GREEN BUILDING FEATURE
ADVICE FROM I.C.E.
The Interfaith Coalition on Energy (ICE) aims to inspire congregations to reduce the costs of operating their facilities. It
guides congregations to use measurably less energy, purchase energy at lower cost, and anticipate and prevent problems with
mechanical and electrical systems within their buildings. Its goal is for congregations to create money for community service
while practicing environmental stewardship.
You can learn more about the organization, read newsletters and other publications, and view online resources at their website,
www.interfaithenergy.com. You can also reach them by phone at (215) 635-1122. Below is information from ICE’s website:
“Five Steps Toward Lower Energy Use” and “Hints for Promoting Interest in Energy Within Your Congregation.”
Five Steps Toward Lower Energy Use
Promoting Interest In Energy
Turn things off because nothing beats off. It
Keep records. You can’t play any game without keeping
doesn’t matter how small or efficient a lamp, appliance,
boiler, air conditioner, or motor is – the greatest
savings comes from turning it off and keeping it off.
The more inefficient an appliance is, the greater the
savings from keeping it off. Since religious buildings
are used intermittently, keeping things off matters even
more than in more heavily-used buildings.
Buy the least expensive energy. There are
many forms of energy – green electricity, brown
electricity, natural gas, propane, fuel oil, gasoline, and
so on. Whatever choice a congregation makes in the
type of energy purchased, they need to continually shop
for better deals.
Tune systems to optimal performance.
Building operators should continually adjust water
temperatures, air temperatures, dampers, the height of
pilot light flames, and so on. Tune oil and gas burners
with the help of a contractor.
Purchase efficient replacements.
Congregations will eventually replace motors, air
conditioners, heating systems, lamps, ballasts,
appliances, office equipment, and so on. The premium
cost of more-efficient equipment is usually justified
when purchasing replacement equipment. Be very
wary, though, of cutting-edge technology without
a track record of measured performance. Look for
the EnergyStar logo, which indicates more-energyefficient products.
Purchase renewable energy. For example, your
congregation can install solar electric panels on your
roof to generate electricity whenever the sun shines.
score. Compare energy use day to day, month to month, or year
to year.
Read meters in the morning and evening, so
you can determine how much electricity, water, and fuel is
used overnight. This can help reveal water leaks, unnecessary
lighting, or too-warm interior temperatures.
Install data loggers, which will show you whether you are
using energy when the buildings are actually occupied.
Visit your building at 3 a.m. Off-hour visits can
reveal that interior temperatures are higher than needed, or
that nonessential lights are left on. Sounds, sights, and smells
can tell you how to reduce overnight energy use.
Publicly display utility invoices so the congregation
can see just how much is spent. Posting your utility bills each
month can stimulate interest in reducing costs.
Visit other religious buildings. You can learn a lot
by seeing what those who operate buildings similar to yours do
to reduce energy costs. Such visits without utility data in hand,
however, are not valuable.
Read energy-management literature.
Corporations, government agencies, utilities, environmental
groups, and many other places have free or low-cost literature
that can perk up interest.
Go to expositions and conferences that specialize in
commercial lighting, building maintenance, and electric use.
Home shows can also be very informative.
Check out websites. ICE and other websites list many
online energy resources.
Hire an energy consultant. If you can’t do the
above, or just plain run out of energy to enliven your energy
management programs, call the Interfaith Coalition on
Energy. We can help get you going again!
21 • Sacred Places • www.sacredplaces.org • Fall 2010