Letter to the Editor

As many of Norfolk’s civic and volunteer organizations migrate back to in-person meetings, the Church of Christ Green Team asks you to consider holding at least some of your meetings online.

The “green” reason for this is, of course, emissions. As we in Norfolk now know too well, gasoline contains harmful chemicals. When gas is burned in a car engine, pollutants like soot, nitrogen oxide, and benzene are released into the air. 

Motor vehicles also emit greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. The math is roughly this: Burning one gallon of gasoline emits 20 pounds of carbon dioxide. If you have a committee member who lives 5 miles from Norfolk center, whose car gets 30 miles/gallon, it takes only 3 in-person meetings for that person to burn a gallon of gas and emit those 20 pounds of CO2. Say you have 10 committee members who average 3 miles from your meeting site, whose vehicles average 30 miles/gallon – you can save the atmosphere 20 pounds of CO2 by holding a single meeting virtually. 

Another important consideration is safety. With the serious accidents that have occurred recently, committee chairs should be mindful of the dangers of driving on dark, slippery roads. Fewer cars on the roads can mean fewer accidents. And the risk of infection by contagious respiratory illness goes away when people aren’t breathing into each others’ faces. 

Finally, virtual meeting is more inclusive. People with disabilities may find it easier or less stressful to participate via Zoom. This may also be true for older participants who have mobility issues or who have difficulty driving at night. Closed captioning can make it easier for people who have hearing loss to participate. There’s also the benefit that when people are away, they can still attend meetings. 

So, please consider meeting online, at least some of the time. Thank you!

The Norfolk Church of Christ Green Team