Putting Energy 

Into Stewardship

ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

United States Air and Radiation EPA 480-B-00-003

Environmental Protection (6202J) October 2000

Agency

ENERGY STAR PARTNER 
EPA would like to thank Aspen Systems Corporation for its contribution to this publication.

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States

Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their

employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility

for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process

disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to

any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or

otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring

by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors

expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any

agency thereof.

This guidebook is intended to present a realistic look at energy-efficiency practices but cautions that

specific references to costs or performance characteristics are “typical.” Actual values may vary

depending on location, climate and manufacturer. The guidebook documents various energyefficiency options for saving energy in congregations, however, the EPA in no way recommends the

use of energy-efficiency products or practices that are contradictory to your personal beliefs.
Welcome

ENERGY STAR

PARTNER
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Welcome

ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide iii

Thanks For Your

Commitment To Energy

Stewardship

When your congregation pays its

utility bills each month, you

probably don’t care too much

about kilowatt-hours or therms.

You want heat, air conditioning, lighting, and other services at the lowest

possible cost. Putting Energy Into Stewardship can help you get the most

from your equipment and facility and

decrease your operating costs. We call

this energy optimization; you’ll just call

it smart stewardship of money and natural resources.

Most religious traditions teach stewardship of financial and natural resources.

Energy efficiency is an excellent means

of achieving both of these objectives at

the same time, because energy saved

is both money saved and pollution

prevented.

With so many pressing and legitimate

demands on your congregation’s financial resources, does it make sense to

pay more for energy? Of course not—

and it also doesn’t make sense environmentally to use more energy than

necessary. Ineffective energy use

wastes the Earth’s precious natural

resources and causes pollution. Many

congregations, just like yours, are becoming better resource stewards.

Energy efficiency recovers the money

you would otherwise spend each

month on wasted energy. These dollars

saved can support your congregation’s

mission and charity while you simultaneously help prevent pollution.

Every time a light, a computer, or an air

conditioner is turned on, a power plant

consumes some type of fuel to generate

electricity. Most of the time, a fossil fuel

is burned to generate power, and the

process releases emissions and pollution into the atmosphere and elsewhere

in the environment. These pollutants

cause acid rain and smog, and most

scientists agree these emissions are

changing our global climate. Human

health—as well as nature’s complex

ecosystem—also is affected directly.

Since the 1970s, tremendous technological advances have been made in

building systems and controls. As a

result, you can often get off-the-shelf

building technologies that provide

more comfort for significantly less

money than you are currently spending.

Let’s Look At Some

Examples

Say you have several incandescent

floodlights mounted outside your

building for security. Replacing them

with high-intensity discharge (HID)

fixtures could save 80 percent of the

electricity while increasing the light

level (see page 44). That can save you

big money and improve building

security. Installing photocell controls

will ensure that the lights always will

be on at night to deter vandals or

burglars who may be tempted to take

advantage of the shadows.

Have you ever experienced eye fatigue

or headaches from working under

the glare of older fluorescent lights? Do

Welcome

Get more work done and

spend less by upgrading

your existing lighting with

newer technologies.
Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

iv ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

Kenneth Gair, facilities manager for the Sligo Adventist School, invested $44,728 (and

received $27,527 in utility incentives) to perform upgrades on the school building. With a

1.5-year overall payback on the energy investments, he saved enough money to build the

kids a new playground and return $11,136 a year to the school. See page 47 for details.

you have trouble viewing your computer monitor because the lighting in

the room is too bright? Upgrading your

existing lighting with newer technologies can increase visual comfort for

congregation members, enhance interior

appearances, and allow your congregation to experience a more enjoyable

service. Costs may be 20 to 50 percent

less than with old equipment.

ENERGY STAR® for congregations will help

you apply solutions such as these to

your facilities so you can save money,

optimize energy use, and help protect

the environment. As an ENERGY STAR

partner, you will have access to unbiased information on building technologies and the upgrade process.

For more information, call us toll-free

at 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937) or

visit our Web sites at www.epa.gov/

congregations and www.energystar.gov.

Where To Find What You

Need In This Guide

We realize your time is very valuable,

so we’ve designed this guide to get

you the information you need quickly.

This section is your key.

Section 1, “Getting The Job Done,”

gives you practical advice on how to

overcome the technical, financial, and

managerial hurdles that you may encounter on the path to reducing your

utility costs through energy optimization.

In this section, we give you proven

strategies to identify the best energy

upgrades for your congregational facilities. We also discuss how you can finance these upgrades, and we give you

time-tested guidelines for selecting

contractors to help you get the job done.

You can use the tables provided to

compare your energy use and costs

with those of similar congregations in

your region.

Section 2, “Technical Support,” describes the many technologies that can

improve your energy efficiency. You

probably expect that only lighting,

heating, cooling, and water heating are

covered in-depth; however, you may be

a little surprised to find out how much

money selecting the right office equipment can save. And we include a discussion of techniques to optimize your

paper use that will save you money

while preserving our nation’s forests.

Throughout Section 2 we identify

simple measures that you can do

yourself in just a few minutes. And for

more involved upgrades, we explain

the solutions and the terms so that you

can be a smarter shopper when interacting with contractors and suppliers.

Section 3, “Supporting Material,”

contains a glossary that will help you

understand unfamiliar terms and new

technologies. This section also has

a checklist of ways to improve your

facility’s energy efficiency and a shopping list of things to look for when

buying or leasing a building.

Your facility could be featured in an

ENERGY STAR Success Story, and your

congregation can be publicly recognized for exemplary environmental

stewardship.

Let us publicize your

success!
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide v

Selected Reading

I have no time.

Read “Finding The Time” and “Learning About Energy

Efficiency” in Section 1. A consultant or an ENERGY

STAR product and service provider will be able to

identify upgrade options for you with only a limited

investment of your time. (ENERGY STAR product and

service providers are firms that sell products and/or

services for energy-efficiency upgrades. These companies may be found at www.epa.gov/congregations or

by calling 1-888-STAR-YES.)

I have access to in-house technical help.

Read Section 1 and then pass this guide to your staff.

One week later, schedule a meeting to review the technologies and upgrades that might be appropriate for your

congregation and to establish a preliminary timeline.

I don’t have access to technical skills and

would likely contract out all work.

Read or scan this entire guide so you can determine

which equipment to focus on and whom to call for help.

Additional ENERGY STAR

Services

Every ENERGY STAR congregational

partner has access to a full range

of technical materials and services.

These include seminars, workshops,

and written materials on energyefficiency upgrades, as well as brochures and promotional information

that you can use to highlight your

participation to your congregation

members.

Feel free to call the toll-free hotline

(1-888-STAR-YES) at any time to find

out about additional materials and

publications. After reviewing the

relevant publications, you may discover that you can do certain projects

in-house using the professional skills

of congregation members; if you find

your congregation lacks members with

the necessary professional abilities,

you may decide to enlist the help of

outside professionals.

Either way, we will help you become a

smarter buyer and ask the right questions. If you have access to the World

Wide Web, we invite you to visit the

ENERGY STAR for congregations Web site

at www.epa.gov/congregations. From

there you can explore the materials

and services available, access new

information not in this guide, and link

to energy-efficiency sites throughout

the Internet.
Contents

Putting Energy Into Stewardship: ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

SECTION 1: Getting The Job Done ......................................................... 1

Finding The Time..................................................................................................... 3

Getting The Money .................................................................................................. 5

Learning About Energy Efficiency ........................................................................... 7

Making A Good Building Even Better .................................................................. 11

Selecting A Contractor ........................................................................................... 15

Benefiting From Energy Savings As A Tenant ...................................................... 19

Verifying Savings .................................................................................................... 21

ENERGY STAR Support For Congregations ................................................................ 23

SECTION 2: Technical Support .............................................................. 25

Financial Analysis ................................................................................................... 27

Prioritizing Your Projects ....................................................................................... 31

Lighting Part I: Concepts ....................................................................................... 33

Lighting Part II: Upgrades ...................................................................................... 39

Building Tune-Up ................................................................................................. 49

Office Equipment .................................................................................................. 51

Paper ....................................................................................................................... 55

Water Heaters And Water Use ............................................................................... 57

Refrigeration ........................................................................................................... 63

Building Construction ............................................................................................ 65

Heating And Cooling ............................................................................................. 71

Other Ideas For Energy Stewardship .................................................................... 77

SECTION 3: Supporting Material .......................................................... 79

Glossary .................................................................................................................. 81

Energy-Efficiency Quicklist.................................................................................... 89

ENERGY STAR Shopping List For Congregations ...................................................... 91
1

ENERGY STAR

PARTNER

GettingThe 

Job Done
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 3

We understand how important

your time is. We’re also convinced that energy-efficiency

upgrades are well worth your

consideration because of the savings

and improved comfort they bring.

