Earth Day Messages

EIC General Message:
Evergreen Islamic Center (EIC) and its community has been actively involved in practicing and educating sustainability practices in construction, operation, and community outreach.

EIC in the Construction of its 30,000 SF facility implemented many energy and water efficient measures which exceed State’s T-24 standards. We have installed high R-value insulation, energy efficient LED lights for indoor and outdoor applications, and high SEER air-conditioning. All these measures combined reduce Greenhouse gas emissions and also reduces energy cost. Currently EIC is installing roof top solar system which will generate 60 to 70% of EIC’s energy use.

EIC has also installed four Level-2 EV charger ports. Community members are taking advantage of these chargers. This measure also generates carbon credits.

Operations:

EIC carries out daily activities and scheduled events responsibly minimizing impact on environment. Listed below are our daily operational practices that reduce GHG emissions:

1. Switch lights when not in use.

2. Set thermostats at efficient levels.

3. Use drip irrigation.

4. Promote the use of water fountains and reduce the use of bottled water.

5. Order recyclable items and avoid toxic cleaning agents.

6. Plant drought deterrent plants.

Outreach and education:

1. EIC holds an annual clean air day event reaching out to community members to make pledge to reduce carbon emissions.

2. Community youth present their perspective on clean air reducing practices.

3. EIC conducts faith-based Climate change education events. EIC will continue its efforts of operating its facilities environmentally efficient and responsible.

Messages from EIC Youth:

Message from Suffiya Jukaku:
"Earth Day is a special day when we help take care of our planet! We pick up trash, plant trees, and learn about animals and plants. Allah made the Earth and everything in it, so it's important to be good helpers of His creation. We can recycle, save water, and be kind to animals because it's what Allah wants us to do. Earth Day reminds us to be thankful for the beautiful world Allah has given us and to take care of it with love and care." -- Safiyya Jukaku

Message from Simra Kidwai:
"From sunny, sandy beaches to the icy tundra, from the lush green forests to the open, grassy plains, from an animal’s life to a human’s, we are all connected one way or another. All these beautiful habitats and lives Allah has created are at great danger due to a rising issue in today’s world due to an issue known as climate change. I’ll assume that you enjoy and love the world around you, which is why preserving it starts from your own home. There are simple and easy ways to live your life beautifully, while helping others do the same. Simple things such as preserving energy, switching to electric utilities, and even planting a tree are a few things you can do to help. Inshallah let’s all try to be better in saving the planet Allah gave us." --Simra Kidwai

Message from Aahil Ateeq:
"Our planet, Earth, is our home, but we often forget to take care of it. Global warming is getting worse, pollution keeps spreading, and there are wars and conflicts everywhere, causing even more damage. In places where there's fighting, like war zones, the water gets polluted by oil and harmful chemicals from weapons. This not only hurts the environment but also makes it hard for people to survive. The situation is especially bad in Gaza, where people suffer a lot because of ongoing conflicts. The destruction there doesn’t just affect people—it also harms the environment, making things worse for everyone. We've seen this after the Iraq invasion, according to watson.brown.edu,”The water supply in the war zones has been contaminated by oil from military vehicles and depleted uranium from ammunition. Along with the degradation of the natural resources.” when the burning of oil fields created an environmental crisis in the region, making it hard for people to breathe and contaminating the land and water. This mess doesn’t just go away when the fighting stops. We need to realize that what we do, even small things, affects the whole world. We have to work together to take care of our planet for ourselves and future generations." -  Aahil Ahmed Quimby Oak Middle School