CHANGE FOR THE
BETTER WITH
ENERGY STAR
Buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR"
prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting
strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
www.energystar.gov
ENERGY STAR® Congregations
Energy Stewardship Action List
Stewardship of the Earth: Stewardship of
Funds. Virtually all faith traditions teach
stewardship of life-supporting natural resources.
Wise energy use also supports good financial
stewardship of congregational funds. Your
congregation, through energy efficiency in the house
of worship, and in members' businesses and homes
can help protect the earth for future generations.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
ENERGY STAR Congregations Network offers free
information, technical support and public recognition
for congregations that take action against energy
waste. This "action list" sheet draws from the more
detailed information available in the ENERGY STAR
"Putting Energy into Stewardship" guide, which is on
the Web with other information and tools. Please
visit www.enerqvstar.qov/conqreqations
LIGHTING
¦	Turn off lights (and other equipment) when not in
use. High utility costs often include paying for
energy that is completely wasted.
¦	Install "occupancy sensors" in proper locations
to automatically turn off lighting when no one is
present, and back on when people return. Even
good equipment can be installed wrong. The
sensor must be able to "see" an approaching
person's motion to be able to turn on the light
before, or as the person enters an area.
¦	Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact
fluorescent lamps (CFLs), wherever appropriate.
CFLs cost about 75% less to operate, and last
about 10 times longer.
¦	Adjust lighting to your needs; use free
"daylighting." This means turn off or dim your
lights when daylight is adequate, or use
automatic "daylight-dimming" ballasts/controls to
do this for you.
¦	To prevent glare, eyestrain, and headaches, do
not "over-light." Too much light can be as bad for
visual quality as too little light—and it costs a lot
more.
¦	Install brighter, safer light-emitting diode (LED)
exit signs. ENERGY STAR qualified exit signs
can dramatically reduce maintenance by
eliminating lamp replacement for about 10
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
years, and they use 5 watts or less compared to
40 watts in a typical exit sign.
¦	Consider upgrading to T-8 (1" diameter)
fluorescent lamp tubes with solid-state electronic
ballasts that are more efficient than olderT-12
(1.5" diameter) tubes with magnetic ballasts.
OFFICE AND KITCHEN EQUIPMENT
¦	Always buy ENERGY STAR qualified equipment
for your congregation, business and home. The
ENERGY STAR mark indicates the most
efficient computers, printers, copiers,
refrigerators, televisions, windows, thermostats,
ceiling fans, and other appliances and
equipment. Find ENERGY STAR qualified
products online at www.energystar.gov.
¦	Clean refrigerator coils twice a year. Replace
door gaskets if a dollar bill easily slips out when
closed between the door's seals.
HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING
¦	"Tune-up" your heating, ventilation and air-
conditioning (HVAC) system before heating and
cooling seasons with an annual maintenance
contract. Like a new care, even an ENERGY
STAR qualified system will decline in
performance without regular maintenance. A
yearly maintenance contract costs about $100-
$150 depending on the building and HVAC
system, but will usually pay for itself in direct
utility savings - and your system can even last
years longer. A contract automatically ensures
that your HVAC contractor will schedule pre-
season tune-ups, in case you forget or are busy.
¦	Change HVAC filters (or clean if reusable) every
month during peak cooling or heating season.
New filters are very inexpensive, and dirty filters
cost more to use, overwork the equipment, and
result in poorer indoor air quality.
¦	An ENERGY STAR qualified programmable
thermostat can optimize the operation of your
HVAC system. This solid-state, electronic device
automates your HVAC operation "24 / 7" based
on your schedule, and can be "overridden" as
needed for unscheduled events. Your
employees will always enter a comfortable
building in the morning, yet you will save money.

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Putting Energy into Stewardship
These "smart thermostats" range from $25 to
$150, depending on features - but any
ENERGY STAR model can cut HVAC costs.
¦	Control direct sun through windows depending
on the season and local climate. During cooling
season, block direct heat gain from the sun
shining through glass on the east and especially
west sides of the building. Depending on your
facility, options such as "solar screen," "solar
film," awnings, and vines can help. Trees can
attractively shade the building, and help clean
the air. Interior curtains or drapes can help, but it
is best to prevent the summer heat from getting
past the glass and inside. Unobstructed
southern windows can contribute solar heat gain
during a winter day.
¦	Use fans. Comfort is a function of temperature,
humidity, and air movement. Moving air can
make a somewhat higher temperature and/or
humidity feel comfortable. Fans can help delay
or reduce the need for air conditioning, and a
temperature setting of only 3 to 5 degrees higher
can feel as comfortable with fans. Each degree
of higher temperature can save about 3% on
cooling costs. When the temperature outside is
more comfortable than inside, a "box fan" in the
window, or large "whole building" fan in the attic
can push air out of the building and pull in
comfortable outside air. Fans can improve
comfort and save energy year round.
¦	Plug leaks with weather-stripping and caulking.
Caulking and weather-stripping let you manage
your ventilation, which is the deliberate,
controlled exchange of stuffy inside air for
fresher outdoor air. To learn more about indoor
air quality in your building visit www.epa.gov/iaq.
WATER - HOT AND COLD
¦	Fix leaks. Small leaks add up to many gallons
and dollars wasted each month. Water
conservation, especially hot water, saves energy
and money, as well as water.
¦	Use sink aerators and water-efficient
showerheads and toilets to save water.
¦	Install an insulation blanket on water heaters
that are seven years or older, and insulate the
first 3 feet of the heated water "out" pipe on both
old and new units.
¦	When buying a new water heater, always buy
ENERGY STAR qualified equipment. In areas of
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
infrequent use consider "tankless" water heaters
to reduce "standby" storage costs and waste.
¦	Set water temperature only as hot as needed
(110-120 degrees) to prevent scalds and save
energy.
¦	When landscaping, use plants native to your
climate that require minimal watering and
provide better pest resistance. If local code
allows, consider diverting "gray water" for
irrigation.
CLEAN, GREEN ENERGY
¦	Ask your utility if "green" power from renewable
resources is available. Consider meeting all or
part of your needs (reduced by efficiency) with
electricity needs generated from a clean source
such as solar or wind power.
CARBON OFFSETS
¦	After optimal investments in energy efficiency
and green energy have reduced the house of
worship's "carbon footprint," the remaining
carbon emissions can be balanced or "offset" to
eliminate your global warming contribution.
ENERGY STAR Congregations
www.enerqvstar.gov/conqreqations


CHANGE FOR THE
BETTER WITH
ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR Small
Business Network
www.enerqvstar.gov/smallbiz
EPA Green Power Partnership
www.epa.gov/greenpower
EPA Climate Change
www.epa.gov/climatechange/

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