Guidelines on Green Houses of Worship

materials, fixtures and other resources that they are in the dozens of millions. These Introduction reduce negative impacts and create houses of worship can become minarets of positive ones on our climate and natural sustainability and examples of how environment. religious beliefs demonstrate the concept of stewardship and human responsibility The building sector alone is responsible for A House of Worship is a building or a towards the environment, in the same 40% of the annual energy consumption and structure especially constructed or symbol of the religion, i.e. the house of nearly 30% of all energy-related converted into a place where individuals or worship. greenhouse gas (GHG) emission1. Buildings a group of people perform religious rituals in general do not only consume energy, but of devotion. Such houses of worship can also water, produce wastewater and solid occupy a land as small as few meters to waste as well as one of the main reasons structure and facilities that expand for for mining sand, quarries and other thousands of acres. Temples, monasteries, extractives. churches, synagogues and mosques are

examples of such structures. Throughout The concept of green buildings is as old as history, these houses of worship were the first building was constructed. among the first buildings to be constructed Traditionally, home owners wanted to in a human settlement. have the best aeration system for their dwellings, the best natural light and a small Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixybay plot of land to grow their own food needs. There have been some attempts to count It is for this reason; this publication has In recent history, due to the negative how many houses of worship for each of been developed to showcase some impact of urbanization on the the religions currently exist, but no credible successful examples from religions around environment, the concept of green study could give precise numbers. Some the world on their greening efforts of their buildings has been developed to encourage resources indicate that there are around 37 houses of worship and provide some useful home owners to integrate some design million churches, 4 million mosques, 20 references and tips to build or transform a elements to minimize the impact on the thousand synagogues and hundreds of environment and use construction millions of temples2. But, with no doubt

1 UNEP sustainable Building and Climate Initiative 2 UNEP’s Faith for Earth Foresight Brief 008.

2 house of worship to be green and 3- Ensure energy efficiency of the contribute to achieving sustainability. The mission is to unite all faiths around the buildings including solar supply of value of care for our common home by energy, to the sacred space and inspiring, educating, and equipping all the neighboring community. The Living Chapel and people to live and act in harmony with the Retrofitting to reduce energy loss Living Sacred Spaces natural world. The Living Chapel was made in existing buildings. a reality by joining many important 4- Ensure water efficient space, with partners such as the Dicastery For Integral water recycling by using grey water Human Development of the Vatican, FAO, for the trees and use water Inspired by the United Nations 2030 UNEP, and many others. The initiative was efficient faucets. Agenda for Sustainable Development and founded by Julian Darius Revie Founder 5- Establish organic farms within the Pope Francis’s landmark environmental and Creative Director. premises of the living space as encyclical, Laudato Si’, a global team of much as the space can handle, architects, artists and musicians have The Faith for Earth Initiative is discussing including roof top gardening and created a Living Chapel as a place of serene with the partners, and others interested, vertical gardening. harmony between nature, humanity, and the launch of the Living Sacred Spaces 6- Solid waste management system in God. The Living Chapel was launched on Initiative. The initiative will encourage place, recycling and reuse of the world Environment Day on 5th June Houses of Worship to integrate a holistic recyclable materials. 3 2020 at the Rome Botanical Garden . approach in greening its buildings and 7- Encourage green preaches – On integrate the following elements: holidays, Sunday, Fridays, etc. 8- Promote green faith celebrations 1- Planting trees in the premises of such as green Ramadan, Green the sacred space and by the sacred Christmas, etc. space in the community. 9- Provision of a space for interfaith 2- Become a nursery to distribute to activities/worship. locals with a hired plantation expert - generating income for The Living chapel at Rome Botanical Garden 5 June 2020 locals– or enhancing the skills of the guardian of the sacred space.

3 https://livingchapel.com/

What is Green House To build up green houses of worship of Worship? is to have religious sites engage in eco-friendly practices of worship, sustainably design and construct All faiths teach to revere and take buildings, and most impactfully, to good care of nature and the act as a centre of sustainable environment. Houses of worship, lifestyles and teachings within churches, mosques, synagogues, communities. The engagement on temples, etc., often serve as the green issues is a journey that unfolds Rooftop of Annunciation Byzantine Catholic spiritual centre for communities. gradually. What you can do depends Church, photo from its website When these focal sites preach about on where you are starting from. sustainability, believers will learn to become increasingly environmentally conscious in their daily lives. Therefore, the work done in and around the houses of worship will have great influence. 1) Host a roundtable of all interested partners/ congregants/ worshippers to discuss about the need to Ginkaku ji Temple copyright by Pixybay implement sustainable practices, why it is important, and what it means to be a green house of worship. Form a “Green Where to Start？ Committee” with dedicated members.4 A mosque in Istanbul Copyright Pixybay

