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Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Hayesville, NC wins national award for work at nexus of climate and poverty

By nancy

Energy saving volunteers in North Carolina work at nexus of climate and poverty Community Inspiration Winner of IPL’s Cool Congregations Challenge Good Shepherd Episcopal Church Hayesville, North Carolina CO2 Reduction: […]

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Hayesville, NC wins national award for work at nexus of climate and poverty

Energy saving volunteers in North Carolina work at nexus of climate and poverty

Community Inspiration Winner of IPL’s Cool Congregations Challenge

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church
Hayesville, North Carolina

CO2 Reduction: 33 metric tons/year
Prevents: 35,000 lbs. of coal from being burned
Families helped: 40 and counting
Percent CO2 Reduction: 10-20% per household

Good Shepherd Episcopal HayesvilleA group of around ten climate concerned volunteers from Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and the Hayesville community are answering a combined moral calling to help the poor and be good stewards of Creation. Working with local poverty and charity organizations, they have helped 40 disadvantaged families reduce their carbon footprint and save money on energy bills. After a referral is identified, the volunteer team performs a free energy assessment, identifies sources of free or low cost materials, locates sources of funding, and then provides free labor to get the job done. Upgrades include such things as LED lighting, weather stripping, insulation, and replacing inefficient heating and cooling systems. Some of the work is done in conjunction with the Hinton Center which operates a retreat / mission center in the local community and which brings in mission teams from all over the country as part of their work. Good Shepherd will be integrating its efforts with the Hinton Center so that a side benefit will be that volunteers from Hinton will learn some exposure to the energy saving approaches and ideas.

 While this effort is sponsored by Good Shepherd, volunteers of all faiths and religious backgrounds are welcomed to assist in helping our neighbors become more financially independent and reduce the financial stress of occasional extremely high energy bills.  The volunteers at Good Shepherd are also available to help congregations in other areas create an Energy Saving Volunteers effort in your local congregation or community.
For more information contact the church office at 838-389-3397, or email Brad Rouse at brouse_invest@yahoo.com or Amy Nicolson at amyandgil@hotmail.com .

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of W-S

By chris

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem has a long and exciting set of goals, accomplishments, and challenges relating to its Green Sanctuary Program accreditation. We have a broad range of […]

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of W-S

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Winston Salem Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem has a long and exciting set of goals, accomplishments, and challenges relating to its Green Sanctuary Program accreditation. We have a broad range of practices to build awareness of the significance and complexity of environmental issues facing our society. We often have sermons by our minister and visiting experts on environmental justice and population issues. We recently participated in Interfaith Power & Light’s Preach-In on Climate Change, with a Pulpit Editorial and the collection of signatures on postcards to President Obama urging him to take climate change seriously. The children and teachers enjoy the religious education curriculum with lots of time outside, exploring our woods and big backyard. They pay particular attention to the different habitats we have on our property and discuss what types of animals live in each. Last summer, a group of families restored one of our gardens and we were happy to see it flourish with new sustainable plants (pictured below). We are also proud of our green kitchen which composts its food waste, uses only washable tableware and napkins, and has a high efficiency dishwasher.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem
4055 Robinhood Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27106
Contact: Gus Preschle, exploor@triad.rr.com

The Fellowship also sponsors programs designed to support sustainable lifestyles.  The Religious Education program, as well as environmental articles in our monthly newsletters, has highlighted opportunities for individuals to recycle more, use fewer toxic substances at home and at work, compost using a 2-barrel system developed by one of our members, and carpool to Fellowship activities. The Buildings Committee continues to keep our beautiful buildings green and healthy. This not only reduces our environmental footprint, but it serves as a model for committee members and all others visiting our building so that they may take lessons learned home and try them there. Our key actions regarding energy conservation include changing the air filters per schedule, annually testing the toilets and sinks for water leakage, maintaining thermostat settings for best efficiency, vacuuming major appliance coils each year, annually checking the windows and doors for leakage, annually checking the HVAC units for coolant leakage, and continuing to replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs. The Grounds Committee continues to use best practices for enhancing the quality of our habitat while minimizing the use of harmful herbicides and pesticides. They also limit mowing to an as needed schedule. They use community mulch and provide maintenance to the large rain garden installed in 2010.

