Transcript IPL 2 - The Regeneration Project

The Regeneration Project
The mission is to deepen the
connection between ecology and faith
The Regeneration Project
Interfaith Power & Light
Mobilize a religious
response to global warming
and to promote renewable
energy, energy efficiency
and conservation
Global Warming
Scientist’s say…
Despite every conceivable attempt to discredit it, the
science of climate change is overwhelmingly robust.
Most of the global warming over the last 50 years is
attributable to human activities (mostly by everincreasing emissions of carbon dioxide). A number of
devastating changes consistent with our warming
climate have been observed, including rising sea levels,
increased frequency and severity of droughts, ice-cap
melting, threats of species extinction and expansion of
the ranges of tropical diseases into new territory.
Ice shelves are melting
and breaking away
Kilimanjaro 1970
Kilimanjaro 2000
What Global Climate Change
Means for Southern California
New ED Report Predicts:
• Increased smog
• More wildfires
• Severe storms
• Water shortages
Choices you can make
Wind Power
(and other renewable energy choices)
Fuel Efficiency
Alternative Transportation
Success Stories
From California to Michigan and
Massachusetts to Oregon we are helping
congregations save energy, become more
energy efficient and encourage responsible
energy policy to protect God’s Creation.
•St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church - 19,000sq. ft.
•Energy Audit to develop the “game plan”
•Weather stripping, cleaning steam traps,
•window insulation (also protects against vandalism),
thermal curtain (saves energy and keeps people comfortable),
replaced lights and exit signs, reflective material on roof
• Replace boiler, add
solar, wind and solar
thermal hot water
• Replaced appliances
with energy star
appliances and got
discount through
MIPL program
• Investment - $150K
• Savings - $20K/year
which is a 50%
reduction in their
energy budget
• Boiler alone was $50K
but saved $7K year
Shir Hadash Synagogue
Solar Power
• The congregation’s decision to go solar was spurred by
support by CA IPL and Rabbi Melanie Aron’s desire
to address global warming and to follow the Jewish
teaching of Tikkun Olam, to repair the Earth
•Shir Hadash spent about 18 months fundraising from
their members (including their tenth grade Confirmation
Class’ compact fluorescent light bulb sales), researching
solar companies, and preparing to install their
photovoltaic system. The end result is a beautiful10kW
photovoltaic solar array, which will meet about 25% of
their energy demands.
• In order to be more energy efficient, Shir Hadash
replaced its heat-absorbing tar and gravel roof with a
“cool roof”. This new reflective roof is insulating and
also helps to cool the building and thereby reduce
energy use.
• Other energy changes at the congregation include
replacing all hallway lighting fixtures with more energy
efficient ballasts. All of these changes add up to
significant energy savings.
All Saints
Episcopal
Parish
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
• All Saints Episcopal Church
in MA installed a new boiler
with zoned heating,
programmable thermostats,
and more efficient lighting
• Annual savings of $17,000
• They've used 14 percent of the
savings to buy 100 percent
renewable energy, further
reducing pollutants.
California IPL
•In 2002 CA passed "the Pavley bill" in reference to its sponsor Fran
Pavley, a California assemblywoman – which will reduce carbon
dioxide emissions from trucks and cars by 22 percent by 2012 and
30 percent by 2016.
•160 religious leaders signed an open letter that was published in
Sacramento Bee
•Legislators heard from congregants and, in some cases, heard the
moral argument for protecting clean air from their pastor.
•Other states are now working to pass similar legislation
Sacramento Bee op-ed
Oregon IPL
•Received funding
from The Regeneration
Project for the West
Coast Governor’s
Initiative on Global
Warming
Photo: Bill Bradlee
• Mobilized the faith community in Oregon
who then provided letters, meetings, phone
calls around policy recommendations
• Oregon DOE recognized the faith community
in their report
• Met with Governor Kulongoski on March
23rd who took more than 30 minutes to talk
with them
The Oregonian
Friday, March 25, 2005
Oregon should adopt California's tough new tailpipe
emission standards and lead the fight against warming…
... When the region decided in 1980 to spend billions of
dollars to conserve energy, rather than build new power
plants, critics said the plan was too costly, the benefits too
uncertain. At the time it seemed an enormous amount to
spend on conservation, but the region now earns back its
investment in energy savings every 18 months…
Thank You!
The Rev. Sally Bingham
[email protected]