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Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel (BEKI) in New Haven, CT, began lighting upgrades in 1999 in its 33,000-Sq. ft. facility. Recently, BEKI replaced a 40-year-old A/C unit. The new unit will save more than $6,000 annually and its annual payment will be less than repair bills for the old unit. The 35,714 kWh saved will prevent about 61,642 pounds of CO2 emissions annually. Rabbi Jon-Jay Tilsen says, Energy conservation and environmental concern are deeply held religious values in Conservative Judaism. Full Text

Georgetown Gospel Chapel is a 20,000-Sq. ft. property in South Seattle, WA, whose efficiency upgrade is saving $5,000 each year, by cutting energy use 50,000 kWh, which prevents about 60,000 pounds of pollution yearly. Improved insulation, combined with energy efficient windows, keep the cold Seattle weather out and the money savings in the church and parsonage. AWe completely eliminated one gas furnace due to our conservation and efficiency practices and greatly reduced electrical heating in the parsonage” says Reverend Leroy Hedman. Lighting was improved and more money saved with efficient lighting. Water and money are also being saved with new efficient showerheads, water piping, baths, sprinklers, and low-gallon-per-flush toilets. The chapel also plans to install solar water heating. Full Text

The Islamic Education Center (IEC) of Potomac, MD, is saving both money and preventing pollution by using good sense energy management practices. The center uses programmable thermostats throughout the facility, these thermostats can save up to 20 percent on heating and air-conditioning costs by providing more accurate control of building temperature and allowing automatic setback. The IEC also uses decorative artwork produced by students to adorn classroom windows, this artwork reduces heat gain in the summer while simultaneously reducing uncomfortable glare. The center also installed high efficiency T8 fluorescent lamps with electronic ballasts when they recently built a new addition to the center.

Bethesda Lutheran in Ames, IA, has upgraded its 35,000-Sq. ft. church's efficiency, and is saving about $5,000 annually. The 71,428 kWh saved will prevent about 100,286 pounds of CO2 emissions each year. Loyd Lockhart, Bethesda Lutheran's business administrator, says, The rooms are more comfortable, lighting in the halls is good, and our gas and electric bills are lower. Bethesda Lutheran achieved the savings by replacing incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent (CFLs), and installed computer controls to head/cool only occupied rooms. They purchased new energy efficient freezers for the food pantry/kitchen, and installed new storm windows over the stained glass windows.

Covington Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Taylor Mill, KY, is a 4,800-Sq. ft. facility with an adjoining elementary school of about 13,600-Sq.ft. The church has upgraded to a new high efficiency HVAC system, added ceiling fans, installed programmable thermostats, light emitting diode (LED) exit signs and emergency lighting. The annual savings of more than $2,700 are from 21,740 kWh saved, which prevents about 48,154 pounds of CO2 emissions annually. Adam Palmer, Building Committee Chair, said, “…Doubting Thomases in the congregation became convinced once the real financial and environmental benefits resulted.”

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, a 19,800-Sq. ft. church in Wyandotte, MI, upgraded to an efficient boiler, replaced all incandescent lamps with halogen lamps, installed an efficient air-conditioning system, and water-saving toilets. The congregation has saved $11,000 a year in utilities, and the 114,285 kWh saved will prevent about 227,199 pounds of CO2 emissions annually. They also plans installing solar shingles on the rectory garage roof for a basic photovoltaic system, as well as a solar thermal system to provide hot water.

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Solona Beach Presbyterian Church in CA, a 66,146-Sq. ft. church has reduced energy costs $6,620 per year while preventing 120,000 pounds of pollution. The church’s Environmental Task Force developed a clear methodology and energy savings plan with the local power utility. The Church upgraded its fluorescent lamps with newer more efficient T8 lamps with electronic ballasts, while simultaneously replacing incandescents with circular and compact fluorescent lamps. In addition occupancy sensors, light emitting diode (LED) exit signs and new high efficiency air-conditioning and heating systems. The church's innovative spirit earned them a 2000 ENERGY STAR for Congregations award. Full Text

Sikh Religious Temple in Palatine, IL, is reaping savings of $8,460 annually in energy savings from its energy upgrade efforts. In combination with National Engineering services the temple added water savings taps, photo control switches, motion control switches, and a high efficiency HVAC system. The temple is also doing further upgrades by replacing hot water pipe and roof insulation in all classrooms and corridors. The temple says that the economical and energy efficient design models were greatly appreciated by their Board of Trustees. Their motto is: Improvement of quality of life through economic models with energy efficient designs results in long term cost savings. Full Text

First Christian Church in Des Moines, IA, is a 72,000-Sq. ft. church. The church upgraded lighting to highly efficient designs including compact fluorescent lights (CFL), T-8 fluorescent lamps with electronic ballasts were installed throughout the church. The church also installed occupancy sensors, light emitting diode (LED) exit signs, and timers for outdoor lights. Their efforts netted them a 2000 ENERGY STAR Congregations Award that they may enjoy almost as much as the $6,000 annual cash savings they are receiving. The Building Engineer Mike Henderson says Go for it! Compact fluorescent and motion sensors will pay back quickly, and T8s with electronic ballasts are the way to go. Do maintenance on a regular basis.

Sligo Adventist School is a 46,000-Sq. ft. facility in Takoma Park, MD. Kenneth Gair the Plant Manager for the Sligo Adventist School decided to upgrade because the school's lighting was more than 30 years old and very inefficient. Four hundred and twenty three fixtures containing 40 watt T12 lamps were replaced with 32 watt T8 lamps with electronic ballasts, and several hundred incandescent fixtures were replaced with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Outdoor lighting was converted to a combination of HID metal halides, high pressure sodium, and compact quad-tube with electronic ballasts which decreased wattage by more than half, increased light levels and making employees feel safer at night. Gair also installed 62 occupancy sensors and three additional daylight switches. Infrared sensors were installed in the classrooms and offices, and ultrasonic sensors were installed in school bathrooms. Exit signs were upgraded to light emitting diodes (LEDs). Sligo Adventist School reduced the waste disposal cost of recycling the old PCB containing ballasts by aggregating efforts with several local churches. Full Text

All Saints Episcopal Parish of Brookline, MA is saving nearly $5,000 a year on its utility bills, despite an increase in operating hours since an efficiency upgrade. In addition to worship, the church hosts daycare, public assemblies, and educational activities. The local utility NStar provided an energy audit and installed efficient replacement light fixtures with T-8 fluorescent lamps with electronic ballasts.

All Saints replaced their 30-year-old steam boiler with a high-efficiency gas-fired condensing mode hot-water boiler and hydronic-heating system, and replaced all steam radiators with more efficient units designed for hot water systems. The system was then divided into nine heating zones, each with its own programmable thermostat and central digital controller for the heating plant. The church staff also initiated utility purchasing strategies to reduce natural gas costs, and is purchasing green power generated from 100 percent renewable resources. This effort has saved 6,800 therms of natural gas, and is preventing about 80,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year.

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