Resources

Getting Started!

Start here. If you can’t afford or aren’t ready for to hire a professional energy audit service, this checklist will guide you through a basic audit so that you can decide as a group which actions to take first. [PDF] IPL Energy Audit

Portfolio Manager is an interactive energy management tool that allows you to track and assess energy and water consumption across your entire portfolio of buildings in a secure online environment. www.energystar.gov

ShopIPL is an online energy efficiency store for faith communities and their members sponsored by Interfaith Power & Light. Non-affiliated individuals are also welcome to purchase here. www.ShopIPL.org

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. www.energystar.gov

The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy. www.dsireusa.org

Is your house a green dream or an energy nightmare? Find out when you step inside our interactive “green” house and take your energy I.Q. www.nationalgeographic.com/everyday/greenhouse

Using nominal, tax-deductible donations, LiveCooler purchases and installs energy-efficient CFL light bulbs in low-income homes.These charitable carbon offsets cause a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and reduced electricity bills for low-income home owners. www.livecooler.org

Consumer resources on energy efficiency www.aceee.org/Consumer/index.htm

Get Your Congregants Involved!

Once you calculate the footprint of your facility, what about your congregants? The “Cool Congregations” workshop is a stewardship program to help your congregants measure and reduce their household greenhouse gas emissions. It won rave reviews in Iowa where it was developed by Iowa Interfaith Power and Light. If you want to learn more about this workshop for individuals, please email us at info@InterfaithPowerandLight.org. You can also use this online calculator to help congregants shrink their carbon footprints.