May 7th, 2009
By Harriet Blake
Green Right Now
Congregations of any faith may benefit from joining the nonprofit Interfaith Power & Light initiative. The non-profit group offers members a way to lessen energy costs and at the same time, promote renewable energy.
The IP&L initiative came into effect in 1998 when a coalition of Episcopal churches formed with the support of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. They joined together to purchase renewable energy. In 2001, the group grew into the California Interfaith Power and Light, helping people of all faiths in California organize to promote environmental change and address global warming. Today, under the umbrella group, The Regeneration Project, there is a movement to establish similar programs in all states. Today, 29 states have Interfaith Power and Light organizations.
The mission of The Regeneration Project, as stated on their website, is to make the connection between ecology and faith. The project’s Interfaith Power and Light campaign is generating a religious response to global warming in congregations by advocating renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation.
Massachusetts’ Interfaith Power & Light group, for example, gives members an option to join an oil-purchasing group that can lock in prices; gives them access to utility rebate programs and offers technical advice on energy issues as well as a comprehensive energy audit of their worship facility. In Wisconsin, the Interfaith Climate & Energy Campaign works closely with the state’s Islamic Environmental Group. The latter’s mission is to educate the local Muslim community as well as the general public about Islamic environmental teachings and how they can be incorporated in every day life for a sustainable future.
IP&L also offers a program called STEM, which stands for Saving Through Energy Management. It’s a 15-hour program for congregations that teaches the skills needed to reduce energy consumption. Membership starts at $50 for an operating budget up to $150,000.
Rev. Canon Sally G. Bingham is the president and founder of The Regeneration Project. She says putting faith into action is key. This includes educating congregations by getting them to buy energy efficient lights and appliances, offering energy audits, encouraging people to buy more fuel-efficient cars, and supporting large-scale renewable energy installations such as rooftop solar.
EPA’s Energy Star website includes links to many of the Interfaith Light and Power groups.
(See our related story on churches employing green design.)
Copyright © 2009 Green Right Now | Distributed by Noofangle Media
