EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Twelve, Number One Spring 2003 Blessed Are They That Turn Things Off Since 1976 Andrew Rudin has been visiting buildings owned by congregations to advise them how to use less electricity and fuel. He has come to these conclusions: Energy use in religious buildings is exemplary. Worship spaces use relatively small amounts of electricity and fuel. We can't play any game without keeping score. Past energy bills, blueprints, service contracts, equipment repair histories, and past energy surveys are all important. Look for a "player." Good energy management needs one committed person. Look where no one has looked and you will see what no one has seen. Most congregations concentrate on "sacred space" — naves, classrooms, chapels and offices. Also investigate boiler rooms, mechanical equipment rooms, attics and other dim and dirty spaces. Nothing beats turning things off. Turning off the lights inside a soda machine may save $300/year. When equipment is replaced, choices should be based on the cost of ownership rather than mere purchase cost. Old is beautiful. Older buildings tend to use less energy and are constructed out of less toxic material than new ones. from the Earth Ministry Earth Letter www.earthministry.org Home     Table of Contents