Long Island Interfaith Environment Network

Here are some steps your congragation can take to start saving money, using energy more wisely and becoming better stewards of creation.

1) Request an electric use audit from LIPA.

Download this Audit Request form (MS Word .doc format).
Fax the form to Stacey Wagner; her contact info is listed at top of the form.

For more information on programs that LIPA offers to places of worship and other not-for-profit organizations, visit their web site:

http://www.lipower.org/commercial/NFP/

If you have specific questions, LIPA has a representative whose specific role is to assist non-profits, municipalities, and places of worship: Walter Hoefer - 516-719-9840.

2) LIME

LIME Energy and GreenFaith have teamed up to make it possible for religious institutions to retrofit their lighting to conserve energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money.  In most cases, LIME can retrofit older tubular fluorescent lighting in religious buildings at no up-front cost, with the project paid for out of energy cost savings.  

For more information contact GreenFaith at info@greenfaith.org.

3) Request a heating/cooling audit from National Grid.

If you use natural gas, National Grid will provide and audit for your facility to help you identify ways to make it more energy efficient.

Call the hotline and have your gas account number ready:
1-800-843-3636 (businesses/commercial)
1-800-860-0815 (residential)

See also: www.thinksmartthinkgreen.com for more information about incentives from National Grid.

4) Install Solar

Places of worship are entitled to an extra dollar per watt rebate over the residential rate from LIPA when they install solar photovoltaic panels (solar PV). Homeowners receive a $3.50 per watt rebate and places of worship get $4.50 per watt. So for a 10kw solar system, that would be a $45,000 rebate, which is approximately half of the installation cost. There is more info on this and a list of solar installers at the LIPA website:

See the LIPA "Solar Pioneers" web page for more information.

http://www.lipower.org/efficiency/solar_nfp.html

Other places of worship with Solar PV:

Community United Methodist Church, Massapequa, contact Jim Tresner - 516-641-6041.

St Philip and James R.C. Church, St. James.

Solar thermal panels have a lower cost to install and are a highly efficient way to provide hot water, however they are not eligable for the LIPA rebate.

5) Quantity Quotes

Congregations can save money through “quantity quotes” on seven items through the EPA: fridges, flourescent light bulbs, fluorescent light fixtures, air conditioners, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, and clothes washers. There are 146 suppliers involved, and you use the internet site to put out an anonymous bid and get quotes back; usually several suppliers reply to each bid request. They hope to add more products such as LEDs, insulation, windows, and vending machines in the future.

See www.quantityquotes.net

6) Other ways to be green

Reduce or eliminate the use of toxins for uses sudch as cleaning and lawncare. The Neighborhood Network website has information about non-toxic cleaning products and organic lawn and turf care.

Non-toxic cleaners

Organic Landscapers

greenlinepaper.com

Purchase recycled and biodegradable products such as paper plates and cups, etc:

6) Other references:

NY Interfaith Power & Light: www.nyipl.org

Greenfaith: greenfaith.org

Network Alliance of Congregations Caring for Earth – NACCE.org