4 ARC. 2015. Green Temples Guide.

2) If possible, conduct an  The Green Church Initiative environmental assessment of (Christianity) the house of worship. This can  Church of England – Shrinking give a better idea of what the the Footprint (Anglican) house of worship is already doing positively and which significant  Eco-Church (Christianity)

environmental issues can be  Eglise Verte (Christianity) tackled later. 3) Discuss and communicate with Photo from Temple Israel of Boston  Daoism Ecological Temple Network (Daoism) other practitioners that have The Green Team of Temple Israel of implemented similar Boston took in charge of reducing the  Green Ramadan Initiative – ISNA programmes. Think of related carbon footprint, educating the (Islam) organisations you can partner congregation about environmental  Green Mosques Initiative – with and learn together. responsibility, and facilitating the Morocco (Islam) 4) Propose realistic measures and communication with communities opt for better ecological and professional agencies. It consists  Environmentally Friendly practices in the house of of a group of congregants, clergy and Mosque Initiative – worship. A strategic plan will staff. Environmental Green Horizons vary on several factors including Society (Islam)

size, budget, number of Umbrella organization/  Green Mosques in Jordan (Islam) worshippers, geographic Initiatives on Green Houses of location, etc.  Indonesia Councial of Ulema Worship: Green Mosque Initiative (Islam) 5) Start a fund or trust to financing improving the sustainability of  Eco-Temple Community  Green Gurdawa – Eco-Sikh your house of worship. Development Project (Sikhism) (Buddhism)  Green Temples Guide

 Green Churches Network – (Interreligious) Canada (Christianity)  Interreligious Eco-Justice

 Green the Church (Christianity) Network (Interreligious)

See the sources and specific guides 1) Include the importance of on established strategies and sustainable living in regular examples of religious practices and sermons or preaches. green buildings in the next two Disseminate statements, add sections. However, there is no single prayers, take meditations, or sing applicable blueprint and we hymns about caring for nature. encourage people to be creative and Draw inspiration from religious work within their specific contexts. texts.

2) Organise congregations and Photo from Pixabay celebrations on environmental Toolkits for Eco-friendly themes and on special days such EcoMENA provides tips for a Green Religious Practices as Earth Day, World Environment Ramadan to Muslims: reduce food Day, World Car Free Day, etc. waste, save water during making Organized activities can be ‘Wudu’, reject disposable cutlery and Perhaps you are currently unable to cleaning up parks, car-free so forth. “green” your religious facilities for Sunday, tree-planting, spiritual various reasons. However, having outings, etc. sustainable lifestyles pervade in 3) Make sure all your worship and Pleasley Forest Church nestles within religious sites and communities is a gathering activities are low-noise, the ancient boundaries of Sherwood milestone for greening the house of low-pollution, and low-emission. Forest, Mansfiled. There is no worship as well. There are many ways For instance, encourage people to building, for nature is the cathedral, to raise awareness and offer tips to walk or cycle to worship, save the sky and stars its rafters, the grass your members through religious water during ablution, etc. its floor and the trees its pillars. practices. There are other ways the 4) If you are considering People meet to have spiritual senses house of worship can become the constructing a novel house of awakened by connecting with nature focal point for environmental worship, why not try a ‘spiritual in the worship of the Creator. engagement of communities. forest church’ or alike? Get

creative! Green Worship

3) Involve religious-affiliated schools with more environmental education in the curriculum.

4) Start a ‘green group’ in a house of worship which leads worship, carries out green actions, holds workshops on sustainable lifestyle, and perhaps even writes Photo from UNESCO Pleasley Forest Church, photo from its green articles for publications. website

Longshan Temple reduces the use of incense and find more eco-friendly alternatives for traditional incense.

Education & Awareness Photo from Pixabay Raising St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary School,

1) Prepare educational materials a Catholic mission school, gets Photo from TMO

including signs, leaflets, posters engaged in Sandwatch Project by River Oaks Islam Center in Houston and newsletters for devotees. UNESCO, which seeks to develop delegates a ‘green team’ to grow awareness of the fragile nature of the individual efforts for making a 2) Establish and support marine and coastal environment and sustainable difference in their programmes to train religious the need to use it wisely. communities. They remind teachers, future religious leaders congregants of the Islamic imperative and general followers on to act as stewards of the earth and to sustainability. take care of all of God’s creatures.

