Why Did I Become a Green Team Lead?
by Rich Gittens, Green Team Lead for GIPL African American Clergy Engagement Pilot
The short, easy answer is … Valerie Hill-Rawls, who has the very long title of, “GIPL African American Creation Care Environmental Justice Pilot Community Engagement Project Manager.” Some months ago Valerie made a presentation at my church, Emmanuel Lutheran, and talked quite passionately about a phrase that I’d not heard used before that day. That phrase was, “environmental justice.” Now, I like to consider myself a fairly articulate guy. I understand “environmental” and I understand “justice” … but I’d not heard them used together. And while the implication seemed pretty clear, I wasn’t sure. So I raised my hand and I asked. From then on I was hooked. Continue reading
What Happens during an Energy Audit?
Today’s blog post comes from GIPL friend Patrick Cobb, the Facilities Manager at Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church. Here he reflects on the process of receiving an Energy Audit from GIPL and what changes have been put in place following the audit. Additionally, Saint Anne’s has a large solar array installed on the parish, funded through a GIPL grant, which powers their administrative offices. Continue reading
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.
