Environmental Justice
Being good stewards of God's gift of energyChurch buildings have often been energy hogs, so this is a good place to start when you want to be a responsible steward not only of your congregation's money but also of our environment. But don't just take these energy-saving measures in your church facilities. This also gives you a chance to educate your parishioners about how much carbon dioxide and other pollutants are NOT being released into the atmosphere because of your energy conservation and efficiency efforts. Finally, help your parishioners be responsible stewards of energy in their own homes. Watch these videos to learn more about the climate crisis and why it's important to take action.
Energy Policy Statement of the United Methodist ChurchBeing good stewards of energy is an important mission for United Methodist churches. Here are some excerpts from the Energy Policy Statement of the United Methodist Church:
Environmental racism resourcesMany times and in many ways people of color are disproportionately affected by environmental problems. Here are some resources concerning this issue:
Energy and your own buildingConserving energy and using it efficiently doesn't mean you have to "shiver in the dark." In fact, taking these actions generally makes your building more comfortable and creates a better worship and work environment! 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.
NYSERDA Programs"Low Cost - No Cost" Energy AuditMost 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 really a "no-cost" energy audit since the cost is applied toward any of the recommended energy work you elect to do. Low interest loansThrough NYSERDA's Loan Fund program, participating lenders will "buy down" loans to an attractive interest rate for energy improvements for up to $500,000 or for "green building" projects for up to $500,000. The savings can be significant! Energy Star CongregationsAn additional resource is the Energy Star Congregations program sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Putting Energy Into Stewardship workbook is an excellent resource. It's detailed, but very clear and pertains specifically to church buildings. Lighting and Exit Signs Besides sealing leaks by caulking and so on, another easy way to save money - and prevent the emission of global warming gases - is to replace your current lighting with energy-efficient lighting and to replace your 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; in fact, it's usually what is recommended as one of the very first steps your congregation can take. One sign alone can save about $15-20 annually on electricity costs and can last up to 25 years without a lamp replacement, compared to less than one year for an incandescent. In addition to saving money, it saves maintenance time and hassle - and most important: it prevents the emission of global warming gases. Energy Stewardship Congregation ProgramThe Energy Stewardship Congregations Program is sponsored by the National Council of Churches' Eco-Justice Working Group. This is a great program for congregations. It has the built-in incentive of saving money and also focuses attention on the stewardship aspect of preventing pollution. Environmental Stewardship GuideA 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. Youth Compact Fluorescent Bulb ProjectJoin 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. Renewable Energy ChoicePeople in New York State now have true energy choice - we can choose "green" renewable energy, not just a different energy supplier! Churches, which fall in the "Residential" category in terms of energy, can choose to purchase various mixes of cleaner wind, small hydro, and biomass or even 100% wind, the pollution-free choice. If your church is in NiMo territory, your enrollment information is here; if you're in NYSEG territory, your information is here. All of these renewable energy choices mean that you're:
These renewable energy choices also mean that you're paying a surcharge on top of your current electricity cost. In these times of reduced church income, at first it might seem foolish to spend more on energy than what's absolutely necessary to keep the building habitable. But is it really foolish for churches to actively promote energy that doesn't cause acid rain or smog? That doesn't cause health problems, especially for children and adults? That doesn't contribute to further climate change that will impact all of God's creation - people today, future generations, and all of God's non-human creations? Many churches and groups of churches are making this stewardship commitment to justice - justice for people today, justice for future generations, and justice for all of God's creations - human and nonhuman. How to pay for renewable energy It is likely that energy conservation and efficiency measures that you take in your congregation's building will yield more than enough savings to be able to buy renewable energy, so it makes sense to focus on these measures first. And after all, the cleanest energy is the energy you don't use at all! Another solution is to ask your congregation's members to make a special contribution toward this purchase. Your church might hold fund-raisers to earn money toward this project. This is also an issue in which the youth of the church can participate. After all, they and their children will be the generations most dramatically affected by climate change. Your church can also benefit from joining in an interfaith effort to purchase "green" energy. |