Sustainable House of Worship Workshop March 24, 2012 

Sign up for a Sustainable House of Worship (SHOW) workshop to be eligible to apply for a Green Grant or Green Loan and reduce energy costs! 

Would you like to save money for your parish?  Did you know that the average parish in the diocese spends over $20,000 on energy costs annually but that savings of 20-30% are possible?  Do you know Diocesan grant and loan funds will be available to assist with energy efficiency improvements that can help achieve these savings?  As importantly, reducing your energy use also cares for God’s creation by reducing the greenhouse gases your parish produces

The Diocese’s Green Grant Initiative has been launched to help your parish learn how it can reduce its energy use and cost, evaluate potential energy savings projects then purchase needed supplies and equipment.

The harvest has been plentiful!  In 2011, we granted more than $150,000 in Green Grants this year to more than 30 congregations where dozens of people attended SHOWs to learn the whys and hows of sustainability and reducing carbon footprints.  In 2012, we will begin another round as we begin to use the resources our diocese’s comprehensive fundraising campaign will raise.

Consider this, whether you intend to apply for a Green Grant or Green Loan or not determining the size of your carbon footprint is the first step in energy savings and caring for creation.  The first step to being eligible to apply for a Green Grant or Green Loan is to attend a SHOW workshop. 

In this half day session conducted by Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light (www.mipandl.org) you will learn:

• How to track your energy use, cost and carbon footprint
• How to find no-cost and low cost projects that can have a big impact on your electricity and heating bills
• How to evaluate energy using equipment and systems to determine whether they should be updated
• Incentives, rebates and other financial help available through utility companies
• How to apply for a Green Grant or Green Loan

The workshop costs $10 per individual.  Light refreshments are included.

When you register, you will receive an easy-to-use spreadsheet to calculate your parish’s energy use and cost; you are encourage to fill it out and bring it to the workshop. You may also download the spreadsheet here: http://www.mipandl.org/MIPL_resources/MIPL_HOWUtiUseCost.xls

Who should attend: Parishes are encouraged to send two members from their environment committee, property committee or Vestry. Other members who are interested are also welcome.

REGISTRATION CLOSES March 22nd

Payment can be made using a credit card or by check.  For credit card payments, we use PayPal.