Getting Started With

Few Hassles

Here are strategies to jumpstart your

energy savings with a limited investment of your time.

● Ask your utility if it offers free or

inexpensive energy surveys.

● Ask your congregation if members

are professionally skilled in the

areas where energy can be saved.

● Invite lighting contractors and heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning

(HVAC) contractors to your facility

to suggest upgrades.

● Leverage your time by drawing

on the expertise of ENERGY STAR

product and service providers.

Call 1-888-STAR-YES for your nearest provider, or see the Energy

Services and Products Directory on

the ENERGY STAR Web sites (www.

epa.gov/congregations and www.

energystar.gov) for a directory of

contractors.

● Discuss the project with a congregation member who might coordinate

and manage your project, or consider contracting with an energy

professional.

● Select turnkey services from an

Energy Services Company (ESCO);

see page 8.

● Delegate responsibilities to your

coordinator if you discover a particular project is taking more of

your time than you can afford.

The Cost Of Delay

While we often think of upgrade

projects in terms of how quickly the

investment is paid off through the

savings, we usually don’t recognize

the other side of this equation. For

each month or year that you delay

your upgrade projects, you lose potential savings.

Finding The Time

Many consulting engineers,

utilities, and ENERGY STAR®

product and service providers offer their services to

review proposals, oversee

contractors, and attend

project meetings.

Consider a congregation with an

annual energy expense of $25,000.

If a comprehensive upgrade program

could reduce energy use

by 30 percent, this

congregation could

save $7,500 per

year. Assume that

the cost of implementing these

measures results in a

3-year simple payback,

which is typical.
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Getting The Job Done

ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 5

The ENERGY STAR® finance

directory makes it easy

to find conventional and

innovative lenders for

energy upgrade projects

(www.epa.gov/

congregations).

T

he key issue is, how do you pay

for the upgrades? Not a problem, in most cases. Energyefficiency upgrades make such

good financial sense that many traditional and nontraditional resources

can provide you and your congregation with a positive cash flow.

For inexpensive projects, you’ll want

to fund your upgrades with internal

funds. The overhead costs of financing

are too high for small projects. This is

the best way to keep payback time

low and return on investment high.

For larger jobs, some congregations

may not have the convenient cash

reserves or revolving credit that large

businesses do. Cash flow limitations

can make capital funding from reserves simply impossible. In such

situations, financing is the only way

the project can be implemented. Fortunately, a wide variety of sources

and mechanisms has evolved over the

past few years to help smaller facilities maintain a positive cash flow

while implementing energy-efficiency

projects.

ENERGY STAR For

Congregations

Finance Directory

Resources are available through ENERGY

STAR for congregations to help you

find financing. EPA does not endorse

individual lenders or lessors, but we

do provide an ever-growing list. If

you have Internet access, our Web

site at www.epa.gov/congregations

features a finance directory (click on

“finance directory”) that provides

direct access to lenders that offer

such loans and leases. It also contains some Web links, and you can

download the text of the finance directory from the Web site. The printed

version of the finance directory also

may be requested by calling ENERGY STAR

for congregations at the toll-free ENERGY

STAR hotline (1-888-STAR-YES).

The ENERGY STAR finance directory

offers a variety of financing options

including:

● Your religious organization.

Many denominations have established funds for facility improvement or construction. Ask your

congregational leadership to check.

● Supplier loans. Many suppliers

offer financing in combination with

installation of their equipment. Make

sure the interest rate is comparable

to what you can get elsewhere.

● Utility loans. Your utility may have

a low-interest loan program or other

financing to underwrite energyefficiency projects.

● State loans. Your state energy

office may be aware of alternative

sources of loans—and possibly

grant monies—for congregations

like yours.

Performance Contracting

Financing your project yourself

through a cash purchase or a loan

requires you to shoulder all the responsibility for the project’s success.

Performance contracting, available

primarily through ESCOs (see page

8), is an alternative way to finance

energy-efficiency projects. You receive a lower level of cost savings at

first, but have insurance that your

Getting The Money
Getting The Job Done . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

actual savings will meet your expectations. Performance contracts typically

are negotiated with no upfront cost to

the building owner; money realized

from energy savings goes to pay project expenses. A detailed explanation

of performance contracts is found in

Financing Your Energy-Efficiency

Upgrade, EPA 430-B-97-003. Call the

ENERGY STAR hotline at 1-888-STAR-YES

for this or other publications.

Reinvestment Of Savings

ENERGY STAR for congregations emphasizes a staged approach to energy investment projects (see page 31). You

can use the cost savings from your first

project to fund your second project,

and so on.

Tax Implications

While your congregation is tax exempt,

your members also may want to upgrade the efficiency of their businesses.

Legislation in summer 1996 extended

the ability of businesses to deduct

equipment upgrades as an expense.

This can save them money by taking

capital costs that normally would be

amortized and deducted from declared

profit over several years and advancing

the costs into a current year tax deduction. We suggest that they contact their

accountants for more information on

how upgrade projects can reduce their

taxes and improve their cash flow.
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 7

Learning About Energy

Efficiency

Y

ou may not know a lot about the

intricacies of motors, lighting,

or air conditioning. You may be

reluctant to take on the challenges of building upgrade projects,

especially when your existing equipment works just fine. We will help you

successfully implement upgrades by

relying heavily on energy professionals

and ENERGY STAR resources. We will help

you through the process, and we can

answer your most difficult questions.

Energy-Efficiency Basics

Building technologies have advanced at

a striking pace during the past decade. If

your building’s lighting and heating/

cooling systems are more than 10 years

old, you could potentially see big savings—up to 50 percent—by upgrading.

Key opportunities are described below.

Lighting. Even though the old-fashioned

light bulb is still the symbol of innovation, those incandescent bulbs consume 75 percent more electricity than

compact fluorescent bulbs. The higher

cost of compact fluorescent bulbs is

quickly recovered through energy savings and lamp longevity. New technologies are employed to reduce the

energy use of fluorescent fixtures. And

occupancy sensors, which turn lights

off in unoccupied areas, have become

surprisingly inexpensive (see page 46).

Look around your building. If you use

fixtures that are more than 10 years

old, your building is a good candidate

for a lighting upgrade.

Building Tune-Up. Get your building

back to its original performance. See

page 49 for more information.

Office Equipment And Paper Use.

Selecting ENERGY STAR labeled equipment

when you purchase new computers or

office equipment and encouraging a

few simple practices among your volunteers or employees will yield energy

savings with absolutely no investment

cost. See pages 51 and 55 for more

information.

Consider Some Of The Traditional

Myths About Equipment And Energy Use1

Myth: Leaving computers on helps them last longer.

Reality: Today’s computers do not suffer from being turned on and off

thousands of times. In fact, turning computers off when they’re not

being used lowers the amount of dust buildup inside, which helps them

last longer while saving you money.

Myth: Energy costs are an insignificant part of total expenses.

Reality: Energy savings can always be used to fund materials, supplies,

and publications. In addition to your reduced utility bills, improved

congregant comfort is common after building upgrades.

Myth: Fluorescent lights last longer if not turned on and off.

Reality: Switching fluorescent lights on and off does slightly shorten

their life. However, any time lights are not needed for more than about

10 minutes, you save more money by turning them off than by leaving

them on.

Myth: I should replace old equipment with more efficient versions only as

the old equipment breaks.

Reality: With some new technologies, such as T-8 fluorescent lights

(20 to 60 percent savings) or light emitting diode (LED) exit signs

(up to 90 percent savings), there’s just no reason to wait. You can start

saving money on energy and maintenance costs right away.

_______________________

1 ASHRAE Journal, January 1997.
Getting The Job Done . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

Water Heating And Water Conservation. You may be paying more than you

need to for water use or water heating.

Learn more starting on page 57.

Refrigeration. Check your seals regularly and specify high-efficiency evaporator fans when you buy new systems.

These and other operations and maintenance guidelines will keep your refrigeration equipment working at peak

efficiency. See page 63 for additional

ideas.

Building Construction. A review of

the steps to upgrade your building’s

walls, roof, and windows to get the

most comfort from your heating and

cooling units starts on page 65.

Heating And Cooling. Inexpensive

modifications such as installing programmable thermostats and cleaning

your filters often can significantly

reduce your heating or cooling costs.

Thinking of replacing your old system?

