Kalamunda Uniting Church WA

The Kalamunda Uniting Church (KUC) has been part of the sustainable journey for at least two decades but the recent formation of a new Green Church group of members has prompted even more action. Located in Perth’s eastern hills, the congregation has existed since the late 1800s. Originally in a small building built from local stone, the congregation built a larger worship centre in the 1990s with many design features to combat the hot, dry summers. These included high ceilings with ventilation shafts, ceiling fans and minimizing the western frontage.

Since then, the congregation has installed solar panels – significantly reducing their power bills. Other building improvements include installing reverse cycle split system air conditioning units. These not only help cool in summer (still in conjunction with the fans) but also mean much more energy-efficient heating as they have replaced the old wall-mounted electric bar heaters. Further, the original lighting was upgraded recently and Green Church was able to influence the decision to install lower energy globes.

Cultural change in the congregation has been implemented by simple measures such as gently reminding building users of the need to ensure everything is turned off when leaving – and polite requests to not change the temperature settings on the air conditioners – a surprisingly difficult education task!

More visible and deeper cultural change has been happening by public participation in worship for Sustainable September. The desire to care for the world, God’s precious creation, has been specifically linked to sustainable environmental practice. To combat the very real sense of helplessness that individual action is not worthwhile, and the subsequent climate change despair, the focus has been on hope – both at a local level (eg planting sustainably with water-wise gardens) and offering opportunities to participate in nation-wide initiatives such as those promoted by the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRC).

The Green Church Group will continue to work raising awareness of the everyday sustainable actions people can action – both in the KUC buildings and in their own homes.