An ecology programme led by the Protestant Church of South India 2) Organize or facilitate the (C.S.I.) is reaching teachers, clergy, cooperation on environmental students and children with education affairs among different faith- about leading healthy lives, based organizations and secular sustainable agriculture, climate sectors, environmental initiatives Faith for Earth Dialogue in UNEA 4, photo change mitigation and energy saving. or projects included. from UNEP. With more than 4.3 million members, the C.S.I. has placed ecological 3) Vigorously engage in concerns as a key part of its environmental management, B’nai Jeshurun, a synagogue in New constitution and mission and runs a together with civil society and York, actively participates in different programme to transform behaviour governments. Voice your environment campaigns. and systems through engaging, perspective as representatives of learner-led education. This has begun a religious view in these debates. - As a part of Sustainability Pilot by establishing a committee for Program by Hazon, the project ecological concerns since 1992. has included LED lighting

upgrade, planters for the rooftop, switching to fully compostable plates and cups, etc.

- They also encourage composting Photo from UNESCO and recycling at Kiddush as an

Photo from Pixabay outcome of the Green Kiddush Campaign Initiative. So far, dozens of faith-based 1) Participate in environmental organizations have been accredited - Many members of this campaigns at local, regional, by UNEP, enabling them to directly synagogue are involved in the national or global levels. participate in UNEA as observers. Jewish Climate Action Network Encourage followers to and therein help with the contribute to such campaigns.

environmental advocacy in B’nai single-use plastics or other Jeshurun. harmful materials.

- Their members got involved in 1,058 Hindu Temples overseen by the Transform Trash NYC Travancore Devaswom Board, commit initiative from 2016 to the to phasing out single-used plastic successful passage of legislation around all temple activities. in NYC Council in October 2019. Photo from Pixabay This Campaign proposed systemic

changes to the commercial waste 1) Choose locally produced, industry in New York. organically grown and fairly

traded products in all food and - Currently, they are encouraging drink. Encourage sustainable citizens to work for Community meals. Composting Initiative.

2) In addition to food, ensure your Photo from Pixabay

house of worship purchases other goods sustainably sourced, fair- The Mylapore Kapaleeshwarar traded and eco-friendly, such as Temple, a Hindu temple, has recycled paper, cleaning products, transformed into a zero-plastic zone. etc. Pay attention to supply Plastic bags have been banned not chains. just inside the temple premises, but it is also difficult to find any in the shops selling puja articles for the deity. The 3) Invest and divest ethically, for Photo from B’nai Jeshurun example, avoid investment in items for offering, previously highly polluting industries. contained in polythene bags, now use Food & Resources bamboo baskets. 4) Reduce the number of offerings at temples or ensure they are eco-friendly and not made of

Without a doubt, greening the physical structure is also an essential step for your house of worship. Decarbonizing buildings is critical to achieve the Sustainable Developments Goals, due to the construction sector accounting for almost 40% of energy and process-

Westray Fairtrade display, photo from eco related emissions. Taking climate Bamboo baskets take the place of polythene congregation Scotland bags, photo from The Hindu action in buildings and construction is among the most cost-effective 5 Guideline s on Green solutions . Fair Trade Church, a label by eco Building Numerous features can make a congregation Scotland, has led many Scottish churches into fairly traded building greener, including choices, like Westray Parish Church, consideration of the local Langside Parish Church, St Margaret’s environment in the design, Episcopal Church and Netherlee construction and operation, designs Parish Church. enabling adaptation to a changing environment, efficient use of all resources, prioritization of the renewable energy, sustainable sourcing and use of materials, pollution and waste reduction Westchester Reform Temple, a green measures, etc. i Also, green building synagogue certified by LEED, photo from rating tools and certifications can WRT

5 Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction. 2019. 2019 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction.

10 serve as the references for becoming  Leadership in Energy and efficiencies. Reducing and greening a green building. Environmental Design (LEED) energy consumption is crucial in the fight against global warming.  Green Building Council, Italy

Certificates and Labels of Sustainable Buildings: For more information, you may link 1) Increase access to secure, to World Green Building Council. affordable and renewable energy. Faith-specific: Connect buildings to low-  GreenFaith Energy Shield emission district energy systems  Green Sanctuary Naturally, what action is taken will or green power grid (geothermal,  Interfaith Power and Light depend on many factors, like how biomass, wind, solar, etc.). much renovation is possible, how In Broader Scope (mainly country- Otherwise, install integrated much you wish to maintain its original based): photovoltaic (BIPV), solar thermal structure and design and the  Building Research Establishment and micro-wind renewable affordability of the measures. Several Environmental Assessment energy systems in your house of such measures will end up reducing Method (BREEAM) worship. Extra capacity could operating costs in the long run.  BREEAM-LV even be provided or sold to Herein, the guidelines on green  BREEAM-NL communities. buildings are listed according to  BREEAM-NOR 2) Switch to energy-efficient light GlobalABC, World Green Building  BREEAM-SE bulbs such as LEDs, solar- Council and practices by green  Global Alliance for Buildings and powered LEDs and CFLs. These houses of worship6, Construction (GlobalABC), UNEP produce the same amount of light with a quarter of the energy, and  GreenMark Standard for Green Energy & Electricity last more than seven times Buildings, UNDP in Kenya longer.  Green Star, Australia Integrate renewable and low-carbon 3) Try to use natural lighting and technologies to supply buildings’ ventilation where possible.  Green Building Index, Malaysia energy needs, once the design has maximized inbuilt and natural

