I was honored and so blessed to pastor two congregations in Kentucky. I loved every aspect of being a pastor, except some of the financial parts. I was impressed and grateful for the incredible impacts my congregations had in their communities. From the food pantry and garden to supporting every person who came to our doors for help and helping our youth group participate in international service learning projects, those congregations make a difference. One thing that bothered me was how much of our annual church budget went to building maintenance and utility bills. One congregation had electricity bill totals each year around $25,000. Imagine all the good we could do in our community with that money.

Both congregations made efforts to save money through efficiency upgrades. A programmable thermostat resulted in a $400/month savings. Switching to LED lights, adding a set of doors for extra insulation, and reminders everywhere about saving energy. One congregation even went through a thorough exploration of getting solar panels, but in the end, there just was not enough money.

This year, for the first time, congregations can apply for grants of up to $200,000 for efficiency programs. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced a first-of-its-kind investment to fund energy-efficiency improvements in the nonprofit sector which includes houses of worship. Commercial and residential buildings, which include congregations, are responsible for 13% of carbon emissions in the U.S. The Renew America’s Nonprofits program will provide $50 million dollars for efficiency projects, reducing carbon emissions and lowering utilities costs, allowing critical funds to be redirected to mission-focused work. Imagine all the good that will take place when all the savings begins to happen in congregations across the country. Please join Blessed Tomorrow and our partners in spreading this good news and join us for an informational webinar to learn about the grant and the grant application process.

Get Green to Go Green: Apply for up to $200,000 for Congregational Energy Efficiency
June 1, 2023, 5:00 – 6:15 pm ET / 2:00 – 3:15 pm PT
Register Now!
Moderated by Rev. Carol Devine, Blessed Tomorrow Director
Featuring Daniel Bresette, Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), President

This webinar is co-hosted by Blessed Tomorrow Partners

 

About the Author:
Rev. Carol Devine, Blessed Tomorrow Director, ecoAmerica

Additional Resources:

American Climate Leadership Awards 2023 Broadcast Recording

ecoAmerica American Climate Leadership Awards Replication Guides

Blessed Tomorrow Resources

Blessed Tomorrow – Ambassador Training

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