We also engage in community action on climate change issues. Environmentally friendly, low-income housing is in great need in our community. To help with this, four members of the Fellowship organized and worked on a committee to design and build an advanced prototype Green Home for Habitat for Humanity. Over 50 UU volunteers contributed to the construction of the home. Lessons learned are already being used on new Habitat homes. We also had volunteer Saturdays for Habitat Women Build Energy Star rated homes.

An important part of our mission is to strengthen the connection between spiritual practice and Earth consciousness. We constructed our Green Sanctuary Program around our respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are all a part. The music and songs selected for Services, readings at Chalice lightings for committee meetings, and the dedication of the many volunteers that support these programs reflect these beliefs.

Many members work to heal environmental injustices. The aforementioned cards to our government, as well as Letters to the Editor, and organized emails and phone calls to elected officials are directed at resolving the unequal distribution of healthy goods and services, and the placement of unhealthy landfills, coal ash ponds, and poorly maintained schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Some of our members serve in leadership positions in environmental organizations such as the Piedmont Environmental Alliance, the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, the Neighborhood Alliance, and CHANGE (Communities Helping All Neighbors Gain Empowerment).

While we do not currently have an actively functioning sustainability committee, it is easy to see that environmental grass roots activities are well entrenched in our Fellowship Ministry and committee structure.  We look forward to even more exciting programs in the future.

– Gus Preschle, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem Member

West Market Street United Methodist Church, Greensboro

By chris

West Market Street United Methodist Church’s Care4Creation team launched a “Let There Be Light” campaign during the month of April to educate the congregation about the benefits of LED light […]

West Market Street United Methodist Church, Greensboro

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Congregation Members at the LED Display
Congregation Members at the LED Display

West Market Street United Methodist Church’s Care4Creation team launched a “Let There Be Light” campaign during the month of April to educate the congregation about the benefits of LED light bulbs and to invite contributions towards purchasing bulbs for three highly used areas of the church.  The emphasis built up to a worship service on April 28 to celebrate God’s creation and call on the congregation to “Love What God Loves.”

In the spring of 2012, the Care4Creation ministry team at West Market St. UMC, located in downtown Greensboro, NC, conceived of the idea of reducing energy consumption in the church facility by switching to LED light bulbs, which are estimated to last ten times longer that conventional bulbs.  Not only would replacement reduce the wattage used by replacing 100 and 150 watt incandescent bulbs with 15 watt LED, the costs related to air conditioning in the Fellowship Hall and the Gathering Space where large groups of people convene for meetings, dinners, and a modern worship service would be greatly reduced.  In addition, the team wanted to replace the bulbs in the historic sanctuary to cut costs there as well.

With the guidance of an electrical designer and contractor, C4C researched LED bulbs’ cost, color quality, wattage, etc.  With bulbs costing $25-$40, the project seemed out of reach.  But the team realized that most church members would probably be willing to invest in a light bulb to help cut electrical costs in our large facility.  Information was shared with the church Trustees and Finance committees, who endorsed the project.

For four Sundays in April, the congregation members came to the LED Display which included a box wired with a incandescent bulb and an LED bulb to compare the light and the heat emitted from each.  A potter in the congregation donated a handmade lamp and an artist donated a painting of the church, which were given to two donors whose names were chosen at the end of the campaign. Persons were invited to donate $25 toward the purchase of an LED bulb.

The good news is that the congregation responded! Over $3,500.00 was raised.  Before purchasing bulbs, WMS will apply to the Duke Power Smart Saver Incentive program in hopes of being rewarded with a rebate for this proposal to cut energy costs. Then we will know what funds we will actually have to go towards the purchase and installation of LED bulbs. Let there be light: LED!

