The Regeneration Project The mission is to deepen

The Regeneration Project The mission is to deepen the connection between ecology and faith

The Regeneration Project

Interfaith Power & Light Mobilize a religious response to global warming and to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation

Global Warming

Scientist’s say… Despite every conceivable attempt to discredit it, the science of climate change is overwhelmingly robust. Most of the global warming over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities (mostly by everincreasing emissions of carbon dioxide). A number of devastating changes consistent with our warming climate have been observed, including rising sea levels, increased frequency and severity of droughts, ice-cap melting, threats of species extinction and expansion of the ranges of tropical diseases into new territory.

Ice shelves are melting and breaking away

Kilimanjaro 1970

Kilimanjaro 2000

What Global Climate Change Means for Southern California New ED Report Predicts: • Increased smog • More wildfires • Severe storms • Water shortages

Choices you can make

Wind Power (and other renewable energy choices)

Fuel Efficiency

Alternative Transportation

Success Stories From California to Michigan and Massachusetts to Oregon we are helping congregations save energy, become more energy efficient and encourage responsible energy policy to protect God’s Creation.

• St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church - 19, 000 sq. ft. • Energy Audit to develop the “game plan” • Weather stripping, cleaning steam traps, • window insulation (also protects against vandalism), thermal curtain (saves energy and keeps people comfortable), replaced lights and exit signs, reflective material on roof

• Replace boiler, add solar, wind and solar thermal hot water • Replaced appliances with energy star appliances and got discount through MIPL program

• Investment - $150 K • Savings - $20 K/year which is a 50% reduction in their energy budget • Boiler alone was $50 K but saved $7 K year

Shir Hadash Synagogue

Solar Power

• The congregation’s decision to go solar was spurred by support by CA IPL and Rabbi Melanie Aron’s desire to address global warming and to follow the Jewish teaching of Tikkun Olam, to repair the Earth • Shir Hadash spent about 18 months fundraising from their members (including their tenth grade Confirmation Class’ compact fluorescent light bulb sales), researching solar companies, and preparing to install their photovoltaic system. The end result is a beautiful 10 k. W photovoltaic solar array, which will meet about 25% of their energy demands.

• In order to be more energy efficient, Shir Hadash replaced its heat-absorbing tar and gravel roof with a “cool roof”. This new reflective roof is insulating and also helps to cool the building and thereby reduce energy use. • Other energy changes at the congregation include replacing all hallway lighting fixtures with more energy efficient ballasts. All of these changes add up to significant energy savings.

All Saints Episcopal Parish

• All Saints Episcopal Church in MA installed a new boiler with zoned heating, programmable thermostats, and more efficient lighting • Annual savings of $17, 000 • They've used 14 percent of the savings to buy 100 percent renewable energy, further reducing pollutants.

California IPL • In 2002 CA passed "the Pavley bill" in reference to its sponsor Fran Pavley, a California assemblywoman – which will reduce carbon dioxide emissions from trucks and cars by 22 percent by 2012 and 30 percent by 2016. • 160 religious leaders signed an open letter that was published in Sacramento Bee • Legislators heard from congregants and, in some cases, heard the moral argument for protecting clean air from their pastor. • Other states are now working to pass similar legislation

Sacramento Bee op-ed

Oregon IPL • Received funding from The Regeneration Project for the West Coast Governor’s Initiative on Global Warming Photo: Bill Bradlee

• Mobilized the faith community in Oregon who then provided letters, meetings, phone calls around policy recommendations • Oregon DOE recognized the faith community in their report • Met with Governor Kulongoski on March 23 rd who took more than 30 minutes to talk with them

The Oregonian Friday, March 25, 2005 Oregon should adopt California's tough new tailpipe emission standards and lead the fight against warming…. . . When the region decided in 1980 to spend billions of dollars to conserve energy, rather than build new power plants, critics said the plan was too costly, the benefits too uncertain. At the time it seemed an enormous amount to spend on conservation, but the region now earns back its investment in energy savings every 18 months…

Thank You! The Rev. Sally Bingham sally@The. Regeneration. Project. org