See page 71 to explore the options

before you buy, because it may be

worth the extra cost. If your existing

system is old enough, it may be costeffective to replace it with a new one

immediately.

Other Opportunities. Each congregation has unique opportunities for energy

savings based on the particular equipment it uses. Many of these measures

are discussed starting on page 77; you

can also call the ENERGY STAR hotline

at 1-888-STAR-YES for information on

measures not covered in this guide.

Lean On Experts For

Advice

The type of help you will need to start

your upgrade projects depends on the

amount and skill level of in-house

support, the type of project, and the

size of the project.

To begin, you may need the help of a

consultant or an energy surveyor to

identify upgrade opportunities. If your

in-house support is extremely limited,

you may need some level of management or oversight by a consultant other

than the contractor performing the

work. Typically this is money well

spent because, just like hiring a professional accountant to prepare your tax

returns, professional consultants or

surveyors often save you more money

and provide fast and efficient results

that allow you to make knowledgeable

choices concerning energy-efficiency

upgrades.

Start with a free energy survey where

available. Call your electric or gas utility.

Nearly half of the country’s biggest

utility companies offer free or subsiUnique opportunities

for energy savings are

available for each

congregation.

● Energy Services Companies (ESCOs) offer turnkey services that are

excellent alternatives for larger projects. The company will perform a

survey (usually free) to identify savings opportunities and will arrange

financing, coordinate contractors, and perform all project management.

Often, these projects are financed as performance contracts, where the

ESCO receives a portion of the savings generated by the project. The

National Association of Energy Services Companies (NAESCO) can refer

you to the ESCOs in your area; call (202) 822-0950 or visit the Web site at

www.naesco.org.

● Lighting contractors will be familiar with all aspects of lighting design

and can conduct lighting surveys, recommend replacements, and calculate

energy and cost savings. Lighting contractors are the best choice when the

project is high profile or requires significant lighting redesign.

● Electrical contractors have skills installing motors, modifying equipment,

and performing straightforward lighting upgrades.

● Mechanical contractors specialize in the heating, cooling, and ventilating

systems at a facility. They can coordinate the work of subcontractors and

interface with installers of Energy Management Systems (EMSs) if required.

● Controls contractors specialize in the automatic controls for heating,

cooling, ventilating, lighting, and emergency systems. Installation of a central

computerized control system with advanced energy savings functions (also

known as EMS) is cost effective for many facilities.

● Operations and maintenance contractors will perform routine

preventive maintenance that can extend equipment life and reduce

energy use.

Installation Support

Lean on outside contractors for expertise and installation.

Available resources include ESCOs and conventional contractors:
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 9

dized energy surveys for commercial

customers to identify energy-efficiency

opportunities. These surveys may not

identify fuel-switching opportunities that

convert you from the sponsoring

utility’s product, but otherwise they are

an excellent and objective way to get

started. Some utilities give free compact

fluorescent lamps to their customers.

If you don’t have any luck there, call

some electrical or heating, ventilating,

and air-conditioning (HVAC) contractors for free walk-through surveys. Just

be aware that the contractor’s agenda

for such a survey will include a sales

pitch; if you don’t have a long-term

relationship with your contractor, you

will want to consider capital-intensive

recommendations carefully.

If you don’t have a contractor, call

1-888-STAR-YES and ask for the nearest

ENERGY STAR product and service providers. These companies have received

training in strategies to upgrade building

systems to optimize performance.

For large projects outside your realm of

expertise, consider hiring consultants to

prepare bid documents or to verify the

work of contractors. As a rule of thumb,

it is worthwhile to have a management

investment of 3 to 10 percent of the

project cost so an independent expert

can oversee major projects. This premium doesn’t detract much from your

payback and acts as a good insurance

policy. Look in the Yellow Pages of

your phone book under Engineering

Consultants or similar headings, or

call 1-888-STAR-YES for the name

of your nearest ENERGY STAR product

and service provider. For information

about financial or technical assistance

that is available for energy-efficiency

upgrades, call your local energy utility

or your state energy office.

ENERGY STAR Labeled

Products

ENERGY STAR labeled products use less

energy than other products, save you

money on utility bills, and help protect

the environment. Look for the ENERGY

STAR label on:

● Household appliances

● Compact fluorescent light bulbs

● Exit signs

● Home electronics

● Office equipment

● Heating and cooling products

● Homes

● Windows

● Residential lighting fixtures

● Transformers

● Roof products

● Insulation

● Products in

development

This Web site

(www.energystar.gov/) provides lists

of ENERGY STAR qualified products and a

store locator to help you find qualified

products at a retailer near you. ENERGY

STAR labeled products are made by all

major manufacturers and are available

at stores everywhere.

The Second Price Tag:

Energy Efficient Appliances

Cost Less To Own

Although energy-efficient models

sometimes cost more to purchase, any

extra upfront cost often can be made

up with savings on your utility bill.

One helpful way to figure out if buying an ENERGY STAR labeled product

makes sense for you is to think of

two price tags.
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10 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

Where Can I Learn More?

For more information on energy technologies contact:

● Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA): (202) 483-9370; www.acca.org

● American Consulting Engineers Council (ACEC): (202) 347-7474; www.acec.org

● American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE): 1-800-527-4723

or (404) 636-8400; www.ashrae.org

● American Society of Mechanical Engineers International (ASME): 1-800-THE-ASME; www.asme.org

● American Solar Energy Society (ASES): (303) 443-3130; www.ases.org

● Association of Energy Engineers (AEE): (770) 447-5083; www.aeecenter.org

● Association of Energy Service Professionals International (AESP): (561) 432-8000; www.aesp.org

● Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies (CREST): (202) 293-2898;

http://solstice.crest.org/index.shtml

● Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life: www.coejl.org

● Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI): 1-800-313-3774; www.epri.com

● Energy-Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC): 1-800-DOE-EREC;

www.eren.doe.gov and www.eren.doe.gov/EE/buildings_related.html

● Energy User News: (248) 362-3700; www.energyusernews.com

● Episcopal Power and Light: www.theregenerationproject.org

● Evangelical Environmental Network: http://creationcare.org/

● Interfaith Coalition on Energy (ICE): www.sustainable.doe.gov/success/interfaith_coalition.shtml

● International Dark Sky Association: www.darksky.org

● Islam and Ecology: www.crosscurrents.org/islamecology.htm

● Lighting Research Center: (518) 687-7100; www.lrc.rpi.edu

● National Association of Energy Services Companies (NAESCO): (202) 822-0950; www.naesco.org

● National Council of Churches: (212) 870-2227; www.ncccusa.org/

● National Religious Partnership for the Environment: (212) 316-7441; www.nrpe.org/

● National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE): (703) 684-2800; www.nspe.org

● Religions of the World and Ecology: Discovering the Common Ground: www.crle.org/commonground.html

● United States Catholic Conference: www.nccbuscc.org

The first price tag is the purchase price

that you pay at the store when you

buy the product.

The second price tag is the cost to

operate the product over its lifetime.

You pay to operate the product every

month for as long as you own the

appliance. You might be surprised

to see how much it can cost to own a

product that seems like a good deal

upfront. Also, check with your local

utility—many offer rebates on the purchase of ENERGY STAR labeled products.
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 11

Making A Good Building

Even Better

E

NERGY STAR partners have reduced

their buildings’ energy costs by an

average of about 30 percent, and

upgrades at these sites continue.

Even if your building is already relatively energy efficient, nearly every

building can reduce its energy costs

by at least 10 percent with measures

that pay for themselves in less than

3 years. Energy cost reduction of 50

percent or more will be economically

achievable at some sites.

The best way to measure your energy

use is by calculating it per square foot

and comparing it with other buildings

that have the same type of use (office,

education, health care, lodging, etc.)

that you do. Look at the worksheet

and charts on pages 12 and 13. The

charts show the national average of

typical annual energy use by building

type and by climate zone.

Keep in mind that the values on pages

12 and 13 are averages. An “average”

congregational building typically will

have opportunities to lower its bills by

30 percent. A facility using more than

the average amount of electricity and

fuel may have even better opportunities.

Even a facility significantly below the

average usually can find potential savings through measures that emphasize

the newest technologies (such as ENERGY

STAR labeled office equipment). To find

the best upgrades for your building and

equipment, identify the area of your

highest energy use. The best place to

start is to review your electric, natural

gas, fuel oil, and other energy bills for

the past year. Select your highest bill. Is

it highest in summer? This could indicate

high air-conditioning costs. Is it highest

in winter? If you currently have electric

resistance heat, you may save money by

converting to natural gas or fuel oil. Are

your electric bills higher in spring and

fall than in summer and winter? Simple

modifications to your heating and cooling systems may provide excellent savings. You may discover that your peak

electricity use occurs during a time of

year when rates are higher.

