Committee Activities

Intially formed in 2006 as the "Inconvenient Truth Committee," in reference to the book and subsequent film on global warming by former vice-president Al Gore, this ad hoc committee became the Earthcare Witness Committee in December 2008 per the following minute: 2008.12.8 The Earthcare Witness Committee requests that it become a standing committee within Friends Meeting of Austin. The committee's purpose is to guide the meeting on how we can reduce our carbon footprint and live in right relationship to the Earth in our personal lives, as part of the FMA community, and in our public lives as citizens. Friends approved. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in the monthly meetings usually on the Fourth Sunday at 1 p.m. Check the Meeting House calendar for location.

• In January 2007 the committee initiated a survey of members and attenders regarding their personal energy use and their aspirations for reducing their carbon footprint
• The committee was instrumental in the successful installation of our 20kW solar photovoltaic energy system which has already produced substantial energy savings
• Work on insulation of the walls in the meeting room and installation of low-e glass windows are further reducing our need for energy
• Repair work on the air conditioning system, especially the ductwork, has significantly improved the efficiency of the system.