Simple Energy Saving Techniques for Faith Communities

8/3/2019 Simple Energy Saving Techniques for Faith Communities

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Simple EnergySimple Energy- -SavingSavingTechniquesTechniques

Greening FaithGreening FaithCommunities in IndianaCommunities in Indiana


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W elcome! And Our Agenda} This presentation is about simple energy-

saving techniques for your building} Please feel free to share this presentationwith your congregation

} This presentation is one of a seriesdesigned to help congregations nurturetheir relationships with God and our planet


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The Goal} The goal for this presentation is to offer

simple and practical ways you can cutback on energy use today} You will learn about energy-saving

techniques as well as sustainablelandscaping ideas

} You can take these ideas home and putthem into practice there as well!


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Greening FaithCommunitiesSimple ways to start


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First Steps} Know how much energy you use . Pay

attention, get an energy audit, record your usage over time .} You can d o a basic assessment on your own,

by looking at utility bills from the past year andnoticing which rooms in your building are usedmost .

} N ote the kin d s of light bulbs you are using, aswell as the age of heating and coolingsystems and the amount of power they use .


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Consider an Energy Audit} An energy au d itor can help you identify

the ways in which you currently use energyand identify opportunities for reducingyour energy consumption

} If an energy au d it is too expensive , ask whether the vendor offers energyassessments

} Some utility companies will offer energyaudits to churches at a free or re d uce d rate


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W hat will anEnergy Audit tell you?} The age of your current systems

} H ow effective your heating an d coolingsystem is, where you are losing heat (or cooling)

} H ow effective your insulation level andstructure are in terms of energy efficiency

} H ow much energy youre losing withunuse d space or lighting overages

} W here you can save by reducing use


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Begin to Make a Plan} M ake a long-term energy-saving plan .

According to the National Council ofChurches, If all U .S. congregations madechanges to practice environmentalstewardship, theyd save an estimated$573 million annually and prevent 6 million

tons of CO2 from polluting the air . Thatsthe equivalent of taking one million carsoff the road .


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Be Energy Aware} Explore energy alternatives . Not every

congregation can support solar, wind, or geothermal energy, but investigate differenttechnologies to see if any are suited to your area and site .

} C onsi d er energy management . Large,outdated furnaces and air conditioning units

use large amounts of energy . New energymanagement systems can help you fine-tunethe way energy is used in your building .


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Start Small} S tart small . Begin with simple changes you know

you can make easilysuch as switching toenergy-efficient light bulbs, adding to your insulation, adding ceiling fans, using LED bulbs inexit signs, and using insulated curtains . The EPAclaims that congregations can save 30 percenton their utility bills by making simple changes .

} Recycle . Recycle church bulletins and providebins for congregational recycling . Consider alsohaving a tox-away bin for items like electronics .


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Adjust Lighting and Temperature} Use CFL s . Compact fluorescent lights last 10

times longer than incandescent bulbs andcost much less to operate .

} Turn d own the thermostat . According to theNCC, Each degree of temperatureadjustment can save about 3 percent onenergy costs .


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Reduce Your Output} C ut back on chemicals . Change to

environmentally safe cleaning products, andavoid using pesticides on your landscape .

} C ut d own on waste . Place recycling bins inyour kitchen and at key points in your building . Provide bins for cans, plastic, andpaper, and take them to the recyclingcenter regularly . Post a calendar so your members know when you take recycling in .


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Energy Efficiencyin the KitchenR educe, reuse, recycle, rethink !


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Chip in with the Real Deal} G reen your fellowship time . Choose to

offer organic, fair-trade coffee . Useceramic mugs you can wash and putaway instead of using disposable cups .

} P itch in an d clean up . For big groupdinners, consider inviting members tobring a dish to share . They can prepare

the food at home and then bring it toshare with others at church .


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Reduce Energy & Take Dishes H ome

} Bring your own. Reduce your use of paper products by encouraging families to bring their

own dishes and silverware to dinner or lunchfunctions . They can then take their plates hometo wash themselves . Conserves water, time,dishes, and electricity!

} C onserve energy in the kitchen . Use your

dishwasher only when full.

Set coffeemakers ontimers to ensure their heating elements turn offwhen not needed . Unplug any unusedappliances .


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Greening Your LandscapeSustainable, native plantingsless work,no chemicals


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W hat Is a SustainableLandscape?}

Sustainable landscaping uses theresources at your site to create naturalbeautiful gardens that are suited to your environment .


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Create a H abitat} Use natural plantings . W hen you plant

Indiana native species, they are hardier and better suited to the climate andrequire less upkeep .

} Support animals, bir d s, bees, an d bats. Byplanting wildflowers, berry bushes, trees,and grasses and groundcover, youprovide needed food and shelter for native species .


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Stop Power Leeching} Turn off your office equipment at night .

Plug everything into power strips and turnthe whole strip off before you leave .

} M anage P C power . Set up your computers to use the power management software which savesenergy .


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Recycle W hat You Can} There are many things you can recycle

from normal office use:} Used paper } Printer cartridges and toner } Old computer equipment and peripherals} Books} Used computer parts (replaced memory,

graphics cards, speakers, etc .)


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Create a GreenCommunityShare what you can; show what you know


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The H eart of the Matter } Look at the faith roots of your green efforts.

Start a book study to help your membersconsider earth stewardship in light of your tradition .

} Exchange goo d s . Create a bulletin board sothat your members can let others know whatthey would like to find and what theyd like togive away . Things like books, movies, toys,tools, and furniture can easily move from onefamily to another .


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Be Meeting Smart} Think about sharing ri d es . Encourage your

congregation to carpool to and from church .

Make a map available for those who live inthe same area to plan their rides . If you havea van you can also arrange to pick membersup instead of having them drive different cars .

} O rganize your meetings . Depending on thenumber of meetings you have, you may be

able to reduce travel time to and from your building by grouping certain meetings whenyou know a large number of members will beonsite .


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Next Steps toward EnergyEfficiencyW hat can you do nextfor your community?


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Next Steps to Consider } Create a green team}

Start a book study about greenstewardship} Schedule an energy audit} Identify and prioritize projects}

Educate your congregation} Share what you learn


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W ho Should be onYour Green Team?} Your building and

maintenance members} Your facilities

committee} Your pastor or clerk } Laypeople of all ages!} Anyone interested in

Earth care


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About the presenter

Katherine M urray is the author of A SimpleGuide to Eco-Spirituality (Luminis Books,

2012), and Listening to the Earth: Meditations on Experiencing and Belongingto Nature (Lorian Press, 2011) as well as aspiritual director, writer, and adjunct facultyat Earlham School of Religion, where sheteaches Eco-Spirituality and SupervisedMinistry courses . You can reach Katherine through her blog,

Simply Eco-Spiritual , or email her atkmurray230@sbcglobal .net .

Please share this presentation freely!

Thank you!

Simple Energy Saving Techniques for Faith Communities

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