In addition, your electric bills may

have a demand charge component,

which is a charge based on your peak

rate of electricity use. These factors

make it especially important to select

energy-efficiency upgrades that will

lower your energy use when the

utility’s rates are higher or when your

facility’s demand is at its peak.

If you are charged a “demand charge” on your electric bill, you pay a fee based on your

peak rate of electricity consumption. Lowering your peak rate of usage can save big.

Electric

Demand

(kW)

 Midnight Noon Midnight

Peak Demand

Electric Use (kWh)

Using Utility Bills

To Forecast

Upgrade Costs

You can use your current

utility bills to estimate the

total cost of upgrades that

may be cost effective. EPA’s

experience with energyefficiency upgrades has

shown upgrade savings

to be between 10 and 50

percent of existing utility

bills. Because the typical

upgrade costs three times

what it saves in one year,

you can anticipate an

upgrade budget of roughly

100 to 150 percent of your

total annual utility bills.

For example, if your

annual utility bill is

$24,000 (for all

fuels), it may be

cost effective

to anticipate

spending $24,000 to

$36,000 on upgrading your

equipment. (You can find

information on financing

these upgrades starting on

page 27.) This budget can

be a good reality check

once you start getting

prices from suppliers and

contractors. Of course, you

may encounter savings

higher or lower than this

depending on your facility.
Getting The Job Done . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

U.S. Climate Zone 1

Annual Annual

Energy Use Energy Cost

Building Type (kBtu/sq.ft.) ($/sq.ft.)

Education 77 $0.93

Food service 155 $2.32

Health care (inpatient) 270 $2.65

Health care (outpatient) 118 $1.33

Lodging 133 $1.42

Office 93 $1.46

Public assembly 66 $0.95

Religious worship 53 $0.48

Restaurant 250 $3.99

Retail 77 $0.99

Warehouse (non-refrig.) 59 $1.09

Warehouse (refrigerated) 65 $1.45

Annual Annual

Energy Use Energy Cost

Building Type (kBtu/sq.ft.) ($/sq.ft.)

Education 88 $1.08

Food service 169 $2.19

Health care (inpatient) 269 $2.63

Health care (outpatient) 84 $1.25

Lodging 92 $1.54

Office 95 $1.49

Public assembly 77 $1.26

Religious worship 61 $0.68

Restaurant 250 $3.99

Retail 87 $1.21

Warehouse (non-refrig.) 64 $0.80

Warehouse (refrigerated) 65 $1.45

U.S. Climate Zone 2

Average Energy Use And Costs Throughout The United States

Calculate Your Total Energy Intensity

(for online version go to www.epa.gov/congregations)

1. Collect one year of bills for each energy type and multiply by these conversion factors:

Annual kWh of electricity x 3.4 _______________

Annual therms or ccf of natural gas x 100 _______________

Annual gallons of #2 fuel oil (diesel fuel) x 140 _______________

Annual gallons of #6 fuel oil x 150 _______________

Annual MIb. of purchased steam x 1,040 _______________

Annual gallons of propane x 91 or _______________

Annual pounds of propane x 22

Total (A) _______________ kBtu/year

2. Write down the size of your facility, in square feet (B) _______________ square feet

3. Calculate your total energy intensity by dividing (A) by (B), and write this number on line (C). (C) _______________ kBtu/sq.ft./year

4. Find the climate map with your location shaded. Then find the average energy use and costs for similar buildings on the adjacent table

and compare them with your energy use from line (C). How do you rate?
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Getting The Job Done

ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 13

U.S. Climate Zone 3

Annual Annual

Energy Use Energy Cost

Building Type (kBtu/sq.ft.) ($/sq.ft.)

Education 69 $0.99

Food service 213 $2.73

Health care (inpatient) 204 $2.35

Health care (outpatient) 80 $1.30

Lodging 96 $1.86

Office 80 $1.59

Public assembly 66 $1.19

Religious worship 35 $0.45

Restaurant 226 $4.16

Retail 64 $1.25

Warehouse (non-refrig.) 51 $0.93

Warehouse (refrigerated) 65 $1.47

U.S. Climate Zone 4

Annual Annual

Energy Use Energy Cost

Building Type (kBtu/sq.ft.) ($/sq.ft.)

Education 66 $1.17

Food service 232 $2.49

Health care (inpatient) 227 $2.89

Health care (outpatient) 74 $1.36

Lodging 115 $1.65

Office 72 $1.54

Public assembly 72 $1.32

Religious worship 38 $0.59

Restaurant 134 $3.03

Retail 68 $1.36

Warehouse (non-refrig.) 36 $0.83

Warehouse (refrigerated) 96 $2.02

U.S. Climate Zone 5

Annual Annual

Energy Use Energy Cost

Building Type (kBtu/sq.ft.) ($/sq.ft.)

Education 56 $1.11

Food service 195 $2.89

Health care (inpatient) 202 $2.76

Health care (outpatient) 100 $1.67

Lodging 102 $1.62

Office 68 $1.55

Public assembly 54 $1.17

Religious worship 34 $0.59

Restaurant 161 $3.20

Retail 56 $1.26

Warehouse (non-refrig.) 33 $0.77

Warehouse (refrigerated) 55 $1.17
Getting The Job Done . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

Success Story

Sabbath (sunset Friday through sunset Saturday) and during religious festivals (13 days

each year). Therefore, the use of photocells

and timers that can be set before the beginning of Sabbath or festivals helps BEKI members make sure that lights and systems are on

only when needed, while strictly observing

their faith. Otherwise, the temple would have

to let all building systems run continuously

during the Sabbath and festivals, which would

be an unintentional waste of resources. What

a great example of using technology efficiently to maintain an age-old tradition!

A Bright Future Awaits

By selecting an architect to design a master

plan for energy-efficient building improvements, BEKI is well on its way to a bright and

efficient future. Planned facility upgrades

include replacing an archaic central cooling

system, upgrading all remaining incandescent

lights with new, efficient fluorescents, converting an old, single-zone oil heating unit to

a system with several smaller, more efficient,

multizone units, and adding staged improvements to windows, appliances, ovens, and

hot-water heaters.

A Modest Proposal

Energy consumption may be costing your

congregation and our environment more than

it should.

As Congregation BEKI has demonstrated, your

congregation can choose from many energyefficient options available. The savings

generated by energy efficiency is measured not only in financial gain, but in

something even more important than

money: the protection of the Earth, on

which we all live and breathe.

A Congregation That Cares

Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel (BEKI)—

a traditional egalitarian participatory Conservative synagogue community in New Haven,

CT—honors energy and environmental

conservation as part of its faith. BEKI has

just begun to scratch the surface of its

energy-efficiency potential and is focused

on conserving, preserving, and saving for

many years to come. The temple’s active

participation in conservation issues makes

the future a little brighter not only for its

several hundred members, but for people

of all faiths everywhere.

A Guiding Light

BEKI has Rabbi Jon-Jay Tilsen to thank for its

energy-efficiency rebirth. Tilsen currently is

overseeing BEKI’s energy-efficiency projects

as well as planning for the temple’s future.

BEKI already has begun with upgrades to its

exterior and interior lighting, windows, and air

conditioning. Replacing old incandescent lights

with new, high-output metal halides in outdoor applications and efficient T-8 fluorescent

lights with electronic ballasts in interior offices

and hallways was a priority. BEKI replaced a

large number of broken and cracked windows

to eliminate drafts and upgraded the inefficient

20-year-old air-conditioning units with new

energy-efficient models. These efforts already

have resulted in $600 in annual savings and

the prevention of 11,000 pounds of CO2

 from

entering the air each year—a promising start

with more to come.

Blending Religious Convictions

With Technology

Religious beliefs do not permit many Jewish

individuals to adjust mechanical or electrical

devices (such as lighting and heating) on the
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Getting The Job Done

ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 15

Resources Through ENERGY

STAR For Congregations

electing contractors and other

professionals who are ENERGY

STAR product and service providers

will help ensure that your job will

be performed in accordance with the

latest energy-efficiency technologies.

A list of participants can be obtained

by calling the EPA ENERGY STAR hotline

at 1-888-STAR-YES, or see the Energy

Services and Products Directory (http://

yosemite.epa.gov/appd/asap/home.nsf)

and find ENERGY STAR labeled products

and retailers online through the ENERGY

STAR Web site (www.epa.gov/energystar.

html). At these Web sites you can search

for ENERGY STAR product and service

providers by type of service, specific

product, or location. The directory even

contains direct links to many product

and service providers’ Web sites.

