Holy Comforter Episcopal Church Receives a GIPL Energy Efficiency Grant to Upgrade Lighting to LED
Holy Comforter Episcopal Church has been a GIPL partner for over a decade, and received a pre-Power Wise energy audit in November 2007. The audit was conducted by Shane Totten of Southface and Woody Bartlett, GIPL co-founder. They were a former recipient of the GIPPY Trailblazer award. Holy Comforter applied for their first GIPL matching grant in 2009 and received $1,134 to upgrade T-12 fluorescent lights in the Parish Hall to T-5 fluorescents. This year, they applied for funding to upgrade their sanctuary lighting from 200 watt incandescent lights to 7 watt LED. The incandescent lights cost $770 annually to operate while the LED cost $32 annually. In addition, they will upgrade all their exit signs to LED. The grants committee recognized the merits of their grant application. The committee awarded Holy Comforter Episcopal Church $4,432 to help fund these energy conservation measures from their energy audit. Continue reading
St. Peter Claver Regional Catholic School Receives a GIPL Grant
Congratulations to St. Peter Claver Regional Catholic School in Decatur for receiving a GIPL Energy Efficiency Matching Grant! This Catholic school is one of 11 members the Catholic Pilot Project. The “Laudato Si’ Action Plan Pilot Project,” came to life when the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta decided to run a pilot project to support this group of parishes and schools in making environmental improvements. “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home” is Pope Francis’ encyclical about caring for the earth and each other. Continue reading
Christ Our Hope Catholic Church Receives a GIPL Grant
Christ Our Hope Catholic Church in Lithonia is one of 11 members the Catholic Pilot Project. This project, whose full name is the “Laudato Si’ Action Plan Pilot Project,” came to life when the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta decided to run a pilot project to support this group of parishes and schools in making environmental improvements. “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home” is Pope Francis’ encyclical about caring for the earth and each other. Continue reading
Giving Up: On Coal Ash and Lent by Codi Norred
Earlier this month I paddled with soon to be new friends, seasoned fishermen, and a host of other nature lovers from across Georgia to tour the coal ash ponds along the banks of Lake Sinclair. Four coal ash ponds dot the shores, containing within them the toxic waste produced from coal-fired power plants. In some cases, no more than fifty yards away from the water, tens of tons of toxic coal ash are held by unlined pits and earthen levies. Continue reading
Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church Receives GIPL Energy Efficiency Grant
Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church has received another matching grant from GIPL! Having completed a Power Wise energy audit in 2014, this congregation has been committed to increasing energy efficiencies around their church. During the 2014 grant cycle they received $2,705 to install WiFi thermostats and upgrade pendant incandescent flood lights to LED in their sanctuary. Estimated annual energy savings were about $2,800 just from installing the WiFi thermostats. Although not documented, both projects led to reduced energy use and cost savings following their installation. With life spans of 25,000 hours, labor costs were also reduced by replacing incandescent floodlights in the sanctuary with LED bulbs. Continue reading
St. Mary’s Catholic Church and School in Rome Receive GIPL Grants
St. Mary’s Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Catholic School in Rome are two of 11 members of the Catholic Pilot Project. This project, whose full name is the “Laudato Si’ Action Plan Pilot Project,” came to life when the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta decided to run a pilot project to support this group of parishes and schools in making environmental improvements. “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home” is Pope Francis’ encyclical about caring for the earth and each other.
Riverstone Church Receives a GIPL Grant
Riverstone Church Improves Sanctuary Lighting with LED
Riverstone Church of Kennesaw completed a Power Wise energy audit in 2017 which included energy conservation measures (ECMs) for LED lighting upgrades and WiFi thermostats. The 48,500-square foot facility’s annual energy savings could reach $11,055 should all ECMs be implemented. During this grant cycle, the church applied for their first GIPL grant to upgrade their sanctuary can lights with LED. They requested $6,108 (full cost $12,216) to replace 108 existing 250 watt incandescent lamps in the church sanctuary with 108 26 watt LED lamps, which will have an estimated $3,270 annual energy savings. The grants committee viewed the project favorably at their December 7, 2017 meeting and awarded the church their full request. Reverend Kate McGregor Mosley and Codi Norred from GIPL presented the award check to church leadership on February 1, 2018.
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church Receives a GIPL Grant
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Kennesaw is one of 11 members the Catholic Pilot Project. This project, whose full name is the “Laudato Si’ Action Plan Pilot Project,” came to life when the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta decided to run a pilot project to support this group of parishes and schools in making environmental improvements. “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home” is Pope Francis’ encyclical about caring for the earth and each other.
Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church Receives a GIPL Grant
Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta Awarded $10,000 GIPL Matching Grant for Energy Efficiency Project
During the December 2017 grant committee meeting, the committee was very impressed with the completed and on-going energy efficiency projects Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church and Preschool had completed within the past couple years. Two projects in particular are its solar panels and upgrading its insulation. 10 kWh solar arrays became operational in 2016 and its projected energy savings in 2017 are expected to be $1,600. They have also upgraded insulation in its administrative offices and day school. The insulation in the administrative offices was assisted by a $2,500 matching grant in 2016 from the GIPL Power Wise Program. In their 2017 grant application, they requested $10,000 (the maximum award) to upgrade all preschool lighting to LED as recommended in their April 4, 2016 Power Wise energy audit.
GIPL Grants Give Hope
Every year, GIPL awards grants to fund energy efficiency projects for faith communities across Georgia. To date, we’ve awarded close to $1 million dollars in matching grants and is having a huge impact on the reduction of energy footprints of sanctuaries, temples, mosques and religious schools statewide. This program intends to give hope to congregations embarking on the sustainability journey and inspire even bolder Creation care action.
This year, 23 grant applications were received totaling over $148,000! The GIPL Grants Committee met last week to review and make final decisions on the awards. Despite the large number of submissions, the committee was able to offer awards totaling $68,000 to 15 congregations and 2 religious schools. Most of the awards were for LED lighting upgrades, while some were for WiFi thermostats, insulation and re-commissioning of existing building automation systems. Continue reading
