Earth Stewards

Fairmount Earth Stewards care for God’s earth through integrating environmental practices and thinking into our church’s worship, educational programs, facilities and outreach.

In January 2024, in an effort to reduce our building’s carbon footprint and to reduce building energy costs, Fairmount Presbyterian Church is exploring the option of adding solar panels to the roof of Andersen Hall. View the solar project proposal, compiled by Keith Mills, Earth Stewards.

The First Fairmount Earth Stewards – This small group ministry was formed in the 1990’s; they started church paper recycling, and inefficient lighting was upgraded. Our current Earth Stewards group was formed in 2008, in response to the 1990 Presbyterian Church USA call to restore creation for ecology and justice; and PCUSA’s Guide to Going Carbon Neutral (presbyterianmission.org).

Fairmount Presbyterian Church was certified as an Earth Care Congregation 2023 by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Presbyterian Hunger Program. Fairmount continues these efforts to restore creation for ecology and justice. The Earth Care Congregation certification is designed to recognize churches that make the commitment to take seriously God’s charge to “till and keep” the garden. Learn more about The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Earth Care Congregation Certification. Earth Stewards is a part of Fairmount’s welcoming community that explores God’s love and practices social justice through addressing and implementing solutions to environmental concerns.

Earth Care Resources – learn more about environmental current events and policies, and discover how you can make a positive impact at home.

As a Matthew 25 Congregation

We are called to care for the “least of these”; which includes addressing environmental justice issues. Presbyterian Mission Agency Matthew 25 and care of creation go hand in hand | Presbyterian Mission Agency
The Presbyterian Church USA calls us to take these Matthew 25 earth stewardship actions.

“Congregations everywhere can care for God’s creation by conserving energy, recycling, composting waste, teaching children to grow and harvest food, and teaching and preaching about creation care in worship and educational settings.

Fairmount Is Honored for Reducing Our Energy Use!

Fairmount Presbyterian Church has won honorable mention recognition from The Cleveland 2030 District’s Green Building Challenge for our years-long reduction in energy use!  Read more!

Around our Property

Fairmount’s Earth Stewards continue to take action around our property support our participation as an Earth Care Congregation. Efforts include:

  • The expansion of church recycling efforts
  • The replacement of old kitchen appliances with Energy Star rated models, and removing old computer network
  • The installation of  a bioswale as part of our parking lot redesign, to absorb storm water runoff during heavy rains
  • The creation and maintenance of  a Monarch Butterfly Way Station in our garden; encourage member pollinator gardens
  • The installation of a bicycle rack to encourage members and visitors to bicycle to our church
Reducing Energy Usage

Fairmount Earth Stewards initiated an energy audit of our church facility in 2009, and since then our church has reduced annual electricity use by 50%/$20,000. Fairmount Electricity Use 2011-2021 and Actions

Fairmount was recognized by the PCUSA in 2017. We continue to track church utility use using the Energy Star Portfolio Manager.

The Earth Stewards shared an early 2021 webinar encouraging church members to switch to a renewable (wind and solar) electricity source to help reduce our carbon footprints, see NOPEC Residential Electric Pricing | NOPEC and Energy Choice Ohio – Comparsion Chart. 

Community Efforts

Fairmount’s Earth Stewards continue to take action in our community to support our participation as an Earth Care Congregation. Efforts include:

  • Participating in annual Doan Brook Stream Sweeps
  • Providing educational offerings: organic lawn care, rain barrels, causes of algae in Lake Erie, and others
  • Maintaining a sustainable garden at the RTA Shaker Rapid stop for six years
  • Through Project Green Thumb supporting injured Veterans
  • Hosting Fresh Fork Community Supported Agriculture order pickup site in our Coventry parking lot 
Monarch Butterfly Way Station

The Fairmount Earth Stewards initiated the creation and continue the maintenance of our Monarch Butterfly Way Station in our garden. The protection and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems is crucial to a healthy environment. Pollinating animals travel from plant to plant carrying pollen on their bodies in a vital interaction that allows the transfer of genetic material critical to the reproductive system of most flowering plants – the very plants that:

  • bring us countless fruits, vegetables, and nuts,
  • ½ of the world’s oils, fibers and raw materials;
  • prevent soil erosion,
  • and increase carbon sequestration

Learn more about pollinators, Monarch Butterflies, and find additional resources on pollinators, here.
You can also learn more, view the 2021 Pollinator Power Party.