Energy Audits
OhIPL is now providing energy audits alongside a suite of new programs to help congregations and households reduce their carbon footprint, save energy and money, and respond to the threat of climate change. Participating congregations commonly realize between 10-40% in energy savings. Below are some quick links and four ways reduce your carbon footprint and become a better steward of God's creation.
Quick Links:
• Congregation and Household carbon footprint calculators (and click here for household calculator checklist to prepare for Cool Congregations workshops)
• EPA Portfolio Manager
• OhIPL Energy Audit Resources Page
Four ways to make a difference:
1) Learn more about energy efficiency and how to reduce your carbon footprint at home and in your congregation by attending a 3-hour Cool Congregations workshop. Participating congregations qualify for OhIPL energy audits or a $500 no-interest loan to begin making energy efficient improvements in your house of worship.
Click here for a sample workshop information flyer.
Cool congregations workshops can be scheduled any time at least 10 congregations are interested to host one together (contact ohipl@ohipl.org for more information).
2) Calculate the carbon footprint of your congregation or household by visiting www.coolcongregations.com, or view the video below. Participating congregations are eligible for more than $10,000 in prizes. (The national IPL contest deadline has passed, but Ohio congregations can compete in a separate carbon footprint reduction contest: deadline is October 1, 2009, but calculators work year round.)
3) Build your congregation's energy profile and begin tracking your energy use and savings by setting up the EPA Portfolio Manager energy use profile system.
4) Get an energy audit of your congregation. OhIPL is offering professional energy audits with no up-front cost to congregations that participate in the three programs listed above. Because of a grant from Ohio EPA, OhIPL can provide one-year, no-interest loans to cover the cost of your energy audit, and your energy cost savings during the coming year can more than cover the discounted cost of the audit. If your congregation is interested in an energy audit, contact ohipl@ohipl.org for more information, or click here for the application/Letter of Understanding.
For information about receiving a loan from the OhIPL revolving loan fund to fund energy efficiency improvements to your facility, or to partially fund an energy audit other than those provided through OhIPL's described above, view the Letter of Understanding here.
For other links and energy efficiency resources, visit our Resources Page.