, to use energy and your precious water as you would have us.  Amen. 

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Last modified: 04/13/11