6 World Green Building Council. About Green Building.

4) Eliminate or reduce onsite fossil worship. Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Materials & Design fuel-burning equipment by Penang in Malaysia is equipped with replacing systems with solar panels and Sri Venkateswara When you are about to start a novel equipment that uses clean Temple in India uses solar-powered building or renovate an existing one, energy, including highly efficient cooking technology for 30,000 meals promote systemic, material-neutral, heat pump technology. daily. performance-based methods and

5) Phase out high emitting models in the design and refrigerants. construction. Search for consultation 6) Minimize energy use in all stages on low-carbon materials and of a building’s life-cycle. Raise technologies. people’s awareness on energy saving. Switch off lights, chargers, 1) Purchase low-energy and low- printers, computers, heaters, and emission products and materials. Photo from Treehugger coolers when they are not being Use fewer, more durable

used. materials, generating less waste. Khalifa Al Tajer Mosque in Dubai uses 2) Design flexible and dynamic green building materials, thermal- spaces, anticipating changes in insulation systems and low-emission their use over time, and avoid the air conditioners to lower energy need to demolish, rebuild or consumption and emissions, to significantly renovate buildings to control indoor temperatures. prevent them becoming obsolete. 3) Avoid unnecessary demolition, or Photo from BeautifulMosques try to recycle construction materials after demolition. 4) Avoid materials and chemicals that create harmful or toxic Checking solar panels on top of the gurdwara in Bayan LepasPhoto from TheStar emissions.

Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew in Thailand, Solar energy is a prevailing method for sustainability among houses of a Buddhist temple built out of 1.5

12 million recycled beer bottles, shows the first platinum LEED-certified great creativity by using non- synagogue in North America. conventional recycled materials. - Its front ceremonial entrance door is made from reclaimed Maple trees harvested from the original building site that needed

to be cut down for construction. Photo from Pixabay

- Exterior and interior siding was Explore ways to improve drinking and

Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew, photo from its reclaimed from barns in upstate waste water efficiency and website. New York. management, harvesting water for safe indoor use in innovative ways, Bamboo, a sustainable and ideal - Cabinets and shelving are made and generally minimizing water use in construction material especially in from a rapidly renewable buildings. those locations where it is found in agricultural fiber product including sunflower husks. 1) Install the water systems of abundance, was used for building monastic schools in Myanmar. higher efficiency. At least, repair r leaking pipes.

2) Encourage people to be water conscious by turning off taps and limiting unnecessary water use.

Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, 3) Install water catchment systems Photo from JNEB to store rainwater. photo from its website.

4) Choose local plants demanding Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation Water less water for gardening. is a highly acclaimed green building,

5) If water is used in religious that will allow to recycle water for the saving consciousness through practices, try as much as possible areas surrounding mosques. sermons. to reduce the waste. Gardens and

At the Nagpada Mosque in Central surroundings

Mumbai, the use of water for the Plants and trees bring many benefits, ablution is cut down by nearly three including biodiversity, shade, quarters, through a simple and cheap improving air quality by filtering tap innovation. These taps are valves pollution and absorbing carbon, fitted with a jockey or joystick. Water A Mosque in Abu Dhabi, photo from NYU assisting in physical and mental flows out only when the stick is Abu Dhabi pressed. Till April 2019, 120 mosques and madrassas across India have been using these taps and the demanding is growing.

Photo from The Straits Times Photo from Pennstate Extension Mujahidin Mosque in Indonesia has not only promoted water

Photo from The Times of India conservation, but also installed low- flow devices in all its taps. Moreover, Green Whudu Team, an innovation they pay attention to teaching team by university students from Abu children about the importance of Dhabi, advocates installing systems saving water, and delivering water-

14 wellbeing, regulating water flow and 2) Consider planting fruit trees. so forth7. 3) Start community gardens, and 1) Encourage tree-planting encourage children to get initiatives both around and involved. outside of your house of worship. Ensure that you plant a diversity 4) Limit the use of harmful of species and continue to care herbicides and pesticides & seek for the saplings after they have out alternative farming methods. Photo from Tencent been planted. Tree planting 46 Nature Sanct uaries of Daoism should be more than just 5) Plant pollinating plants that across China. symbolic and needs to be done in encourage biodiversity a well-thought-out manner. You (particularly bees). can find more comprehensive Sacred Forest in or around almost guide on Pennstate Extension 6) If there are specific old trees and every Shinto Shrine is a preservation of local fora or historical trees. and The guardian. other valuable trees in or around the house of worship, ensure to

protect them.

