ENERGY STAR® Action Workbook for Congregations
The President's Climate Action Plan calls for all commercial buildings, including worship facilities, to reduce energy
costs and related greenhouse gas emission by 20 percent by 2020. ENERGY STAR® certified buildings use an
average of 35 percent less energy and are responsible for 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than
average buildings. ENERGY STAR is helping congregations use low-cost, even no-cost actions, the time and talent
of their members, and strategic investment to save money and prevent pollution.
While there is much to be done in addressing climate change and its impacts, the most immediate and
measureable action a congregation can take is to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions is simply saving energy.
The following steps are a summary of the more detailed information and resources to be found in the ENERGY
STAR Action Workbook for Congregations, a free download at www.energvstar.gov/CongregationsWorkbook
supplemented by the resources appendices at www.energvstar.gov/CongregationsWorkbookAppendix
Step 1: Make a Commitment to Saving Energy
Become an ENERGY STAR partner and make a
commitment to better stewardship at
Assess Performance
www.energystar.gov/JoinBuildings.	& Set Goals
Gain the support of your clergy, staff and governing board.
They are critical to successful efficiency projects.
Motivate your congregation. Your congregation members
are the primary source of finance, as well labor for many
energy efficiency projects. Help your members understand
the projects.
Create a stewardship team This "green team" can be
large or small—or even a committed individual. Invite
youth to contribute.
Progress
Step 2: Assess Performance
ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management
Benchmark your building's energy performance using
EPA's free, online Portfolio Manager® tool. Portfolio Manager will also help you set energy efficiency
goals, and document achievements. Learn more at www.energystar.gov/Benchmark.
Step 3: Set Goals
Evaluate priorities and set goals. Work with key decision makers and evaluate how well the project aligns
with your congregational priorities.
Prioritize your goals. Evaluate potential costs and benefits for action.
Make Commitment
Create
Action Plan
Recognize	Implement
Achievements	Action Plan
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Step 4: Create an Action Plan
The Portfolio Manager tool, used in coordination with the ENERGY STAR Action Workbook for
Congregations, and additional resource available at www.energystar.gov/Congregations can help you:
Walkthrough your building. Identify which low-cost, no-cost ENERGY STAR Sure Energy Savers can be
quickly implemented in your building.
Find ENERGY STAR training and informational webinars at www.energystar.gov/Buildings/Training.
Find ENERGY STAR qualified products, purchasing specifications, and calculators at
www.energystar.gov/Products.
Determine technical issues, solutions, steps, and targets and take stock of your available resources.
Determine if projects require funding and how best to secure it. Worthwhile projects may or may not
require funding. Some projects may be attractive to targeted donations. Savings from low or no-cost
actions may fund some projects, while others may require capital investment for larger savings.
Step 5: Implement the Action Plan
This is the time to hire a contractor if necessary; to negotiate based on competing bids, and name a
congregation member or team to manage the projects. Portfolio Manager's powerful features can help
you monitor progress.
Create a communication plan to build awareness, educate and motivate your members.
Step 6: Evaluate Progress
Measure and verify your savings. Portfolio Manager will calculate the effect of your projects on your
energy consumption, "normalizing" your savings for weather variations, and help you plan continuing
improvement.
Report progress to your congregation. Generate a Portfolio Manager "statement of energy performance,"
employing easy-to-use report templates, or create the custom reports you want. Easily share data.
Step 7: Recognize Achievements
Provide recognition at regular intervals for everyone who helped the project succeed.
Tell your story. Share your success with other congregations and in your community through traditional
and social media. Get your youth groups "tweeting" to recognize your accomplishments and inspire others.
People enjoy friendly competition that supports a good cause and inspires excellence. For the ENERGY
STAR Guide to Energy Efficiency Competitions, see www.energystar.gov/CompetitionGuide.
Not certified yet? Your success story may be unique, educational, inspiring, and worthy of publication.
Learn more by contacting the ENERGY STAR congregation's team at
energystarcongregations@energyandsecuritv.com.
Apply for the ENERGY STAR - recognized by more than 85% of Americans as the mark of excellence in
energy efficiency, environmental, and financial stewardship. Learn about eligibility at
www.energvstar.gov/BuildingCertification.
To save and/or print this 2-page summary more meetings and sharing, please visit
www.energvstar.gov/CongregationsWorkbookSummarv
ENERGY STAR® for Congregations: Action Workbook for Congregations

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