YOU TOO CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE
at Your House of Worship
Heating, cooling, and maintaining your house of worship can be an act of stewardship, not just a practical and financial activity. Lowering your carbon emissions cares for God’s creation while lessening your contribution to the suffering caused by droughts, floods and other effects of climate change. These Success Stories can inspire you to take similar actions!
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First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton (FUUSN)
A modern HVAC system transformed FUUSN’s historic building, cutting energy use and lowering emissions by over 20%, while making the space more comfortable and welcoming for all. Their upgrades also help support potential future sustainability projects like geothermal and solar.
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South Congregational Church, Amherst
Energy efficiency, solar, and heat pumps helped South Church become the first Net Zero house of worship that MassIPL is aware of.
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St. Brigid's Parish, Lexington
Annual energy savings of $42,133 and carbon dioxide reduction of 52.99 metric tons by insulating, and installing a high-efficiency gas-fired hydronic heating system in the church and parish hall. St. Brigid's also installed high efficiency lighting.
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Congregational Church of Needham
A 15 year journey enabled the church to lower its carbon emissions by 64% and its energy costs by 65%.
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St. Matthew’s, Acton
Insulation and behavior changes at St. Matthew's Acton lower carbon dioxide emissions 22%.
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First Congregational Church, Stoneham
A full suite of efficiency improvements yielded carbon dioxide reductions of 63 metric tons per year and cost savings of $25,000. Since then, Stoneham installed a 35 kW solar PV system with innovative incentives for members to do likewise in their homes.
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Eliot Church, Newton
EPA Energy Star designation;
New Solar PV provides 98% of electricity & Community engagement for system change.
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South Church Andover
South Church generates 92% of the electricity it needs with a solar photovoltaic system financed by a power purchase agreement, (PPA). And in a locally designated historic district to boot!
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St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, Dover
A 23.1 kW solar photovoltaic system yields a 50% reduction in carbon footprint. They also adopt Interfaith Power & Light's Paris Pledge to be carbon neutral by 2050!
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Temple Beth Shalom, Needham
Temple Beth Shalom's switch to high-efficiency boilers is resulting in about $3,500 reduction in heating cost.
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Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Greater Boston
In-floor radiant heating puts heat where the people are, with their feet on the floor. To make things better, the congregation upgraded to high-efficiency boilers, with a 40% drop in cost for heating!
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St. Andrew’s, Wellesley
Reductions in CO2 emissions and energy costs.
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Trinity Episcopal, Topsfield
Over 50% savings on heating and DHW. A key lesson — Don't Go It Alone!
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Charles St. AME Church
On December 5, 2009 congregation members, MIP&L volunteers, and professionals from Next Step Living interior "storm" windows, and insulated walls and the basement door. They installed CFLs, lowered water use via faucet aerators and lo-flow showerheads, and adjusted the hot water temperature to "just right" to lower cost of gas to heat the water.
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The Boston Synagogue
During 2009, Boston Synagogue reduced their carbon dioxide emissions by 70 %, from over 200,000 lbs. to just over 80,000 lbs. Their annual energy costs decreased by 57 % during this period, to about $6,800 as compared to about $15,750. Also, their annual repair and maintenance bills dropped significantly. As a result, the estimated payback time on their capital investment is approximately 5 years.