Some eighteen hundred years ago, Daoist communities in Sichuan, China created the first nature sanctuaries. Hunting, land clearing, plant gathering, mining and any kind of pollution of the natural surrounding Rice paddy and woods around Kasuga Shrine was forbidden. Up to now, there are Rowan Tree, photo from The Guardian in Tamba Sasayama, photo from Wikipedia

7 FAO. 2016. Building greener cities: nine benefits of urban trees.

Waste Management Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee, a historical Buddhist There are many opportunities for There are many measures for temple in India, cooperated with a houses of worship to green their pollution and waste reduction, and dye manufacturer to transform 200kg operations and ensure that the facilitating reuse and recycling should of floral waste into natural dyes. buildings and surrounding areas are be emphasized as well. These dyes were soaked in authentic more environmentally friendly. As Khadi wear, available for sale in mentioned previously, a house of domestic and international markets. worship should ensure that they act 1) Provide recycling facilities & bins. as a centre for sustainability within Make sure you clearly label them. the communities they serve and help

to inspire their members to care for 2) Set up composting bins/facilities the environment. for kitchen and garden wastes. If

allowed, consider installing composting toilets. Photo from ASK

3) Collaborate with local recycling centres or organisations involved in recycling. Flowers offered daily at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, a sufi shrine in India,

4) Avoid generating waste as much are recycled and used as compost for as possible. plants. Photo from Pixabay

Devotees are used to offering In many ways, houses of worship can flowers, garlands and other goods to become greener, with just a few the deities in Buddhist temples, guiding ideas outlined above. Every which is considered as a symbol of house of worship should explore reverence. But millions of tons of possibilities based on their temple waste are dumped into rivers circumstances. every year, eventually causing Roses in Ajmer Sharif Dargah, photo from enormous pollution. LIFE BeYOND NUMBERS

process is usually promising yet not sources depending on the local What are the green complete. Nonetheless, these efforts situation. houses doing? have indicated the trend of building up green houses of worship around With regards to sustainable the world. The number of green certification, synagogues and Houses of worship of each religion houses of worship has soared in churches account for a large have already begun to green their recent years. proportion of the houses of worship. facilities, behavior and consciousness. Hitherto, there are more than 10,000 Regarding sustainable consumption of them greening their sites or and saving resources, a number of religious practices, according to our houses of worship are enhancing the mapping work on green houses of procedures in their conventional worship. Certain projects are having religious rituals. global impacts within their own religion. More projects still are Environmental education has been operating in a limited region. Yet few highlighted since the very beginning. programs on such a theme radiate Photo from Pixabay And planting is usually listed in the into multiple religions globally. sustainable actions by green houses A handful of newly constructed of worship. houses of worship and projected ones have been systematically designed into sustainable models, with those existing houses of worship processing sustainable modification to different extents.

Switching to solar energy is one of the Photo from Pixabay most common measures taken by those houses of worship. Others In terms of what the houses of choose different renewable energy Bodhi Tree, photo from wikipedia worship are doing now, the greening

Buddhism  Many temples are also trying to install or connect to solar energy sources and install energy-saving There are more than 3,000 temples bulbs in a bid to set up of Mahāyāna that have greened or sustainable energy systems. A are greening their sacred sites, in East few others are trying wind and Southeast Asia. electricity systems and rainwater collecting systems to improve  As incense is a significant ritual in their energy and water supply. Mahāyāna, thousands of temples in China and Malaysia are transforming this air-polluting Eco-Temple Community Thailand, Myanmar, China, India and ceremony into more eco-friendly Development Project by South Korea. These procedures ways, such as reducing the International Network of Engaged reduce their energy bills, provide a amount of incense burning, using Buddhists (INEB) and more reliable source of energy, and low-polluting materials, banning Interfaith Climate and Ecology even a steady source of long-term firecrackers, and replacing the network (ICE) advocates: income by selling excess energy back traditional incense with digital 1) ecological temple structure and to the main grid. Thus far, some 100 incense or flowers. energy system, temples in South Korea have 2) economic sustainability, participated in this project.  Large quantities of traditional 3) integration with surrounding Buddhist temples are environment, constructed with wood or 4) engagement with community and bamboo, the natural and other regional groups, sustainable materials. 5) development of spiritual values Interestingly, Wat Pa Maha and teachings on environment, eco- Chedi Kaew in Thailand , the dharma. Temple of a million bottles, was Since 2016, they have been constructed with recycled beer facilitating the installation of solar Solar Panels in Zhengjue Temple, bottles. panels in the temples of Japan, China, Copyright by JNEB

