Climate Stewardship Opportunities

Prairie Climate Stewardship Network

Church Buildings: Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation

KAIROS Energy Workbook for Religious Buildings is a good resource for churches interested in evaluating their energy use and making changes. In addition to a checklist, the workbook includes detailed descriptions to help achieve energy efficiency and conservation. The following areas are examined: Building, Equipment, Greenspace, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air-conditioning), Lighting, Refrigeration, Waste, and Wate. KAIROS' initiative, Energy Efficiency for Religious Buildings, "is designed to educate and inform members of faith communities, especially those with responsibility for buildings and properties, about specific programs and opportunities they can access to reduce their GHG emissions."

Becoming a Green Congregation: Transforming Faith Communities Web of Creation offers the following resources on its website: Green Congregation Manuals; Getting Started: The Overall Plan, comprising materials "designed to train a small group of lay people and clergy to bring care for creation into the full life and mission of your congregation"; Worship; Religious Education; Building and Grounds; Home and Work; Advocacy; and Congregational Reports.

ENERGY STAR for Congregations ENERGY STAR offers information on analyzing and upgrading your facility, along with technical support. A guide for congregations, "Putting Energy into Stewardship," is available for download on this site. Congregations are invited to join "ENERGY STAR for Congregations." "Most congregations can cut energy costs by up to 30% by investing strategically in efficient equipment, facility upgrades and maintenance. With free, unbiased information and technical support from ENERGY STAR, your congregation can more easily improve stewardship of your budget’s energy dollars, and of the earth by reducing energy waste and energy costs, while protecting the environment."

Green Building Primer for Church Building Download PDF complied by Episcopal Diocese of West Texas Environmental Stewardship Committee "This Green Building Primer for Church Buildings has been prepared by the Environmental Stewardship Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas. Its purpose is to introduce the layman to some of the principles and concepts of Green Building, also known as Sustainable Building, and to provide a guide to resources for implementing those concept." Includes how to go about convincing a parish to adopt green practices.

Examples of what some churches elsewhere have done, either in existing structures (modern and historic), through remodeling/renovations, and the expansion of facilities.

Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Use light emitting diode (LED) exit signs.

Use Energy Star appliances in buildings.

Replace older toilet units with 1.6 gallon-per-flush efficient toilets.

Insulate water heater tanks.

Seal heating and cooling ductwork.

Adequately caulk and weather-strip windows and doors.

Install energy efficient windows.

Rebuild entrance doors (historic buildings).

Improve insulation in attic and walls.

Switch heating system from oil to natural gas, which burns cleaner (historic building).

Breakdown of facility's heating and air conditioning system into several zones, each with an EnergyStar programmable thermostat.

Integrate passive solar design with buildings.

Have essential lighting for buildings provided by natural daylight whenever possible.

Use recycled materials or wood harvested from certified sustainable forests whenever possible.

For a look at what is being done here, go to Faith Communities. If you would like to share with us what your church or community is doing, you can do so by e-mail. We look forward to receiving such information and posting it.