Contact Name: Rev. Pam Strader
Contact Email: revpls@earthlink.net
Contact Phone: 336-457-0091

Christ Episcopal Church, Albemarle Offers NCIPL Energy Workshop to Public

By chris

Written by Nancy Bryant, Good Earth Committee, 704-474-9134 Christ Episcopal Church, Albemarle Christ Episcopal Church’s Good Earth Committee offered a free two-hour workshop on energy efficiency for Stanly churches on […]

Christ Episcopal Church, Albemarle Offers NCIPL Energy Workshop to Public

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Written by Nancy Bryant, Good Earth Committee, 704-474-9134

Christ Episcopal Church, Albemarle

Stan Scheer, Christ Church Buildings and Grounds Committee, discusses lighting issues with some of the workshop participants. L to R Ron Bryant, Eric Soderberg, Workshop Leader, Stan, David Wilheim, and Pastor Doug VanNiel.

Stan Scheer of Christ Church’s Buildings and Grounds Committee discusses lighting issues with some of the workshop participants. Left to Right: Ron Bryant, Eric Soderberg (Workshop Leader), Stan, David Wilheim, and Pastor Doug VanNiel.

Christ Episcopal Church’s Good Earth Committee offered a free two-hour workshop on energy efficiency for Stanly churches on Saturday, April 27, 2013,  as part of Christ Church’s Caring for Creation Month emphasis.

The purpose of the workshop was two-fold:  1. to offer information on how energy efficiencies might be accomplished at low or no cost in order to free up monies to use for ministries, and 2.  to offer understanding of how these efficiencies move our faith communities toward being more faithful stewards of God’s Creation.

The workshop was led by Eric Soderberg, a mechanical engineer and an extension specialist with NC State facilities engineering and energy management program, who offers free workshops to faith communities in the Piedmont region sponsored by NC Interfaith Power and Light, a program of NC Council of Churches.

Eric presented a power point, including many questions and discussion that applied not only to churches, but also to other commercial and residential buildings.

After the presentation, the group toured the Christ Episcopal facilities looking for opportunities to increase energy efficiencies.

Participants included clergy and lay leaders from Locust Presbyterian, Wesley Chapel United Methodist, Mt Zion Lutheran, St John’s Lutheran and Christ Episcopal.

Learn how to arrange an energy savings analysis for your faith community.

Durham Shambhala Meditation Center Energy Audit Reflection

By chris

“A couple of years ago NCIPL did an energy audit at the Durham Shambhala Meditation Center, and about that time the Center also sponsored a showing and discussion of Al […]

Durham Shambhala Meditation Center Energy Audit Reflection

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clothesline“A couple of years ago NCIPL did an energy audit at the Durham Shambhala Meditation Center, and about that time the Center also sponsored a showing and discussion of Al Gore’s film “An Inconvenient Truth”.  As a (now retired) employee of the US EPA, I considered myself pretty environmentally aware, but I was surprised to learn that for most people their greatest contribution to carbon dioxide outputs comes not from their cars but from the fossil fuel burned to heat and cool their houses and run the appliances therein.  In a way this was somewhat of a relief for me because I can’t afford a Prius, and I don’t have good enough depth vision to drive a car with such rounded fenders.  So I’m sticking with my old 24 mpg station wagon for now, but I definitely wanted to do something.  I found that just using a solar clothes dryer (known back in the 20th century as a clothesline) saved almost 40% on our electric bills in the spring and fall.

Also in response to both the audit and the movie, I looked into various options when the HVAC system in my home needed to be replaced and decided to go with a dual fuel heat pump rather than a standard gas pack.  I found estimates that the dual fuel heat pump, while more expensive initially, would pay for itself in 7-9 years as well as generate less carbon dioxide from the day of installation.  The guy that installed it said “Yeah, yeah, they say” but I’d estimate it will pay for itself in about 5 years.