Christianity  Many churches have renovated Presbyterian church. Associação Casa da Videira is a faith-inspired their energy systems, switching to geothermal, biomass, solar eco-community in Brazil. Based on an online research, already thousands of Christian churches are and wind power to reduce their dedicated into a sustainability around carbon footprint. Meanwhile, the world. Standing alone or involved some even provide electricity to in an umbrella organization, green local communities. processes are being mainstreamed. Mount Olive Lutheran Church in  Christians launched the most Minnesota, USA, is a pioneer in environmental initiatives, many geothermal and solar technology. Photo from Pixabay concentrating on green churches.  Green certification has been Eco Church by A Rocha in UK, Green popular for those churches who Houses of Worship programme by would like to be verified as Interreligious Eco-Justice Network sustainable. (IEJN) in US, Green Churches Network in Canada all push to Keystone Community Church was emphasize their work about greening designed to be a green building, and churches among their members. Mount Olive Lutheran Church, photo from it became the first LEED certified church website church in the USA in 2005.

 Environmental education is deemed as a vital focus during preaching by some churches. Catholic churches have been deeply inspired by Laudato Si, like St James Cathedral in Seattle. Environmentalism stewardship is also valued in all other Christian branches, such as The first church of Christ in Mansfield, a the Flagstaff Federated Church, a Keystone Community Church, photo from member of IEJN, photo from website ABD Engineering & Design

Daoism are preventing erosion through environmental education to pilgrims planting. and practitioners.

Tiejia Tree in Tiejia Eco-friendly Temple, Louguantai, a sacred site in Daoism, photo photo from kknews Yin Yang, photo from pixabay from Chinadialogue

They have established 6 principles  More broadly, Daoism temples  Cooperating with ARC, Daoism in for Ecological Temples: across China are getting rid of China has taken wide action on 1) Sage Lao Zi is the god of Ecology. their conventions bringing air environment protection since 2) Rationally utilize surrounding pollution, incense and 2004. So far, hundreds of Daoism landscape and natural resources. firecrackers. This ever-popular temples have implemented 3) Protect water source and ritual is restricted or forbidden renewable energy installation, construct waste management. following advocacy by surrounding ecosystem 4) Use energy-saving technology governments. protection, environment and materials. education, etc. 5) Form a base for education about ecology and environment. Since 2006, a network of Ecological 6) Set up a harmonious relation with Daoism Temples have committed to communities and environment. environmental protection by greening the temples and areas around them. Reportedly, amongst Tiejia Eco-friendly Temple in Taibai Mountain is the first ecology Daoism the over 120 Daoism temples, some have switched their energy systems Temple under the joint program with Incense, photo from Pixabay into biomass and solar energy. Others ARC. It has become a model for its

Hindu religions. Its members consist avoiding energy waste, gardening of Hindus, Sikhs and Baha’is. and planting and advocating low- emission transportation amongst Solar energy is a common choice pilgrims. Amazingly, they have amongst the temples and ashrams already committed to these eco- under this initiative in India. friendly efforts for more than 25 Sivananda Ashram in Uttarakhand, years. Ambaji Temple in Gujarat and the Golden Temple in Amritsar (Sikh) Photo from Pixabay have worked hard on waste management in the temples. Hinduism

Photo from Mandir Over 1000 Hinduism temples are in a greening process under the guidance of various initiatives. Plus, a few Hindu temples are proactively becoming greener, generally switching to solar energy to reduce Photo from Sivananda Ashram their carbon footprint.

The Green Temple Initiative, An administrative body, Travancore organized by ARC, the Bhumi Project, Devaswom Board, oversees all and GPN, has even released a ‘Green affiliated 1,058 temples in India Temple Guide’ in 2015. Stemming committed to phasing out single-used from Pujas to the temple landscape, plastics around all temple activities. from food to energy, from animal protection to waste management, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir this guide lists specific suggestions on London has systematically optimized the sustainable enhancement of energy efficiency and low-carbon traditional and modern practices of practices through using natural light, Photo from Pixabay

Islam The Green Mosques Project in Jordan, unnecessary water consumption, for backed by the Ministry of Religious example, large quantities of palm Affairs and the Ministry of trees in Riyadh. Muslims worldwide have vigorously contributed to enhancing the Environment, helped 400 Jordanian sustainability of mosques. In the mosques equip solar panels. The Green Masjid Project and Green Middle East, North America and Asia, Ramadan by the Islamic Society of faith-based organizations are North America have been enlisting carrying out projects on green mosques across the USA to adopt mosques, some cooperating with green, eco-friendly practices since government or other civil society. 2015. Likewise, the Cyberjaya Green

Platinum Mosque Project focuses on green mosque design for Malaysian A mosque in Tabarbour, photo from The mosques conformed to the Green Jordan Times Building Index. The Green Mosque Initiative by Indonesian Ulema

Council will roll out 1000 eco- mosques through updating water and energy supply. Photo from GIZ