EPA sponsors a national toll-free hotline

for ENERGY STAR for Congregations Partners to learn how to get upgrades done

or to network and exchange information

on what works. Just call 1-888-STAR-YES

and ask for technical support.

Using Utility Bills To

Forecast Upgrade Costs

You can use your current bills to estimate the return on investment of costeffective upgrades. EPA’s experience

with energy-efficiency upgrades has

shown savings to be between 10 and 50

percent of existing utility bills. Because

the typical upgrade costs three times

what it saves in one year, you can

anticipate an upgrade budget of roughly

100 to 150 percent of your total annual

utility bills.

Selecting A Contractor

For example, if your annual utility bill

is $24,000 (for all fuels), it may be

cost-effective to anticipate spending

$24,000 to $36,000 on upgrading your

equipment. (You can find information

on financing these upgrades starting

on page 27.) This budget can be a

good reality check once you start

getting prices from suppliers and

contractors. Of course, you may encounter savings higher or lower than

this depending on your facility.

Look in the Yellow Pages of your

phone book under Engineering Consultants (or similar titles) or call 1-888-

STAR-YES for the name of your nearest

ENERGY STAR product and service provider. EPA sponsors national workshops for ENERGY STAR for congregation

partners to learn how to get upgrades

done or to network and exchange

information on what works.

A critical step in the success of a

building upgrade project is the evaluation of proposals. Detailed coordination during the project minimizes the

inconvenience to your congregation

and allows the contractor to perform a

profitable, high-quality installation.

Solicit Competitive Bids

For larger projects, an ENERGY STAR

partner should issue a request for

proposals (RFP) to get competitive bids

based on the same scope of work.

Although this may seem like a lengthy

process, it could save you a lot of

money on design and construction

costs in the long run. For smaller

projects, it may not be cost-effective to

go through the RFP procedure. The

break-even point for issuing an RFP

EPA sponsors a national

toll-free hotline for

ENERGY STAR for congregation partners to learn

how to get upgrades

done or to network and

exchange information

on what works. Just call

1-888-STAR-YES and ask

for technical support.

S
Getting The Job Done . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

depends on project size and complexity

and whether in-house personnel are

sufficiently skilled to prepare the RFP

document. At the very least, you should

get multiple bids on any large job.

The RFP structure depends on how

much background work already has

been completed on the project. If

no preliminary work has been done

on project development or design, a

congregation will need a more complete menu of services than might

otherwise be the case. This RFP would

invite interested parties to visit the site

and conduct initial surveys of the

facilities to identify potential projects.

Based on these initial surveys, contractors may submit details of projects they

have identified, including estimates of

energy savings and cost savings and a

description of other benefits.

If a survey identifies energy savings

opportunities, all potential bidders can

be provided with a copy. Contractors

can then base their proposals on the

information provided or propose

modified or alternative solutions that

are more cost-effective.

If a design has been completed on a

specific energy measure, a congregation can provide potential bidders with

a set of design drawings from which

they can develop their installation cost

proposal.

Evaluation of proposals is a critical

step in the success of a building upgrade project. Comparing proposals—

especially those that contain different

energy-saving strategies or specified

equipment—requires a basic knowledge of the technologies involved. If

this expertise is not available within a

congregation, an outside source such

as an ENERGY STAR product and service

provider or an engineering consultant

should be part of the selection process.

The following guidelines will assist you

in selecting the best contractors for

your job regardless of whether you

issue an RFP.

Interview Prospective

Contractors

Contractors will be eager to discuss

their capabilities and experience with

you. Ask if they have worked on similar

projects. Discuss the type of working

relationship they like to establish. Get

information on the complete scope of

services available, including project

management, consulting, verifying

others’ work, operations and maintenance, arranging for financing, filing

utility rebate documentation, and so

on. Request information on the number and the experience of engineers

who will be assigned to your project

and check to see if they are affiliated

with the relevant professional societies.

Ask contractors if they have received

any awards or had their work featured

in magazines or journals.

Check References

Obtain the phone numbers of three

congregations or businesses where the

contractors have performed similar

work. Call them and ask if they are

pleased with the contractors’ work and

how the contractors responded to any

problems that occurred over the course

of the project. Local contractors that

have been in business in your community for a long time have a stake in

their good reputation.

Manage Contractors

Detailed coordination while the project

is underway will minimize the inconvenience to your staff while allowing

the contractor to perform a profitable,

high-quality installation. Regular meetings with your contractor and other

relevant personnel are essential. Welldefined project stages combined with

interim payments will serve as a

A critical step in the

success of a building

upgrade project is the

evaluation of proposals.
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Getting The Job Done

ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 17

mechanism of dialogue during the

project. For example, 10 percent of the

project cost can be due at presentation

and acceptance of design drawings,

70 percent can be due in stages as the

work progresses, and the final 20 percent can be due after performance

verification and staff training.

Settle Difficulties

Don’t pay your final bill until you’re

satisfied with the work, and remember

that as a consumer, you have every

right to satisfactory service. For big airconditioning jobs, a revisit to tune up

the system is not unusual. Reputable

contractors often will make the extra

effort to ensure that you’re a satisfied

customer.

In the unlikely event that serious

problems do arise, consider binding

arbitration. Binding arbitration has

become common among the building

trades because it offers fast resolution

with little of the expense or unresponsiveness of the legal system. We recommend that you consider specifically

citing the use of binding arbitration in

your contracts.

Detailed coordination

during the project minimizes the inconvenience

to your congregation’s staff

and members and allows

the contractor to perform

a profitable, high-quality

installation.
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Getting The Job Done

ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 19

hile most congregations own

the space in which they worship, there are those that do

not. This section describes

strategies for reducing energy and rent

costs for congregations that are among

those that do not own their own space.

Whether the cost of utilities is billed directly to you by the utility companies or

is included in the rent, all tenants ultimately pay to keep buildings comfortable and well lit.

Tenants are often disinclined to invest

in the building itself, however, because

they don’t own the premises.

If You Pay Your Utilities

Directly

If you pay your utility bills directly,

any upgrade will be worthwhile if it

meets your investment criteria and

pays for itself before you expect to

move. Because upgrades typically

increase the value of leased space,

you may be able to get your landlord

to subsidize the upgrade cost or

decrease your monthly rent. The latter

possibility makes a good energyefficiency investment even better, and

you may end up with a better deal

than if you owned your space.

In some leasing arrangements in

which the tenant pays the utility bills,

the landlord marks up the cost of

utilities with a handling fee of approximately 10 percent. If so, your

incentive to reduce energy costs is

greater than if you own the building

because you can save even more.

Benefiting From Energy

Savings As A Tenant

Success Story

Congregation Members May Have A Home Office

A consulting engineer in Bethesda, MD, used a rented house as

her office. When she first moved in, the house was cold and

drafty and had exorbitant utility bills. To improve working conditions and save energy, she negotiated an arrangement with her

landlord. The consultant and her husband purchased and installed attic insulation, new double-pane windows, top-quality

indoor shades, new doors, and a programmable thermostat. The

landlord reimbursed them for materials and also paid for their

labor at 50 percent of the market rate. The improvements saved

the consultant about $50 per month during the summer and

winter months and greatly increased comfort. Furthermore, the

landlord reduced the consultant’s rent by 20 percent, or $200 per

month, for one year after the renovations to compensate her for

her efforts. The landlord benefited as well. He had a stable lease,

and once the consultant did move out, he sold the house in only

3 weeks and made a profit of $75,000. An estimated $10,000 of

that profit was due to the recent renovations.

Costs Benefits

The Tenant • Time to install upgrades • More comfort

• $400/year decrease in gas

and electric bills

• $2,400/year less in rent

The Landlord • $3,115 for materials • $3,115 in tax deductions

• $840 for labor • $840 in free labor

• $2,400 rent reduction • $10,000 in capital appreciation

W
Getting The Job Done . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

20 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

If Utility Costs Are

Included In Your Lease

Your congregation may not own your

building. If you don’t pay your own

utility bills, ask your landlord if you

can get a $100 monthly rent reduction

if you install new lights that use $90

less energy per month and increase the

property’s market value. Your landlord

just might say yes. Alternatively, your

landlord might pay for the total cost of

upgrade projects if she or he believes

that the upgrades will extend the time

you remain in the space. Remind the

landlord that capital improvements

often are tax deductible.

