It’s that time of year again. The holidays are past, and January-February weather is settling in. Although it varies from year to year and building to building, about half the annual heating energy is used in January and February. Here is our advice on how to reduce heating costs:
Lower the interior temperature during unoccupied times.
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Every few years, the US Department of Energy collects energy data on various types of commercial buildings across the Country, including religious buildings. With the help of Mike MacDonald of Oak Ridge Labs, we have organized the data into three graphs.
Continue readingEarly Spring, 2000
We think that members of congregation property committees ought to know certain facts about their buildings.
The following list is based on suggestions from several people who work regularly with religious congregations and the buildings they own.
Andrew Rudin — Interfaith Coalition on Energy — September 1992
A quick-moving storm passed over northeast Philadelphia in August 1991. When lighting struck the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, no one was in the building. A malfunctioning alarm system was the initial symptom that something was wrong. The church security system had automatically dialed a list of numbers to say that the power was off.
Continue readingAndrew Rudin – March 1994
Comfort and Light Newsletter #53
Philadelphia drivers have two driving habits that work at cross-purposes — jump starting red lights as they turn green and running the yellow ones before they turn red. The City Department of Streets had an idea to increase safety and save energy costs at the same time — replace the traffic lights with all-way stop signs at moderate traffic intersections.
Continue readingBusting seven myths about churches and energy
By Andrew Rudin – Creation Care magazine – Fall 1997
The Interfaith Coalition on Energy has been around since 1980. After 66 newsletters, 200 workshops, a zillion phone conversations and gobs of correspondence some old myths seem to remain intact. So, let’s take another look at them….
Myth 1. Churches waste a lot of energy — It may feel that way, but we use about 7% more energy per square foot than the average home, less than a third of the energy used by health care and food service institutions, two-thirds of what offices use, and a fifth more than warehouses. And we provide more beneficial services to neighborhoods than any of those institutions!
Continue reading(from the Arch Street Methodist Church)
Fall, 1996
1. If you open it, close it.
2. If you turn it on, turn it off.
3. If you unlock it, lock it.
http://interfaithpowerandlight.org/
A Religious Response to Global Warming
The mission of Interfaith Power & Light is to be faithful stewards of Creation by responding to global warming through the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. This campaign intends to protect the earth’s ecosystems, safeguard the health of all Creation, and ensure sufficient, sustainable energy for all.
“We wish you were in Pittsburgh!“
Jack Schmidt – St. Sebastian Catholic Parish
“ICE is simply the best in the business.“
Don Kane – Main Line Unitarian Church
“Thanks very much for the thorough and excellent work.“
Rev. Hentzi Elec – St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Newtown Square