The Bishop’s Challenge:

Building

Congregation Challenge:

Integrate care for creation into building management, policy, and resource use.

Ready to try an action in this area?  Ideas for actions (and resource links) are below, or you can come up with your own innovative
action idea and let us know about it.

Energy Use

Conduct an Energy Audit of Congregational Buildings

Making your church facilities more energy efficient can save your congregation money while reducing your carbon footprint. Your local utility provider, as well as New Jersey's Clean Energy Program (NJCEP), can help you complete an energy audit for your congregational buildings. This is a great way to assess areas where your buildings could benefit from energy efficiency upgrades.

Implement Energy Tracking and Management

Energy costs are a significant outlay in congregational budgets. Good energy usage information is critical for identifying and prioritizing potential building performance improvement opportunities. Tracking also helps quantify the actual impact of any upgrade investments that are made. Upgrades such as thermostats, window film/double-paned windows, shading sun-exposed windows and walls, using task lighting/reducing the number of fixtures, time lighting/motion sensors, and LED or low-mercury fluorescent lights can all save energy and money. Download the free Action Workbook for Congregations from ENERGY STAR for Congregations.

Update / Retrofit Lighting

Replace incandescent bulbs with ENERGY STAR certified LEDs. Turn off lights when not in use. Maintain appropriate lighting levels. Upgrade older T12 fluorescent bulbs with magnetic ballasts to more effiecient T8 or T5 fluorescent bulbs with solid-state electronic ballasts. Ensure that LED retrofit kits are safe for use. Install LED exit signs. Install occupancy/vacancy sensors. Install daylight-responsive lighting controls.

Upgrade Insulation

Utilize the ENERGY STAR resources on Sealing and Insulating. Outside air can enter a building through a variety of places including windows, walls, the roof, and insulation and is a major energy drain. Check for leaks throughout the property. Check exterior walls for leaking and proper insulation. Check the roof and attic spaces to ensure the roof is in good condition and the attic is properly insulated. Consider investing in a "green roof" or "cool roof."

Plan sustainable/energy-conscious Renovation or New Construction

Plan renovations or new construction projects that are LEED rated or incorporate sustainable materials, energy-efficient applicances and lighting, best practices for insulation and HVAC design, etc.

Renewable Energy / Solar

Buy Electricity From a Renewable Source

Congregations are able to buy electricity from a renewable resource on the open market. The electricity is then delivered through their usual utility supply channel. By purchasing renewable electricity, a congregation can often reduce its energy costs while also reducing its greenhouse emissions. Find a renewal source.

Install an Onsite Solar System

Utilizing solar electricity and/or solar heating reduces a congregation's environmental footprint, helps them control energy costs, and demonstrates a committment to clean energy solutions.

Install a Solar Parking Lot

Placing solar canopies on large parking lots offers a host of advantages — making use of land that is already cleared, producing electricity close to those who need it, and even shading cars.

Install a Geothermal Energy System

Investing in a geothermal energy system produces significant long term net cost savings, provides a comfortable indoor environment, and reduces fossil fuel emissions. Heat pump technology can be retrofitted to an existing building or incorporated into new construction.

Policies

Adopt a Green Building Policy/Training

Green Building policies demonstrate a congregation's commitment to environmental, economic, and social stewardship. A Green Building policy considers opportunities to incorporate green building measures into the design, construction, operation, and maintenence of church buildings and facilities.

Water

Upgrade / Retrofit Water Fixtures

Promote water-efficient products and practices to conserve water and save energy and operating costs. Conduct a water assessment to identify major water uses on church properties. Purchase ENERGY STAR certified water heaters, insulate water heaters, find and fix leaks, set water temperatures only as hot as needed, and optimize the amount of water used in heating and cooling systems. Practice water efficient landscaping. Construct sustainable stormwater management practices.

Remove Lead in Drinking Water

Lead in drinking water has no color, taste, or smell. Lead is a potent poison that can affect individuals at any age. Exposure to lead in drinking water comes mostly from lead in service lines, plumbing, fixtures, pipes, and soder. The impacts of lead exposure include behavorial problems, inability to pay attention, negative impact on academic achievement, kidney damage, and anemia. Use this guide to identify lead-free fixtures. Church facilities built prior to 1986 should consider testing drinking water for lead.

Sustainable Products

Use Green Cleaning Products

The use of green cleaning and air freshening products minimizes the effects on health, the environment, and worker safety. Look for nationally recognized Ecolabels such as Biopreferred, ECOLOGO, Safer Choice, or Green Seal for use in your church facilities. Green cleaning products are available that meet EPS's list of products effective for use against COVID-19.

Recycling

Improve recycling station set-up

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! Encourage effective recycling by placing receptacles throughout buildings. Improve signage to ensure clarity. Education is key to a successful recycling program.

Congregations already working in these areas:

Christ Lutheran (Paramus)
Pastor Jonathan Westerund

Cape May
Pastor Jeff Elliot

St. Mathew (Secaucus)
Pastor Danielle McCleary

Solar Energy at Christ Evangelical in Paramus

Christ Evangelical installed a 8.97kW system in 2006. The system creates more electricity than the church could use, and the church has a special "societal benefit" electricity rate making financial savings not as meaningful, so the panels are actually connected to our Education Building next door and provides ~30% of electricity to the Education Building

It is estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 228,000 pounds over 20 years.

When installed, NJ was giving large incentives to install solar so most of the cost was credited by the state. The balance was to be paid over up to 20 years from electricity cost savings; if not paid within 20 years, the balance is forgiven.

There are about two years remaining with this plan. After that, the church owns the panels "free and clear" and benefits from 100% of the cost savings.

Contact christinparamus @ hotmail.com (201-262-0138) with questions.