Transcript IPL 1 - The Regeneration Project

The Regeneration
Project’s
Interfaith
Power &
Light
Program
Mobilize a religious response to global warming and to
promote renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation
Outreach * Education *Advocacy
•Congregational membership (double in 2006)
•Shared resources among IPLs
•Regrant Program
•Annual meeting
•Regular communication (list-serv, conference calls)
•Media outreach
•Networking and connections
•Strategic plan development
Success Stories
From California to Michigan and Massachusetts
to Oregon we are helping congregations save
energy, become more energy efficient, use
renewable energy and encourage responsible
energy policy to protect our Earth.
Michigan IPL developed an ambitious pilot project - an
online shopping cart that is offering congregational
members energy efficient lighting products and
appliances at well below retail pricing. At the checkout,
the customer gets an estimate of energy savings, dollar
savings, emission reductions and the equivalent of trees
planted or cars taken off of the road given their
purchase. Michigan IPL is tracking the impacts as the
congregations report changes. The results so far are
reduction of over 6000 tons of CO2, 23 tons of SO2, 11
tons of NOX and 907 lbs. of particulates resulting in a
savings of $652,367. This represents the equivalent of
planting 1,271 acres of forest or keeping 807 cars off the
road for a 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
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• 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.
Wind Power
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
Michigan IPL
• 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
Connecticut IPL has organized consultation for green building
projects or conservation upgrades for 22 organizations, including
one kosher food store, 20 congregations and the association of
non-profit building managers for the state. They have run a
Lighten-Up CFL light bulb sale with 30 congregations and sold
approximately 3,400 bulbs. Currently, Connecticut IPL has 25
churches and synagogues which have purchased clean energy,
including 9 which have run drives to encourage their
congregants to become residential customers for clean energy.
Two of their congregations have succeeded in encouraging one
or more congregants to install solar PV on their roofs. A third
congregation is looking into this for their community’s building.
International Global Warming Meeting
in Montreal December, 2005. (COP 11).
“Every mainstream religion understands that God
gave us the Earth to cherish and protect, not to
wantonly destroy. Global warming is not only a
political, scientific, and economic issue, but a
spiritual one, too…Faith leaders in Montreal also
made it clear that global warming is a moral issue, an
issue of justice. Although climate change is largely
caused by the rich nations, it is the poor nations that
are most vulnerable to its painful effects. Besides
being a matter of international justice, climate change
involves intergenerational justice, too, for we are
borrowing the Earth from our children. What sort of
planet will we leave them? “
~Rev. Margaret Bullit-Jonas