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It is often said that energy efficiency can be considered our country’s largest energy resource for the future. If individuals, businesses and yes, even churches used energy more wisely we could potentially trim our usage by up to 20-25% from projected levels by 2020. Churches can practice being good stewards of God’s creation by reducing their energy consumption throughout the week.

Here are a few suggestions to help you get started:?

1. Conduct an energy audit. By participating in an Energy Audit through your local power company, you can determine how you can make your church building more energy efficient. This is a great way to begin the energy efficiency process because you will know exactly where your church could improve.
2. Control the climate. During the week, when congregation members are not in the building, be aware that your sanctuary and unused classrooms do not need to be a comfortable 75 degrees. By keeping these rooms cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer, you also reduce the cost of your church’s electric bill.
3. Change the bulbs. Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (or CFL for short) have become popular replacements for incandescent bulbs, with good reason. CLF bulbs use about 75 percent less energy and last about 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs do.
4. Establish a Creation Care Council. Creating a Creation Care Council allows individuals who are passionate about being compassionate stewards of God’s creation to lead their congregation in action and education on energy efficiency and conservation.
5. Become an Energy Star congregation. Many congregations can cut energy costs by up to 30% by investing in energy efficient equipment, building upgrades and maintenance. Energy Star gives congregations free information and technical support in order for congregations to more easily improve church’s budget costs for energy-related bills.

There are numerous resources available online to educate you and your congregation about energy efficiency and give you more ways to improve your church’s efficiency.

• To read A Christian’s Call to Conserve (pdf) and other CLC publications about energy efficiency and conservation, please visit http://www.bgct.org/texasbaptists.
• To find out more about Energy Star and how your church can become an Energy Star congregation, http://www.energystar.gov/.
• To find out what faith groups in Texas and other states are doing to help conserve energy, visit Interfaith Power and Light.

Solar opportunity for residents in North Texas
Homeowners in North Texas now have an option to “go solar”! TXU Energy is teaming up with California-based firm SolarCity to lease solar panels to homeowners for about $35 a month. Installation of the solar panels is free, and SolarCity takes care of maintenance and insurance. The lease is a 15-year commitment, and the monthly price rises 2.5 percent annually, so over time there is a cost. But the trade-off is well worth it.

The CEO of SolarCity estimates that the panels will result in a 15 and 20 percent savings for customers on their electric bills. And TXU Energy’s vice president for innovation gave the following example in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram to illustrate the savings a customer might see.

A 4-kilowatt solar array of about 20 panels, sufficient for a three-bedroom or four-bedroom home, would have an initial leasing cost of about $35 per month. A homeowner paying 12 cents per kilowatt-hour might reduce a monthly electric bill by $50 with the solar system, producing a net savings after the leasing fee.

For residents in the North Texas area, this new solar option is a great way to use a renewable energy source to save money and care for God’s creation.

We value your input and suggestions.
Your comments and recommended resources are welcome in the comments box below.

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