Simple Energy Saving Techniques for Faith Communities
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Transcript of 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!