Research Proves that Energy Efficiency Is A Prime Economic Driver for Local Economies

saveenergyWe are congregations motivated to serve God through creation stewardship as well as active stewardship to those with the most needs.

A white paper released by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE – www.aceee.org) demonstrates through hard figures that energy efficiency generates equal or better local economic benefit, and provides better job opportunities, than traditional fossil fuel development. The new paper, “Energy efficiency and Economic Opportunity Fact Sheet”  provides the following facts:

  • Fact 1: Energy efficiency provides a positive value chain through local economies. Companies that provide services for energy efficiency – energy assessments, weatherization, insulation services, and more – reduce energy bills for local consumers while generating income for themselves. Local dollars stay significantly local instead of traveling out of state. Dollars saved by consumers are then spent locally elsewhere, which adds an additional ripple effect.
  • Fact 2: Energy efficiency serves the poor. Economic analysis by ACEEE shows that for each $1 spent on improved weatherization of homes and apartment buildings generates $2.53 of positive cash impact within a low-income community.
  • Fact 3: Local workers and local businesses benefit from energy efficiency. Each $1 avoided being spent on utility costs is shown by the ACEEE to create 2.24 times positive cash impact on the local community.
  • Fact 4: Energy efficiency jobs create accessible jobs to low-credentialed workers. Of all energy efficiency jobs, 48% are estimated to be filled by people with limited credentials (education, work experience, and similar) as compared to an estimated 42% of utility sector jobs.
  • Fact 5: Further, energy efficiency jobs are better paying. ACEEE estimates that 29% of energy efficiency jobs have above average earnings for low-credentialed employees compared to an estimated 13% of fossil fuel sector jobs.

How can you use this information? Share these white paper results with your local assemblymen and state senators as you present your views on interests and concerns on energy development and energy use in your community. In local community discussions, bring a copy of this white paper as you raise these facts to allow people to see that support of home weatherization, energy efficiency programs, and enforcement of building energy codes provides a positive economic impact to your community.

Share Your Story

share your story

Has your congregation done work with regards to energy efficiency or renewable energy? Maybe you have an active green team, or you’ve done some interesting environmental or climate change work. Let us know! Please contact Janna Stieg Watkins, and she will interview you for a short story for our newsletter or our website. Call her at (315) 256-0078 or email her at jswatkins@nyipl.org.

How Many Presbyterians Does It Take…

swirly bulbQ:    How many Presbyterians does it take to change a light bulb?

A:    It should require about five committees to review the idea first. If each is staffed with half a dozen members, that’s what…30?

Most mainline religious denominations have developed policies related to energy and climate change. How have they gone about this and what are the likely effects? Recent research on the Presbyterian Church (USA) explores this question. The anthropologist who did the archival research and interviews was attracted by the apparent contradiction between the Presbyterian reputation for political conservatism and the denomination’s bold initiative in 2005 to ask its members, congregations, and institutions to strive to become carbon neutral.

The carbon neutral initiative came out of work on the denomination’s updated energy policy, The Power to Change, adopted in 2008.  The earlier energy policy was formulated in 1981, The Power to Speak Truth to Power .  A 1990 environmental policy Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice had emphasized the significance of climate change and made policy recommendations related to it. All of these policies are grounded not only in understanding of science but also in theological and Biblical study by teams of ministers, elders, and members. While not necessarily binding on individual members, they direct the advocacy efforts and investments of the denominational staff.

Two papers on the research by Patricia K. Townsend, a NYIPL board member, were published this summer. They included a book chapter in How the World’s Religions are Responding to Climate Change: Social Scientific Investigations. The volume was edited by Robin Globus Veldman, Andrew Szasz and Randolph Haluza-DeLay, and published by Routledge (2014).

An article on the research was published as “Energy Policy in American Faith Communities: ‘The Power to Change’” in the anthropology journal Culture, Agriculture, Food and Environment, Vol. 35, Issue 1, June, 2013.  The editors of the special issue of CAFE, Stephanie Paladino and Jeanne Simonelli, began the special issue on anthropology and energy with a quote from Townsend’s paper of the words of Margaret Mead, writing in 1976, about the plutonium question of that time, but is equally relevant to today’s energy decisions:  “These are hazards so grave that every citizen should have a voice in deciding whether this is the road to energy independence we—or anyone—should take….”

Take Twenty Minutes to Learn How to Save Energy!

Earth Wrapped in a LeafOn the next two Tuesday evenings, New York Interfaith Power & Light is offering free webinars on energy efficiency.

“Residential Energy Efficiency” will be held on October 1st at 7:00 p.m., and will walk you through the steps improving energy efficiency in your home, beginning with an energy assessment.

“The Link Between Creation Stewardship and Economic Development” will be held on October 8th at 7:00 p.m., and will look at how renewables and energy efficiency help job growth and economic development.

Both webinars are free and feature Ed Smyth, NYIPL board member and a principal consultant with DNV KEMA Energy and Sustainability.  To register for one or both, contact NYIPL at (315) 256-0078 or jswatkins@nyipl.org.

Gina McCarthy Confirmed as EPA Administrator

ginamccarthyIn a 59 to 40 vote, the Senate confirmed Gina McCarthy as EPA administrator. McCarthy, who previously served as the head of the EPA’s air and radiation office, has shown a commitment to address global warming as well as curb other pollutants like mercury and soot.

The Rev. Canon Sally Bingham, President of Interfaith Power and Light, said “[McCarthy’s] appointment is great news for Americans’ health and environment, and for the implementation of the president’s climate plan.”

