In many ways, the internet has too much information about environmental issues and climate change and too few places to get clear, concise and useable guidance to energize your church and energize your life. The sites listed below have been chosen to make it easier to navigate all the information and get started greening your church! Click on a category or explore them all.

 

ENERGY & GREEN BUILDING || GOVERNMENT RESOURCES || INTERFAITH RESOURCES || ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION AND ADVOCACY || CARBON NEUTRAL RESOURCES   ENERGY & GREEN BUILDING U.S. Green Building Council Planning to build a new church or do major remodeling? Here are resources for LEED certification and lots of “green” construction resources. Check out Green Building 101 as a good place to start. <http://www.usgbc.org> National Geographic’s Cool Home Energy Audit Tool 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. <http://www.nationalgeographic.com/everyday/greenhouse/index.html> Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) Need money to get started? Check out this comprehensive and up-to-date source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy. <http://dsireusa.org> Green-e Renewable Electricity Certification Green-e provides an easy way to quickly identify environmentally superior electricity products in competitive markets. Look for the logo and reduce your impact. <http://www.green-e.org> Church Building & Loan Fund Dedicated to the assistance of new and renewing congregations as they envision and construct their first church buildings, particularly sustainable architecture. <http://www.ucc.org/finance/partners-in-building/>   Cornerstone Fund EcoLoans - designed especially for UCC churches making environmentally friendly improvements. . <http://www.ucc.org/finance/partners-in-building/>     GOVERNMENT RESOURCES EPA EnergySTAR Congregations The ENERGY STAR label stands for energy efficiency, which can support your congregation's concern for financial and environmental stewardship. EPA can assist your congregation in making decisions on your facilities and equipment that save money and prevent pollution. Content rich site with lots of technical and concrete advice. <http://www.energystar.gov/congregations> Home Energy Saver Great place to start “greening” your home by using this web-based home energy audit tool. <http://hes.lbl.gov> Save Power, Save Money This somewhat technical site is full of great technologies including information about the “Green the Capitol” initiative. If you think your “old” building would be hard to make efficient, take advantage of the ideas found here. For example, just changing desk lamp bulbs from incandescent to compact fluorescents will save $245,000 per year and reduce carbon emissions the same amount as produced by 255 cars. <http://www.savepower.lbl.gov/> Global Warming Site for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Good place to begin investigating how your area will be affected by climate change. Included are sections on sea-level rise, the impacts of warming on health, and things you can do to help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Fun kids site with games and animations. <http://epa.gov/climatechange/index.html> Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) The IPCC is the most authoritative source for statistics and figures on climate change. Visit this site to view the latest assessment reports, news releases and graphics. <http0://www.ipcc.ch>    INTERFAITH RESOURCES Eco-Justice Working Group of the National Council of Churches Educational and worship resources for local congregations and a comprehensive overview of U.S. Protestant and Orthodox churches activities related to environmental concerns. <www.nccecojustice.org> United Church of Christ Eco-Action Policy-oriented site helps make the connections between environmental issues and race, globalization and economic development. Lots of publications and information. <http://www.uccecoaction.org> Interfaith Power and Light An interfaith ministry of The Regeneration Project, devoted to deepening the connection between ecology and faith. The IPL campaign is mobilizing a national religious response to global warming while promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation. Find local chapters in your area. < http://www.theregenerationproject.org/ > Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life Protecting the environment is a mitzvah – a good work! This site is sponsored by most major Jewish organizations and provides great resources for “greening synagogues” at the bottom of the front page. < http://www.coejl.org/ > Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth Click on Green Sanctuary to find simple and effective building and community projects that can lead to certification as a “Green Sanctuary” within the UUA. Site is easy to navigate and has good resources for local congregations. < http://www.uuaspp.org > Evangelical Environmental Network Lead organization in the movement among evangelical Christians to address environmental issues from a Biblically-based spiritual perspective. This is the organization that asks, “What Would Jesus Drive?” <www.creationcare.org> National Religious Partnership for the Environment This formal alliance of major faith groups and denominations across the spectrum of Jewish and Christian communities provides a policy-rich website with a “profiles” section that has lots of ideas for faith communities that want to get involved. <http://www.nrpe.org> Forum on Religion and Ecology Great site to explore environmental issues from various religious perspectives. Lots of materials for higher education, books, DVD’s and overview of the academic literature related to these issues. <http://environment.harvard.edu/religion/main.html>   ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION AND ADVOCACY Environmental Defense Full-range of programs to protect human health, restore our oceans and ecosystems and curb global warming. Check out the 20 steps to reduce your carbon – makes a great reminder for your refrigerator, bulletin insert or teaching tool. <http://www.ed.org> Renewable Energy Access Excellent source for information about the renewable energy industry, current legislation and news. Run by renewable energy professionals, this site has cutting-edge information for those wishing to impact legislators and government agencies. <http://www.solaraccess.com> Rocky Mountain Institute Unusual entrepreneurial non-profit co-founded by Amory Lovins that fosters efficient and restorative use of resources to make the world secure, just, prosperous, and life-sustaining. Lots of terrific publications and imaginative green building ideas can be found here. <http://www.rmi.org> American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Do you feel the need to green like the “rushing of a mighty wind”? AWEA advocates the development of wind energy as a reliable, environmentally superior energy alternative in the United States and around the world. <http://www.awea.org> American Solar Energy Society Let the sun shine on your power bills! National organization dedicated to advancing the use of solar energy for the benefit of U.S. citizens and the global environment. ASES promotes the widespread near- and long-term use of solar energy. <http://www.ases.org> Union of Concerned Scientists Information dense, but clearly-worded website helps clarify issues related to global warming and many other environmental issues from a scientific perspective. Good place to develop advocacy and find resources for education. <http://www.ucsusa.org>   CARBON NEUTRAL RESOURCES Native American Owned Carbon Offset Program Neutralize your carbon output by investing in renewable energy and carbon sequestration projects that benefit Native Americans in Alaska where the devastating effects of climate change are already occurring. Specializes in non-profit organizations. <http://www.nativeenergy.com/organizations.html> Carbon Neutral for Your “Energized” Life TerraPass is the market leader in the U.S. in providing carbon offsets for consumers. TerraPass enables individuals to offset their CO2 emissions from driving, flying, and home use by supporting carbon reduction projects such as wind farms, methane digesters, and energy efficiency initiatives. <http://www.terrapass.com/> Carbon Neutral Site for Businesses So you’ve “energized” your church and you want to actually neutralize the rest of your carbon emissions. By purchasing emissions credits, investing in renewable energy or carbon sequestration (usually accomplished by investing in tree planting), you can become completely carbon neutral. < http://www.emissionsolutions.biz/>