Together with German development Agencies, the Moroccan Ministry of Of course, many mosques are also Photo form the Lavent News Energy and the Ministry of Religious working on green projects Affairs Moroccan is carrying out a In Saudi Arab, the Environmentally individually. Such as, Norderstedt Green Mosques and Buildings Friendly Mosque Initiative by the Mosque in Germany and the Initiative from 2015 to 2021. 600 Environmental Green Horizons Cambridge Eco- Mosque in UK, etc. mosques are planned to be given a Society drives the installation of makeover through LED lighting, solar water-recycling and water-saving Accordingly, about 2100 mosques are thermal water heaters, photovoltaic irrigation in mosques. Besides, they getting greener and greener. systems and other renewable advocate to limit unnecessary energies. plantation, aiming to reduce

Judaism

 More than prevailing green practices in individual synagogues, Jewish synagogues Beth David Congregation, photo from its website. in the USA have vigorously linked themselves to green building certification or green energy  Jewish congregations have certification. initiated several green Green Kiddush, photo from Muswell Hill’s synagogue projects in the UK and Israel, some being part of Green Kiddush Journey Temple Solel committed to reducing its carbon footprint and populating broader environmental environmental advocacy. They programs. These projects mainly gained the GreenFaith Energy Shield affect within their own countries. certification in 2018. Greening Synagogues by Teva Ivri provides ongoing consultations to help synagogues in the greening process, offering practical tools and strategies. Temple Solel, photo from its website

The Beth David Congregation is the first synagogue certified with LEED. Similarly, Eco-Synagogue, a Temple Aleyah, a green synagogue, photo from its website Its sustainable design and materials counterpart to Eco-Church, has set that have minimal or no off to provide case studies, resources environmental impact embody the and tools for their registered Jewish doctrine of tikkun olam, members who are willing to act on repairing the world. greening their synagogues.

Shinto  Various creatures can be revered based on a Shinto tradition. The as deities in Shinto. Plants are timbers, the construction part of them. 'Sacred Forest’, materials for repairing, are all  Similar to a large number of originally referring to the plant produced with the trees grown Buddhist and Daoist temples, protection in or around the within the shrine land. People Shinto shrines usually lie amid shrines, has become the proxy regard the rebuilding as an old natural landscapes. These for environmental activities solution to resilience after the wooden architectures with across Japan. eroding effects of time. typical Japanese style are the sacred centers of local animism.

Ise Jingu Grand Shrine, rebuilt every 20 years, photo from Smithsonian Photo from pixabay

Photo from pixabay

 Another interesting fact is some Kaguraden at Ise Jingu, photo from Photo from pixabay famed shrines would be ancient.eu

reconstructed every 20 years,

Sikhism  Based on our mapping, at least two Sikh organizations have proposed Green Gurdwara Initiatives.

Basically, the two initiatives are both encouraging Gurdwaras to take actions in renewable energy, water conservation, recycling, and organic and healthy food systems. The initiative by EcoSikh is global, while the similar one by Sikhnet Africa targets African Sikh temples. A projected gurdwara in the Cardinia Shire Council region, Australia is expected to be a sustainable building. Photo from Pixabay Nishan-E-Sikhi has made efforts on sustainable reconstruction. And they They make it a day to remember the have contributed tremendously duty of protecting ecology. Having a towards environmental conservation. day of green action for everyone in the city turned out to be an important Photo from Nishan-E-Sikhi  Sikhs have also used creative way of paying attention to environmental issues. The ultimate Photo from EcoSikh solutions for environmental aim is to have pilgrims coming to education. Amritsar visit a clean green city, and  Simutaneously, some stand-alone return home with ideas to diminish gurdwaras are also devoted into EcoSikh has created their own their own carbon footprint. green buildings. environment day, ‘Amritsar

Foundation Day’ in July every year.

Certifications / Accreditations Green Building Initiative (GBI) UNEP Resources BuildingGreen / Guidelines Climate Friendly Buildings and Offices: A List of EPA approved green building standards Practical Guide (US-centric) The Sustainable Buildings and Climate Buildings and Climate Change: A Summary for Earth Care Congregation - has many affiliated Initiative (SBCI) in 2006. Decision Makers camps/sites/churches (USA) The Sustainable Social Housing Initiative Design for Sustainability: A Step by Step Whole Building Design guide (SUSHI) Approach Interfaith Power and Light The Sustainable Buildings Policies in Design for Sustainability: A Practical Approach Developing Countries (SPOD) for Developing Economies UNEP-FI work on Energy Efficiency Kick the Habit: A UN Guide to Climate Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction Neutrality - IEA, GlobalABC & UNEP The GreenMark Standard for Green Buildings Other Common Certificates / Frameworks (for Kenya & Africa) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Framework Guidelines for Energy Efficiency Design (LEED) - framework developed by US Standards in Buildings Green Building Council (USGBC) Sustainable Buildings and Construction (SBC) - Building Research Establishment UN affiliated Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) UNECE Joint Task Force on Energy Efficiency Green Sanctuary Congregation - through Standards in Buildings Unitarian Universalist Association