Focus On No-Cost Or

Low-Cost Opportunities

Even given the rationale above, typical tenants will not be interested in

investing significantly in new windows for a building owned by someone else (unless the investment is part

of a larger marketing “image makeover”). Tenants often are best served

by focusing on measures that require

little capital and will help increase

comfort. These measures can save

tenants a surprising amount of money

and are ideal for congregations that

rent their facilities.

Focus On Savings You Can

Take With You

ENERGY STAR

labeled office

equipment

represents a lasting investment for your

congregation. If you buy an ENERGY

STAR labeled computer, fax machine,

copier, or printer, the equipment stays

with you even if you move, so your

savings don’t depend on the length of

your lease.

Refer Your Landlord To Us

Landlords also can benefit from your

participation in ENERGY STAR for congregations or their own participation

in the appropriate ENERGY STAR program. Have your landlord call the

ENERGY STAR toll-free hotline at 1-888-

STAR-YES to discuss materials and

services specifically designed for

No-Cost Options property managers.

● Turn up or turn back thermostats during unoccupied times (consider

installing a programmable thermostat; see page 72)

● Turn off lights and office equipment at night and over the weekend

● Take advantage of daylight

● Use e-mail instead of paper memos

● Disconnect unnecessary equipment such as unused freezers, water

heaters, and transformers

Low-Cost Options

● Caulk and weather-strip windows and doors

● Replace light bulbs with more efficient ones

● Install occupancy sensors in areas such as conference rooms and

storage rooms

● Install timers on electric water heaters or other equipment

● Install awnings or shades to keep out the summer sun and lower

air-conditioning costs

● Fix leaking faucets, showerheads, pipes, or toilets
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Getting The Job Done

ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 21

Y

Verifying Savings

ou can’t see energy, so it can be

hard to tell if an upgrade is a

success. As an ENERGY STAR congregational partner, you will want

to make sure that the money you invest

in implementing energy-efficiency measures provides the anticipated savings

on your utility bills. This section describes the features of successful programs and highlights principles you

can apply to quantify savings.

Compare Before And After

Utility Bills

Bill comparison provides you with a

way to quantify your savings after

implementing energy-efficiency measures. Because so many different

factors affect bills, this approach is

most revealing when you have implemented major projects that should save

you more than 10 percent. Simply add

up your energy bills for the year prior

to implementation of the measures and

for the year after project completion.

Subtract the 12 months of “after” from

the 12 months of “before” and you will

have your gross cost savings.

You will need to adjust the gross

savings depending on differences in

behavior and changes in energy

prices and weather during the 2

years. For example, if your facilities

or hours expanded 20 percent over

the course of the 2 years, then it is

likely that your energy use increased as

well. Take this into consideration. Many

utility bills will include a statement

about the number of “heating degree

days” that occurred during the billing

period. Bill analysis should take into

account yearly variations in weather.

For example, during a very mild winter,

your heating system might not be

running at full capacity; therefore,

energy savings associated with the

heating system might not be obvious.

Spot Metering

Spot metering is particularly applicable

for lighting upgrades. Ask your lighting

contractor to turn on all the old lights

that are to be replaced, then measure

the current leaving the circuit breaker

and leading to the fixtures for at least

one circuit. After the upgrade is complete, measure the current for the same

circuit and perform the following

calculations:

1. Subtract the lower post-upgrade

current from the higher pre-upgrade

current.

Verifying Savings: The Keys To A Successful Program

Your chances of truly lowering your costs will increase if you:

● Focus your upgrade projects on the areas of highest energy use at

the facility

● Focus on proven energy-efficiency technologies

● Meter before and after the job is complete

● “Commission” the project; that is, inspect and verify proper installation

and operation

● Find ENERGY STAR product and service providers located in the ENERGY STAR

directory

● Use internal or hired staff who have a track record of success

● Hire a top-quality contractor

Bill comparison lets you

quantify your savings after

you implement energyefficient measures.
Getting The Job Done . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

22 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

2. Multiply the change in current by

the voltage to determine watts saved

on the circuit.

3. Divide watts saved by the number

of upgraded fixtures to determine

watts saved per fixture.

4. Compare the watts saved per fixture

to your expectations and the supplier’s quote.

Insist that the current measurement be

done in your presence. This exercise

will take less than 10 minutes and will

give you confidence in the project’s

success.

Extended Metering

Although installing additional meters to

measure energy consumption directly

usually is beyond the scope of energyefficiency projects, innovative strategies

may provide some of this information.

For example, if you install timers on

some equipment to facilitate scheduled

maintenance, these timers can be recorded to verify the performance of

energy savings measures that result in

reduced equipment operation hours.

Some programmable thermostats are

equipped with simple functions that

estimate the hours of heating or cooling use; these could be used to test the

effectiveness of insulation measures.

Likewise, many energy management

systems (EMS) contain sophisticated

features for analysis of building energy

use that can be used to verify predicted savings.

Benefits Beyond The Meter

Measuring the financial performance

of your investment in energy-efficiency

technologies is important to ensure

the project’s soundness. However, the

most significant results will be felt in

your congregation as you take on stewardship of the earth. Members will be

proud to belong to a congregation that

cares about the world and excited by

your efforts, and may even take on

similar efforts in their homes, businesses, and schools, increasing the

benefit to the environment.
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Getting The Job Done

ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 23

ENERGY STAR Support

For Congregations

E

NERGY STAR for congregations is

voluntary and easy, and it will

help you save money. We’re here

to help congregations apply costeffective and proven energy-efficiency

technologies. Congregations like yours

not only will save money, they also

will help lay the foundation for a

cleaner planet for future generations.

The family of ENERGY STAR—encompassing commercial and industrial

buildings, homes, office equipment,

appliances, and many other areas—

aims to reduce pollution and protect

our environment through application of

energy-efficiency technologies. Making

homes, businesses, and industry more

energy efficient reduces the amount of

pollution released into the atmosphere

because utilities don’t need to generate

as much electricity. That means they

aren’t burning as much fossil fuel, and

that, in turn, means they aren’t releasing

pollutants into the atmosphere.

What Happens If You

Leave ENERGY STAR?

Your congregation will continue to pay

more than necessary for energy and your

pollution prevention contribution and

your financial and natural resource

stewardship opportunities will be missed.

Otherwise, ENERGY STAR is voluntary and

there are no penalties. EPA wants to help

you succeed in saving money and preventing pollution, and as long as you are

willing, we will work with you to make

it happen. Your congregation can reap

the rewards of lower costs; more comfortable, higher quality facilities; and the

knowledge that you are helping protect

the environment.

EPA wants to help you

succeed in saving money

and preventing pollution,

and as long as you are

willing, we’ll help you

make it happen.

ENERGY STAR And

Green Lights

Program Results

Through December

1998

● 19 billion pounds of

pollution prevented

● $800 million in energy

savings

Equivalent To

● Taking 1 million cars

off the road

or

● Planting 2 million acres

of trees

Pollution Prevented

Through Energy Savings

For each kilowatt-hour (kWh) that you

save through the application of energyefficiency technologies, you reduce the

emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2),

sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen

oxides (NOx

) by the amounts shown in

your region (see page 24). Excessive

carbon dioxide emission is a primary

cause of global climate change, sulfur

dioxide is a key constituent of acid

rain, and nitrogen oxides are responsible for smog. You will save money

and help the environment at the same

time, and your community will appreciate your efforts.

Pollution prevention efforts vary around

the country because electric utilities

use a variety of fuels and various types

of power plants to generate your electricity. In the Pacific Northwest, where

hydroelectric dams are prevalent, emissions rates are comparatively low. The

environmental impact can be just as

high, however, because of salmon migration disruption and other issues. In

other regions the mix of “clean” coal,

“dirty” coal, natural gas, nuclear power,

and renewable sources such as wind

turbine farms affects emission rates.

An exciting prospect for the deregulated future is the marketing of “green

pricing” by electric utilities. Already

pilot-tested in parts of California and

Pennsylvania, green pricing allows

customers to specify that they want

their electricity to be generated from

renewable sources (solar or wind) or

from particularly clean-burning power

plants. In exchange the customer pays

a slightly higher cost for this higher
Getting The Job Done . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

24 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

10

8

9

6

4

7 5

3

2

1

EPA Pollution Carbon Dioxide Sulfur Dioxide Nitrogen Oxides

Emission Region (CO2) Pounds/Year (SO2) Pounds/Year (NOx) Pounds/Year

1 1,100 8.8 3.1

2 1,200 7.5 2.9

3 1,600 7.1 5.5

4 1,500 15.2 5.5

5 1,800 22.9 7.7

6 1,700 4.9 5.5

7 2,000 7.7 8.6

8 2,200 7.3 7.1

9 1,000 2.4 3.3

10 100 1.1 0.7

Map Of Pollution Prevented Per 1,000 kWh Saved

grade of power. Look for green power

in the future. Information can be found

at www.epa.gov/congregations.