I was asked to write a couple of paragraphs on the impact of the audit, but now I find it hard to stop.  While nothing can ever be as cost-effective as a $2 clothesline, every time I was out there hanging up clothes on a beautiful sunny day, I found I still wanted to do more to utilize the abundant sunshine we are blessed with in this area.  I’d heard that solar water heating, while more mundane, was more cost-effective than photovoltaics.  However, the commercial solar water heating systems that we looked at cost at least $3,000 so we were looking at a big up-front investment and a long pay-back time.  We are currently in the process of having a do-it-yourself solar water pre-heater installed based on a design from Mother Earth News.  The cost will be just over $1,000 so we hope to at least recover our investment in our lifetimes as well as being the first in the neighborhood to have solar-heated hot water.  Once we get that done we are going to put in a small off-grid photovoltaic system.  I doubt this will ever pay for itself, but it will obviously make some difference in electric bills and carbon dioxide generated and also be a reliable source of electricity during power outages.”

-Jackie  Stonehouer, Member of Durham Shambala Meditation Center

To schedule your congregation’s audit, contact us info@ncipl.org.

St. Thomas More Energy Audit Reflection

By chris

“As I’ve been asked to make some personal reflections on the energy audit at St. Thomas More Parish sponsored by NCIPL, let me offer these few comments.  We had a […]

St. Thomas More Energy Audit Reflection

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Parishioner upgrading lighting.
Parishioner upgrading lighting.

“As I’ve been asked to make some personal reflections on the energy audit at St. Thomas More Parish sponsored by NCIPL, let me offer these few comments.  We had a major building project in 2007-2010 during which we had incorporated several energy-saving features.  However, we did not have sufficient capital to do all that we wished during construction.  When NCIPL contacted us about a free energy audit, we were approaching Advent, 2011 and the start of our liturgical year of energy reduction that we in the Environmental Stewardship Ministry sponsor.  We said “yes” because we figured that we’d hear some items we knew and some that we didn’t.

Mr. John Seymour, an NCIPL volunteer auditor from the NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (Division of Environmental Assistance and Outreach) performed our audit.  John was very professional, skilled in his field and personable.  I especially appreciated that before we ever looked at a building, he walked us through the zero-cost behavior changes that could lead to savings.  With a very large congregation and with visitors using our facilities, and with a large faculty and student population we don’t easily manage behaviors.  Sometimes you have to put in central control of a thermostat so it’s not changed by each user!  We did find some suggestions that staff and faculty could implement, so that’s the easiest fruit to harvest.

Since not all buildings could be covered in the time available, we looked at the new Parish Center and the Sanctuary.  Afterwards we prioritized our list of items based on affordability and pay-back.  The only cost for our first item was the labor of the maintenance staff.  The air flow from the sanctuary HV/AC was re-directed away from the windows and into the sanctuary so that heat or cooling loss from the glass was minimized.  We had no way to estimate cost savings from this item.  The next change was more substantial, the replacement of halogen lights in the entrance hall ceiling with LED lights.  A total of 152 halogen lights were replaced with LED lights for a monthly cost savings of $170.87, based on an estimated average usage of just six hours per day.  Our $3000 initial investment will be paid off in 18 months and from then on we’ll be benefitting from that $171/month savings.  And the need to replace the bulbs is years away!

I think we’re allowed to celebrate successes, and the energy reduction already achieved from the audit is a success.  One dimension is the money saved, which can be directed to fulfilling the mission of the parish.  Secondly, there is the reduction in electricity usage, which in North Carolina means burning less coal and generating less carbon dioxide.  Finally, this is just one way we are participating in the larger mission of the Environmental Stewardship Ministry, to “Care for Creation and the Poor.”  Our list is still long, there’s always more to do!”

-Bob Weickert, Co-Chair of the Environmental Stewardship Ministry at St. Thomas More, Chapel Hill

To schedule your congregation’s audit, contact us info@ncipl.org.