Longshan Temple Islam Poh Em Shih Green Mosque Initiative (Morocco) 2015- Some of proclaimed Houses of 2021 Worship Christian Tadamet Village Keystone Community Church Koutoubia Mosque Marrakech While there are hundreds of such houses of George W. Truett Seminary, Baylor Environmental Green Horizons Society - temples on our database, we are only University Environmentally Friendly Mosque Initiative including a random list from different Bridge of Allan Parish Church Green Mosques in Jordan religions. Emerson's Unitarian Universalist Church Indonesia Council of Ulema Green Mosque Dominican Sisters' House of Formation Initiative Bhuddism The Green Church - Islamic Community Center Sukhavati Eco-Temple Mount Olive Lutheran Church in ISGH River Oaks Islamic Center Shwenadi Monastic School Minneapolis Khalifa Al Tajer Mosque Laythar Taung Monastic School Monastery of Saint Pishoy Cyberjaya Green Platinum Mosque Project Wannitayon Monastic School Hunter Presbytarian Church, Lexington Cambridge Eco-Mosque Naungtaung Monastic School Wooden Cross Lutheran Church in Msheireb Mosque Wailuwun Monastery-Based Vocational Woodinville Hui Mosque School St. Gabriel’s Passionist Parish in Toronto Norderstedt Mosque Bodhi Hill Learning Community Flagstaff Federated Church Islamic Association of Greater Hartford, The Smart Pagoda St James Cathedral, Seattle Berlin Wat Doi Pasom (The Temple of Buddha St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary School The Muslim Coalition of Connecticut Relics) St Brigid's Catholic Church Juko-in Temple Associação Casa da Videira Judaism Kenju-in Temple St Lukes, Anglican Church of Canada Temple Aliyah Zhengjue Temple Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church Temple Solel Guanfu Monastery Coral Gables United Church of Christ Congregation Emanu-EL Yunfeng Monastery Church of South India Congregation B’nai Jeshurun Dongshan Monastery Westchester Reform Temple The Sunshine Temple Project Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation Tera Energy: Temples Providing Clean Energy Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew

Chongyan Palace Temple of Hu Minegaoka Hachiman Shrine 峯ヶ岡八幡 Beth David Congregation Laomudian Temple 神社 Ohev Sholom - "the National Synagogue" Jingtaiguan Temple Warakubi Shrine 和樂備神社 Temple Israel Taiheshan Temple Green Synagogue Rezekne Mingeshegong Temple Others Xiangxi Cave Temple Changmingsheng Don, Taizhong Sikhism Jiangsujurong / Yuanfu Wanning Temple Zhengcheng Buddhism Temple, Taizhong Sikh Temple in Melbourne Purple Cloud Temple Chongshengbao Temple, Taizhong Nishan-E-Sikhi Town God Temple Haode Temple, Taizhong Pingalwara Chongzhengbao Gong, Taizhong Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Penang Shinto Tianyi Gong, Taizhong Hikawa Shrine 氷川神社 Cixing Teaching Don, Taizhong Hinduism Amanuma Shrine 天沼神社 Zhonghong Buddhism Temple, Taizhong BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London Kamo Shrine 加茂神社 Nature Shengdao House, Taizhong BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Chino Eagle Shrine 鷲神社 Taihuang Gong, Taizhong Hills Inari Shrine 稲荷神社 Zhenghe Temple, Taizhong Sri Venkateswara Temple Nakayama Shrine 中山神社 Chonghua Buddhism Don, Taizhong Northampton Kutumb Center (in planning) Shinmei Shrine 神明神社 Jiaohua Buddhism House, Taizhong

Hikawasha 氷川社 Tianbao Buddhism House, Tanzi, Taizhong Daoism Body shape shrine 身形神社 Zhaoping Yuhua Don, Nantou Tiejieshu / Tiejia Ecological Daoist Temple 大久保神社 The Louguantai Temple Okubo Shrine 多気比売神社 Longmen Cave Daoist Temple Takihiuri Shrine White Cloud Temple Cho Shrine 調神社 Wo Yunshan Adachi Shrine 足立神社 Zhen Wu Guan Mutsu Shrine 睦神社 Ziyanggong Daoist temple of Tiantai Hikawa Woman Shrine 氷川女體神社 Jinxianguan temple near Xian Eagle Shrine 鷲神社 Jade Spring Temple Shige Shrine 重殿社 Woyunshan Daoist temple Daimon Shrine 大門神社 Xian Eight Immortals Temple