Why Laudato Si Inspired me to Turn Off My A/C

The sweltering heat of July is a lingering reminder that the climate is changing, a reality that rest heavy on my heart. Going down as one of the hottest months on record, July is just another indicator that we must make a change for God's creation. But, how do we do it?

As I periodically revisit Pope Francis' Encyclical, Laudato Si, I am reminded of the conundrum that we all face. How do we balance our moral call to reduce energy consumption, with our 'need' to use more of it as the weather changes?

"Some countries are gradually making significant progress, developing more effective controls and working to combat corruption. People may well have a growing ecological sensitivity, but it has not succeeded in changing their harmful habits of consumption which, rather than decreasing, appear to be growing all the more. A simple example is the increasing use and power of air-conditioning." -Pope Francis/LS 55

I read this section as my personal air conditioner was blasting from the other room. Quickly rising from my chair, I changed the Energy Star unit to 'energy saver mode,'  eventually shutting it off altogether. The action was not drastic, nor was it overwhelming. But, it was a change, and the future of our world depends on these subtle alterations to our daily behavior. 

To see how temperatures are rising, check out Climate Central's interactive map.

For ways to reduce your personal energy consumption, visit Blessed Tomorrow.