Your building's energy use

Houses of worship are often energy hogs, so this is a good place to start when you want to be a responsible steward of our environment (and also of your congregation's money!) You'll find that you can save significant amounts of money by making these improvements. But that's not all! Significant amounts of  carbon dioxide and other pollutants will NOT be released into the atmosphere because of your energy conservation and efficiency efforts, and that means preventing further global warming and preventing heart and respiratory disease.

Here are some Case Studies so you can see what other congregations have done.

If you're building a new facility

With new construction, you have many options. The sooner you build energy conservation and efficiency into your plans the better. Consider building according to LEED standards - future generations that inherit your building will thank you!

One thing NOT to be concerned about is ...

... shivering in the dark. These energy conservation and efficiency measures will not be a hardship. The steps taken to conserve energy and to use energy efficiently generally make buildings more comfortable and create a better worship and work environment - even while you're saving money and conserving energy.

For example, consider the difference in comfort when you're in a drafty room compared to a well-insulated room - and yet the well-insulated room will use less energy and will cost less to heat.

And a 15-watt compact fluorescent bulb will provide the same lumens (amount of light) as will a 60-watt incandescent bulb, but it will be using only one-fourth the amount of electricity. Same lighting value, but less electricity ... and less power plant pollution and fewer emissions that lead to global warming.

Temperature requirements for your pipe organ

Many congregations use more energy than necessary to protect their pipe organs. These guidelines were developed by the American Institute of Organbuilders so congregations can reduce their utility bills and avoid the extremes of temperatures that would damage their pipe organs.

Energy conservation and efficiency programs

NYSERDA Programs

NYSERDA (New York State Research and Development Authority) has a variety of programs available to any congregation served by a utility that has a Service Benefit Charge. This typically includes any utility other than municipal-owned utilities. Note: Any program that applies to Commercial customers applies to houses of worship!
"Low Cost - No Cost" Energy Audit

Most congregations in New York State are eligible for a low cost energy audit from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). It's a low-cost energy audit, but in effect it's a "no-cost" energy audit since the cost of the audit is applied toward any of the recommended energy work you elect to do.

As of February, the cost has been reduced from $200 to $100 for facilities whose annual electric bills are less than $12,000! This applies to most congregations' buildings!

If your electric bills are between $12,000 and $48,000, the cost of the audit is $400.

For more information, call 1-866-NYSERDA.

Join our Pass It Forward campaign and you can receive the $100 from NY IP&L and Pass It Forward to another congregation as your energy savings mount up!

Low interest loans

Through NYSERDA's Loan Fund program, participating lenders will "buy down" loans to an attractive interest rate for energy improvements or for "green building" projects. For example, if you get a $10,000 loan at 9% for your energy efficiency project, NYSERDA can reduce this to 5%. (This percentage may change. Check NYSERDA for the latest figures.) The savings can be significant!

Energy Star Congregations

The Energy Star Congregations program, sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency, publishes an excellent how-to workbook called Putting Energy Into Stewardship. It includes very clear instructions and and pertains specifically to church buildings. This is available online, but our NY IP&L members will receive a hard-copy of this useful resource.

Lighting and exit signs

Two of the easiest actions you can take are to replace your lighting and exit signs with energy-efficient varieties. Replace your incandescent lights with compact fluorescent bulbs and upgrade your other lighting with the most appropriate choices. Making these changes does not mean sacrificing quality of lighting. In fact, choosing the appropriate type of energy-efficient lighting will increase comfort while it decreases energy use and maintenance.

Replace your exit signs with LED exit signs. Just think of it! Exit signs are on 24 hours a day every day of the year, and your church building probably has several. Here are the facts from the EPA. The payback period is VERY short. Besides money, it saves maintenance time and hassle - and most important: it prevents the emission of global warming gases.

Consumer's Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

The Department of Energy has tips for congregations on saving energy.

Youth Compact Fluorescent Bulb Project

Join with youth from congregations all across the nation in a youth movement to help move our homes, places of worship, and offices to cleaner, more efficient CFLs - and raise money for your youth group! The Youth CFL Project is sponsored by the National Council of Churches of Christ Eco-Justice Working Group and is administered by Brethren Press.

Energy Stewardship Congregation Program

The Energy Stewardship Congregations Program has been sponsored by the National Council of Churches' Eco-Justice Working Group.

Environmental Stewardship Guide

A broader approach to environmental stewardship in a church setting is the Environmental Stewardship Guide to Conservation for Congregations sponsored by Environmental Ministries of Southern California.

Energy Conservation Reference

The Michigan Energy Office publishes an Energy Conservation Reference and Management Guide for Churches as a guide for religious buildings; 48 pp; October, 2002. It is an attempt to bring together, in a usable format, some of the wealth of practical suggestions and experience to be found in the energy field.

The manual consists of six sections, each addressing a different aspect of a total energy conservation program. This is a manual and not a book to be read from cover to cover. Each section contains practical information and suggested procedures and forms designed to be used in implementing a specific part of an energy conservation program.

The sample forms included in this manual are designed to be removed, copied, and used to implement and monitor energy conservation in your church. The forms can be used as they presently appear or easily modified to meet the specific needs of a church.

Be recognized for your efforts

  • Apply for the annual Small Business and Congregations Award sponsored by the EPA.
  • Unitarian Universalist congregations can become certified as a Green Sanctuary. (Note that the details of the program and certification requirements are in the box at the left.) Although this program certifies only UU congregations, the information can be useful for anyone.
  • Presbyterian Church (USA) - Become an Electric Steward Congregation: Electric Steward Congregations are congregations that have conducted an energy audit of their church facilities and decided to put into action at least one of the new energy saving steps recommended by the audit.

Your landscaping and energy

Although most of the energy conservation and efficiency savings take place in your buildings, adopting sustainable landscaping practices can also contribute to cleaner air and less global warming. You can reduce your energy use by the proper choices in landscaping. Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of a building's heating and cooling costs.

  • Landscaping - EPA (written for the home, but the same principles apply)

Reduce your lawn so that you need to use your lawn mower less: lawn mowers produce a lot more pollution than even cars produce. Leaf blowers are another source of pollution: leave the leaves as mulch in planting beds, and rake the leaves that fall on your (greatly-reduced!) lawn area.

And while you're at it, why not create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat! In addition to conserving energy and preventing pollution, it will create much-needed habitat for birds, butterflies, toads, and other creatures.

Cities for Climate Protection

Many cities in New York State are participating in the Cities for Climate Protection program. If you live in one of these cities, , a program in which houses of worship could take part!

Buffalo, Cooperstown, Huntington, Ithaca, Mt. Vernon, New Rochelle, New York City, Oneonta, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady County, Suffolk County, Syracuse, Tompkins County, and Westchester County are already participating in this nationwide and worldwide program.

If you live in any of these areas, check out what’s happening in your program. If your city or county doesn’t yet participate, encourage them to do so!