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Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Chinese Proverb
Turn things off and turn things down.
Turn off lights, computers and appliances when not in use.
Turn down water heater temperature, when possible
Educate your congregation
Post reminders to staff, volunteers and janitorial services to turn off lights
Post instructions on how to use heating and cooling equipment and programmable thermostats
Label all controls for heating and cooling equipment
Maintain equipment
Clean filters on heating and cooling equipment
Close natural circulation air vents during heating season (no sense in losing the heat you paid for)
Wrap water heater pipes 3-5 feet from the heater
Check that optimizers are working properly
Work with nature
Plantdeciduous trees, especially on the south- and west-facing sides of your
building or home, to reduce heat gain in the summer but allow heat gain
in the winter
Xeriscape to minimize lawn maintenance and watering
Use ecologically-benevolent lawn care services if possible, like wind-electricity-based Clean Air Lawn Care in Ft. Collins
Usedrapes, curtains, shades, blinds and/or screens, especially on the
south- and west-facing sides of your congregation and home, to block
heat gain in the summer, and open them up in the winter to let in the
sun
Install controls
Programmable (also called setback or clock) thermostats
'Smart' power strips
Motion sensors
CO2 monitors (controls heating and cooling based on increased carbon dioxide levels from exhalation)
Energy audits
Your place of worship can make a difference with an energy efficiency and conservation audit. Benefits include:
Increased comfort
Improved aesthetics
Financial savings
Pollution reduction
Visit our list of energy auditors. Or, contact Diane Dandaneau for information on local energy audit resources in Colorado.
Air conditioning
If you have a
direct-exchange (refrigeration-based) air-conditioning system, contact
your utility about demand response programs. When demand for
electricity is expected to exceed supply, utilities can cycle your air
conditioner on and off. The utilities offer this program to avert
blackouts. You save money by reducing your air conditioning: your
utility may offer a lower electric rate for permission to cycle your
air conditioner, or give you credit on your electricity bill. Contact
your local electric utility for more information.
direct-exchange (refrigeration-based) air-conditioning system, contact
your utility about demand response programs. When demand for
electricity is expected to exceed supply, utilities can cycle your air
conditioner on and off. The utilities offer this program to avert
blackouts. You save money by reducing your air conditioning: your
utility may offer a lower electric rate for permission to cycle your
air conditioner, or give you credit on your electricity bill. Contact
your local electric utility for more information.
If you do not use a
direct-exchange (refrigeration-based) air conditioning system, and use
natural breezes for ventilation and work with the sun's path to reduce
cooling requirements, or you use geothermal cooling, whole building
fans, or energy-efficient evaporative coolers, you are already doing
your part!
direct-exchange (refrigeration-based) air conditioning system, and use
natural breezes for ventilation and work with the sun's path to reduce
cooling requirements, or you use geothermal cooling, whole building
fans, or energy-efficient evaporative coolers, you are already doing
your part!
Insulation and windows
New windows are expensive, but can improve comfort and reduce energy bills.
Insulate, insulate, insulate!
Seal air leaks
Purchase clean energy credits*
Your congregation
(and you as an individual!) can purchase clean energy credits from the
marketer of your choice, but know that not all clean energy credits are
alike. Some marketers use credits to help finance new clean energy
projects - adding clean energy to our nation's power mix. Some (like
NativeWind) use the credits to finance projects on Native American land
only - helping Native Americans. Some marketers are certified by a
third party. Some marketers recycle the credits without investing in
new projects.
(and you as an individual!) can purchase clean energy credits from the
marketer of your choice, but know that not all clean energy credits are
alike. Some marketers use credits to help finance new clean energy
projects - adding clean energy to our nation's power mix. Some (like
NativeWind) use the credits to finance projects on Native American land
only - helping Native Americans. Some marketers are certified by a
third party. Some marketers recycle the credits without investing in
new projects.
Know what you're buying! A few marketers to choose from are:
Clean and Green - or call 877-USA-GREEN (872-4733). Clean and Green contributes to COIPL.
Yourelectric utility. Ask your electric utility if it offers a green power
product. Green power from your utility may - or may not - cost more
than standard "black" electricity. Ask your electric utility for
details.
*clean energy
credits are also called renewable energy credits (RECs), green credits
and green tags. They are generally associated with wind, solar, biomass
and small hydro projects.
credits are also called renewable energy credits (RECs), green credits
and green tags. They are generally associated with wind, solar, biomass
and small hydro projects.
Put clean energy to work for you
Install solar panels. For more information, contact the Colorado Solar Electric Industry Association
Consider installing a small wind turbine of your own
Consider using biofuels like biodiesel and ethanol
Buy a fuel-efficient car; take mass transit; and, when you can, bicycle or walk to work.
Transportation
contributes about 40% of climate-changing emissions. Apart from saving
money, using less gas decreases our reliance on unstable Middle Eastern
suppliers.
contributes about 40% of climate-changing emissions. Apart from saving
money, using less gas decreases our reliance on unstable Middle Eastern
suppliers.
Buy products from companies that are trying to reduce their own impact on the climate.
Companies
can do this either through programs that reduce carbon emissions or by
enabling consumers to cut down their own emissions (which now average
20 tons annually per person). If consumers demand climate-friendly
products and practices, companies will deliver.
can do this either through programs that reduce carbon emissions or by
enabling consumers to cut down their own emissions (which now average
20 tons annually per person). If consumers demand climate-friendly
products and practices, companies will deliver.
Demand that the government make climate change a priority.
Ask
federal, state and local governments to buy climate-friendly vehicles
and products. This would help commercialize new technologies and
provide an enormous boost to alternative energy. We can't expect China,
India and other growing countries to act until our own government
recognizes the threat, and that will not happen until ordinary citizens
demand change.
federal, state and local governments to buy climate-friendly vehicles
and products. This would help commercialize new technologies and
provide an enormous boost to alternative energy. We can't expect China,
India and other growing countries to act until our own government
recognizes the threat, and that will not happen until ordinary citizens
demand change.
Encourage your Representative and Senators to enact a carbon tax.
Nobody
wants higher taxes, but imposing a tax on carbon would guide everybody
to the least-harmful products for the climate. If we conserve energy
without such a tax, it will simply lower gas prices--then once again
encourage waste and pour more carbon into the atmosphere.
wants higher taxes, but imposing a tax on carbon would guide everybody
to the least-harmful products for the climate. If we conserve energy
without such a tax, it will simply lower gas prices--then once again
encourage waste and pour more carbon into the atmosphere.
* quoted from Parade magazine, June 25, 2006
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