“As Assistant Administrator for EPA’s office of Air and Radiation, Mc. McCarthy led the development of some of the EPA’s strongest safeguards, including carbon pollution standards for power plants, the first carbon limits for vehicles, and lifesaving updates of standards that limit soot, mercury, and air toxics” she continued. “IPL and its 40 affiliates look forward to working with her.”

National United Church of Christ Divests from Fossil Fuels

holdingsaplingThe United Church of Christ, a protestant Christian denomination known for their progressive stances on social justice issues, resolved in July to divest from fossil fuels.

The Reverend Jim Antal, UCC minister and President of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ, led the effort to divest.

“As soon as I read Bill McKibben’s Rolling Stone article on the terrifying math of global warming it was clear to me that the church needed to provide leadership” he said. For more of Jim Antal’s thoughts, click here.

There are numerous investment resources for individuals and congregations who would like to use their money to push for clean energy future.

Global Ecologic Fund EPENX

The Global Ecologic Fund is a new mutual fund, and part of the faith-based Epiphany Funds family. The managers of the Global Ecologic Fund invest in firms that are building more ecologic infrastructure.  Companies in the mutual fund provide fair trade food and products, pollution control, rail and bike infrastructure, efficient clean water systems, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy storage, and other ecological solutions.  SEC registered.

Clean Energy Victory Bonds

Clean Energy Victory Bonds would extend proven government programs that create clean energy and jobs, including the Investment Tax Credit and Production Tax Credit, for a decade. The funds raised from the bonds would also help homeowners make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes and purchase plug-in and electric cars. The bonds will help ensure American competitiveness in the growing clean energy and transportation industries and will help create over 1.7 million jobs throughout the United States.

Proxy Preview 2013

Proxy Preview is a report that helps shareholders vote their values.

Ceres

Investing with climate change in mind. Ceres mobilizes a powerful network of investors, companies and public interest groups to accelerate and expand the adoption of sustainable business practices and solutions to build a healthy global economy.

Solar Mosaic

Empowering the public to invest in and benefit from clean energy, Mosaic is an online marketplace that enables people to invest in solar projects for as little as $25 and earn competitive returns. Mosaic’s mission is to open up clean energy investing to the public and fundamentally change the way energy is financed. The Mosaic team believes that the best way to grow the clean energy economy is by allowing more people to participate in it and benefit from it.

Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility

The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility is the pioneer coalition of active share owners who view the management of their investments as a catalyst to promote justice and sustainability in the world.

Evangelical Scientists Urge Congress to Take Action on Climate Change

sunsetThis month, more than 200 evangelical scientists signed a letter calling on Congress to take action on climate change. The letter, which refers to scripture, urges Congress to pass effective legislation to reduce carbon pollution during this Congress.

The scientists, all evangelical Christians, point to their faith as well as to science.

“Christian scientists across the country view science as a gift from God, a tool to discover the mysteries of Creation.” said Dr. Larry Louters, Professor of Chemistry at Calvin College.

Dr. Dorothy Boorse, from Gordon College, said “Three basic principles in the Bible should underlie our concern about climate change,” she said. “Care for the poor, pursuit of justice, and stewardship of creation.”

To read the letter, or for the list of scientists, click here.

New Energy Efficient Appliances Perform Better

appliancesAccording to a new report, newer appliances are not only more efficient, they actually perform better. Newer appliances also frequently include new features. The report, conducted by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, was released in late May 2013.

The report also states that product prices have stayed the same in many cases, or even have declined as efficiency has improved.  For those appliances that cost more now, the electricity bill savings outweigh the price increases, say the authors.

“Everyone knows that replacing your old appliance with a new, more efficient model will save you money on your utility bills,” said Steven Nadel, ACEEE executive director. “What this report shows is that consumers haven’t had to sacrifice good performance or new features in exchange for improved efficiency.”

“From light bulbs to refrigerators to air conditioners, today’s products save energy and money while delivering performance that equals or beats the products they replaced,” said Joanna Mauer, ASAP senior researcher and lead author of the report. “In addition, consumers can choose from new features that were not even available in the old, inefficient versions.”

You can download the report or get more information here.

Form an Energy Challenge Team

energyteamchallenge

If you live in Central New York, you might be interested in forming an Energy Challenge Team. The Central New York Energy Challenge Team is a free and voluntary program designed to encourage households to improve their energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint through a process of shared learning.  Team participants are provided with the tools to take actions that reduce their household energy usage, benefitting the environment and their wallets at the same time.

The Energy Challenge Team program utilizes a cooperative team-based format so that participants have the support they need to succeed.  Teams are made up of 5-8 households inclusive of a team facilitator.  The facilitator is responsible for recruiting members and conducting meetings according to a provided guidebook, each team member receives a workbook.  Teams meet for approximately one hour each week over the course of 6 weeks to learn and discuss ways to save energy. Previous participants in the program have achieved a 29% savings in energy usage.

Energy Challenge teams provide a fun and supportive environment where participants can learn to improve their energy efficiency while saving money, improving comfort in their homes, and enjoying the company of neighbors and/or colleagues.

If you are interested in forming an Energy Challenge team, please contact Sam Gordon, CNY Energy Challenge Coordinator* at sgordon@cnyrpdb.org or (315) 422-8276, ext. 204.

*The CNY Energy Challenge is an initiative of the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board, a public agency serving Onondaga, Cayuga, Cortland, and Madison Counties.