Congregant Home Offices

The growth of the Internet, telecommuting, and decentralized sales forces

have triggered a huge increase in the

number of home offices. Some of your

congregation members may have offices

or businesses in their homes and would

like to consider the benefits of ENERGY

STAR labeled office equipment and our

residential support services. ENERGY STAR

labeled homes use 30 percent less energy than required by the national

Model Energy Code and have other

health and comfort advantages. (See

page 19 for an example of upgrades

made to an existing home office.) Call

1-888-STAR-YES or visit the Web site at

www.epa.gov/smallbiz and click on

“home office” for more information.

Additional Resources

● http://yosemite.epa.gov/appd/

eshomes/eshaware.nsf (new homes)

● www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/

energy_savers/

● www.ase.org/checkup/home/

● www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/

factsheet.html

● www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/

forhome.html

● www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/

finance.html
2

ENERGY STAR

PARTNER

Technical

Support
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technical Support

ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 27

E NERGY STAR for congregations

finance directory is available online in searchable format, with

direct links to participating lenders. Alternatively, you can call the tollfree hotline at 1-888-STAR-YES to

request the list for your area.

Consider a congregation with annual

energy costs of $25,000. If a comprehensive upgrade program could reduce

energy use by 30 percent, this congregation could save $7,500 per year.

Assume that the cost of implementing

these measures results in a 3-year

simple payback, which is typical. In

delaying the upgrade, this congregation is forfeiting a low-risk investment

opportunity at 27-percent interest.

Indirect Financial Benefits

In addition, the total return on your

project includes these additional financial

components that are quite real, if indirect:

Increased Member And Staff Comfort. Building upgrades will improve

your facility’s appearance and help

your members be comfortable.

Operations And Maintenance

Savings. Many energy-efficiency

technologies significantly reduce

your operations and maintenance

requirements, saving money and

staff time.

Enhanced Employee Productivity.

Due to enhanced comfort and improved lighting conditions, staff productivity may increase.

Protection From Energy Inflation.

By performing energy-saving upgrades,

you replace part of the variable monthly

expense of your energy bills with fixedcost capital improvements. Lower energy

use always results in lower costs—more

so if energy prices rise.

Educational Benefits. Your participation in ENERGY STAR for congregations

communicates your commitment to

environmental stewardship. This message will help members understand

Financial Analysis

What Is Energy Worth To You?

The following table may be of interest to members of your congregation who

operate a business-type facility (e.g., a bookstore).

1. You’ve got a great energy savings idea. How much (A) $____

will it save per year?

2. Enter your pretax profit as a percentage of sales: (B) _____ percent

3. Divide A by B: (C) _____

Line (C) shows your equivalent annual increase in sales once your savings have

paid for the cost of the measure. The table below will help you quickly look up

the equivalent sales amount.

Savings For

The Measure 2% 5% 10% 20%

$10 $500 $200 $100 $50

$100 $5,000 $2,000 $1,000 $500

$1,000 $50,000 $20,000 $10,000 $5,000

$10,000 $500,000 $200,000 $100,000 $50,000

$100,000 $5,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 $500,000

Annual Cost Profit As A Percentage Of Sales

Equivalent Annual Increase In Sales

Savings from your energy

bills may help fund your

congregation’s other

projects.
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

28 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

what they can do in their own homes,

businesses, and places of employment.

Your exact mix of indirect benefits

will vary by building type and upgrades performed. For many projects,

these indirect benefits will be worth

several times the money you save in

energy alone.

Calculating The Worth

Once you are convinced that energyefficiency investments make financial

sense in general, you still have to

evaluate individual upgrades to decide

which ones to pursue. The two most

common evaluation tools are simple

payback and internal rate of return

(IRR).

Simple Payback. Simple payback is

the number of years it takes to recover

the cost of the energy upgrade from

the energy savings. A simple payback

of less than 4 years indicates a worthwhile project. Measures with simple

payback times of less than 1.5 years

are excellent opportunities and should

be implemented immediately.

Example Of A Simple Payback

Calculation: Your utility gives you a

free energy assessment and tells you

that if you replace 20, 100-watt incandescent bulbs used 24 hours a day in

your stairways with 30-watt compact

fluorescent bulbs, you’ll save $980 per

year. The upgrade will cost you $400.

Your simple payback is $400 ÷ $980 =

0.4 year, or just under 5 months. The

only significant shortcoming of the

simple payback concept is that it

doesn’t take into account the expected

life of the upgrade. For example, if the

compact fluorescent lamps described

above lasted only as long as incandescent lamps, they would burn out

in less than 3 months. Fortunately,

compact fluorescent lamps last eight

to 10 times longer, so you might want

your analysis to take that into account.

IRR. Expressing an upgrade in terms

of IRR helps you compare the financial

results of an upgrade against other

investments. (See the glossary for a

definition of IRR.) To calculate IRR,

you’ll want to use a computer spreadsheet program or a financial calculator;

you can use the table on the following

page as a general reference.

You can compare the IRR you calculate with the interest rates available at

banks or through other investments.

A good rule of thumb is that projects

with IRRs above 20 percent are excellent investments and should be

implemented.

Simple payback is the

number of years it takes

to recover the cost of the

energy upgrade from the

energy savings (see the

chart on page 46 or use

the online calculator

located at www.epa.gov/

congregations).

Marginal

Combine with other work

Satisfactory Investment

Good Investment

Excellent Investment

Implement immediately

1.5-4 years

0-1.5 years

4-7 years 

7+ years Number Of Years Before Simple Payback

Simple Payback:

 A Typical Ranking
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technical Support

ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 29

Example Of IRR: Converting a heating system from natural gas unit heaters to gas-fired radiant heaters will cost

$6,000 and save $1,500 a year, which

is a simple payback of 4 years. You

can calculate the IRR for this investment as 21 percent (using a 10-year

planning horizon), which makes it a

very good financial option. Compare

this with bank interest rates or other

investments you might make to decide

whether to implement this upgrade.

Where Can I Learn More?

Call the toll-free ENERGY STAR hotline at

1-888-STAR-YES and ask for the brochures listed below:

● Introducing Your Company’s Newest

Profit Center, EPA 430-R-97-004.

Congregational members’ businesses

can benefit from the concept that

energy upgrades are financial investments just like other business

uses of capital.

● Business Analysis for EnergyEfficiency Investments, EPA 430-B97-002. This brochure describes in

more detail the business-analysis

approach you can use to decide

if a particular upgrade or set of

upgrades makes sense.

● Financing Your Energy-Efficiency

Upgrade, EPA 430-B-97-003. This

brochure describes the many financial and accounting aspects of upgrade projects in great detail. Use

this information to finance your

projects to have the best impact

on your balance sheet, cash flow,

taxes, and ultimate return.

Upgrades should generally

be implemented if the IRR

is above 20 percent.

Compare Your Energy-Efficiency Investments To The Interest Rates You Can Get At A Bank

This table will tell you the IRR if you have already calculated the simple payback.

8 years 0% 4%

6 years 0% 7% 11%

5 years 0% 5% 12% 15%

4 years 0% 8% 13% 19% 21%

 Simple Payback 3 years 0% 13% 20% 24% 29% 31%

2.5 years 10% 22% 29% 33% 37% 38%

2 years 0% 23% 35% 41% 45% 48% 49%

1.5 years 22% 45% 55% 60% 63% 65% 66%

1 year 0% 62% 84% 93% 97% 98% 100% 100%

0.5 years 100% 173% 192% 197% 199% 200% 200% 200%

0 years 1 year 2 years 3 years 4 years 5 years 6 years 8 years 10 years

Lifetime of new equipment or length of your planning horizon, whichever is shorter
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technical Support

ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 31

Use the ENERGY STAR five-stage

concept to help organize a

strategy for putting potential

upgrades on a timeline. Each

stage of the program builds on the

previous stages to maximize potential

energy savings, minimize investment

requirements, and improve comfort

and profitability for your congregation.

