Climate and energy

Yes, we too have been struggling to identify the perfect acronym. Is it KIPL? Is it KSIPL? If this catches as a national trend among the other state chapters, then Georgia becomes GIPL, Vermont becomes VIPL, and Nebraska becomes….?

One thing we haven’t had to struggle with though is recruitment of member-congregations. The interest in Kansas IPL has been outstanding and inspiring! Congregation leaders from across the state, from a rural Episcopal church with 30 families in McPherson to a 300 family Methodist church in Overland Park, have contacted us.

They all want to know: How can their congregation spend less money on their utility bills? (and thereby, spend that money on mission trips, food bank supplies, and materials for religious education classes, etc.)

Therefore, our first task has been to connect congregations with resources for low cost (and sometimes free!) energy audits of their facilities. The point of an energy audit is to help the facility managers identify the cost-effective, immediately available measures they can do to reduce their building’s energy use.

We’ve partnered with Energy Solutions Professionals (ESP), an Overland Park-based company, that has done free preliminary energy analyses for several of our member congregations. The results have been inspiring! For example, one congregation in Mission, Kansas, could reduce its energy costs by $7500 PER YEAR by instituting a series of energy-saving measures and investing in energy efficient equipment.

Many of the recommended measures have been similar, and include:

• Upgrading to fluorescent lightbulbs
• Using programmable thermostats fully- with aggressive temperature set-backs
• Installing water saving devices
• Installing EnergyStar rated appliances and equipment

Let me repeat: Measures like these save congregations THOUSANDS of dollars in avoided energy costs/year.

And the bonus? Reducing energy use reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Congregations can meaningfully address climate change, be better stewards of creation, AND save money at the same time.

For that congregation that could save $7500/year, ESP made the following table- highlighting the other impacts of their reduced energy use:

Interested in joining Kansas IPL? Contact Eileen Horn at horn@climateandenergy.org

Want to learn more about how congregations can save energy?

Check out EPA’s Energy Star for Congregations page and publications.

-by Eileen Horn, CEP’s director of education and outreach