Stage One: Lighting

Many buildings spend half their electricity costs on lighting, so it makes sense

to address lighting first to reduce your

energy costs. Efficient lighting pays for

itself quickly. Lighting upgrades such

as installation of compact fluorescent

lamps and light emitting diode (LED)

exit signs are relatively simple to implement and can deliver the expected cost

savings reliably. Upgrade your lighting

before changing your cooling system

because increasing your lighting efficiency lowers your air-conditioning requirements. Also, in the winter, some

of your heat comes from your lighting,

which is expensive. New lights operate

much cooler than old lights; use your

heating system instead. ENERGY STAR experience shows that successful lighting

upgrades provide congregational partners with dramatic savings and positive reinforcement for pursuing further

projects. Lighting upgrades often improve lighting quality, and enhance

the appearance of your facility inside

and out. For all of these reasons, we

recommend you start with lighting as

your first upgrade area.

Prioritizing Your Projects

Stage Two: Building Tune-Up

Tune the energy systems in your

building to optimal performance by

addressing operations, maintenance,

and small repairs. You can do many

tune-up activities yourself, such as

cleaning equipment and replacing

filters. Other tune-up measures—such

as adjusting your furnace or repairing

malfunctioning controls—will require

the services of contractors. Stage Two

upgrades improve occupant comfort

and indoor air quality, and the upgrades are no-cost or low-cost strategies that lay the foundation for further

savings in later stages.

Stage Three:

Load Reduction

Load reduction strategies reduce the

amount of heating, cooling, or electricity use through low-cost measures that

are easy to implement. Reducing the

amount of heated or cooled air that

escapes from your building through

cracks in windows or ducts will reduce

your heating and cooling costs. Window films, shades, and awnings will

reduce heat gain in the summer. You

also can take advantage of landscaping

measures such as adding trees and

vines to block direct sunlight.

Take simple steps to ensure that lights

and office equipment are not left on

by accident and select ENERGY STAR

labeled new equipment to guarantee

the best future savings.

Each stage of the program

builds on the previous

stages to maximize

potential energy savings,

minimize investment

requirements, and improve

comfort and profitability.
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

32 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

Stage Four: Heating And

Cooling Distribution

System

In this stage, you should evaluate the

efficiency of the fans and pumps

associated with the heating, ventilating,

and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in

your building. Upgrades to your distribution system will save energy while

improving occupant comfort.

Stage Five: Heating And

Cooling Plant

By implementing Stages One through

Four, you will reduce the overall

heating and cooling requirements in

your facility and will be able to afford

smaller and more efficient heating and

cooling units. Because replacing heating or cooling equipment requires the

largest commitment of capital, we

recommend that you implement these

replacements last. This is the stage

when all your previous hard work and

commitment will pay off.

The five-stage concept is illustrated in

the chart on this page.

Where Can I Learn More?

If you would like more information on

the technical aspects of the ENERGY STAR

five-stage approach to building improvements, you can view the ENERGY STAR

Buildings Manual at www.epa.gov/

buildings/esbhome/tools/building.html.

Stage Five:

Heating And

Cooling Plant

● Reduce size after

Stages One through

Four upgrades

● Offers maintenance

advantages

● High savings potential,

but large investment

Stage One:

Lighting

● Fast payback

● Improves comfort

● Reduces cooling costs

Stage Two:

Building Tune-Up

● Low-cost measures

● Operations and maintenance

● Reduces heating and cooling costs

Stage Three:

Load Reduction

● ENERGY STAR labeled

office equipment

● Windows, window films,

awnings

● Seal cracks

● Insulate water heater

Stage Four:

Heating And Cooling

Distribution System

● Resize the system to meet

new loads

● Install advanced controls
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technical Support

ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 33

A

pproximately 75 percent of all

ENERGY STAR for congregations

partner upgrades are related to

lighting. Because lighting upgrades

are so popular, we have included this

special section on lighting concepts. If

you have time to read it, you can be an

informed shopper when you listen to

contractor upgrade proposals or find

your own lighting improvement opportunities. If you don’t have the time,

aren’t interested in the background

science, or just want to focus on action, go straight to the next section,

Lighting Part II: Upgrades. There, we

introduce specific suggestions on how

to improve your lighting by upgrading

your fixtures.

Whether illuminating your place of

worship or providing security for your

parking lot, lighting is one utility that

your congregation cannot do without.

The amount and quality of light can

significantly affect the quality of your

facility and religious services. At the

same time, lighting costs form a significant part of your electric bill.

Fortunately, modern technology makes

it possible for many congregations to

improve lighting quality while reducing

costs. This section reviews how to

determine the right amount of light for

your building, discusses lighting quality

issues such as color and glare, and

introduces the different types of lighting

technologies in use. Of course we must

always remember that the least costly

and longest-lasting light bulb is the one

that is off!

Lighting Part I: Concepts

Light Levels

When everyone worked with pencils,

paper, and typewriters, architects made

sure that working environments had an

abundance of light everywhere. Now

that so many office environments require the use of computers, ideal light

levels and configurations are different

and often lower than in the past. Your

congregation also may want softer, even

dramatic lighting at times. This means

you may have the opportunity to reduce

your lighting costs and improve your

worship and learning environments at

the same time. Since removing lamps

often requires nothing more than getting

on a ladder and pulling out the bulbs,

the cost can be negligible and you can

start saving money immediately.

Although personal preferences play a

large role in optimizing light levels, the

Illuminating Engineering Society (IES)

provides recommended light levels for

different activities as shown in the

graph on this page.

Kitchen, classrooms,

handwriting, cutting

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

Public areas, dark

surroundings

Restaurant dining,

social hall, storage

Auditorium seating,

halls, restrooms

Conference room,

cashier, reading

Religious worship

Graphics studio

Recommended Light Levels For

Selected Activities

Recommended overall ambient light levels (in footcandles)

Source: Adapted from IES.
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

34 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

Compare Your Light Levels With

Recommended Levels. To compare

your lighting with recommended

levels, you need to know your own

existing light levels. Call your lighting

contractor and ask for measurements.

Alternatively, you may want to consider buying your own light meter.

They cost about $125 and are available

from lighting supply catalogs. If you

buy your own meter, be sure to have

a lighting expert train you before you

use it. Windows, reflections, and

shadows will distort your readings

if you’re not careful.

Just Try It. You don’t have to bother

with all those technical criteria. Remove a couple of lamps for a couple

of days, and if you like the new arrangement, stick with it.

Consider Task Lighting. Just because

you want bright light in one area doesn’t

mean you need the whole room lit at

that level. See if you can reduce light

levels in some areas and focus light

only where you need it. This is called

“task-ambient lighting.” This type of

lighting design provides a blanket of

lower level, “ambient” light for orientation around large objects together with

small fixtures shining on the “task.” The

current IES recommendations for computer use, for example, are 25 footcandles ambient, with a task or desk

light providing 75 footcandles at the

work surface.

Experiment With Daylighting. Turn

off lights near windows during daytime hours; you can do this manually

with a time clock or with special

“daylighting” sensors made just for this

purpose. This will enhance the beauty

of stained glass or other special window decorations.

Light Quality

Isn’t it frustrating to stare at your

computer screen and constantly find

yourself looking at the reflection of a

ceiling fixture? Have you seen volunteers tape cardboard around their

monitors? Does the light in the restroom make your face look pasty and

less attractive than you know you

looked at home this morning? It’s not

that your place of worship is bad for

your looks. All light is not the same.

These and other problems are lighting

flaws that often can be overcome

when you install more efficient lighting. Let’s consider solutions to the

problems one by one.

Solution 1: Task-Ambient Lighting.

A solution that more and more interior

designers recommend is a combination

of background ambient and task lighting. Designers generally agree that spot

lighting gives a pleasant ambience, but

it can cost more to install because it

requires more fixtures. Because the

overall amount of light produced is

lower with a mix of background and

spot lighting, the arrangement uses less

electricity. The extra fixture investment

can pay for itself quickly in savings on

your electric bills.

Solution 2: Upgrade Fixtures. Many

older fluorescent fixtures use a prismatic plastic lens to scatter light around

the room. This was great before the

computer age because it helped to ensure that all areas were evenly lit, but

lenses can create bright spots in your

field of view. Now that computers are

used more frequently, the preferred

solution often is to use fixtures with

parabolic louvers that direct light where

you need it while lowering glare. If

you’re considering an upgrade in a

room with computers, ask your designer or contractor about switching

to fixtures with louvers.

Task lighting focuses extra

light just where you need it

and can reduce glare and

eye strain.
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technical Support

ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 35

Solution 3: Improve Color. All lamps

distort color compared with true sunlight, but some lamps distort less than

others. This property of lighting is called

color rendition. Lamps that render close

to true color have a color-rendering

index (CRI) between 85 and 100. A CRI

of 50 is very poor. If you upgrade to

T-8 lamps from just about any type of

T-12 lamps, your color rendition usually can be improved at the same time.

Different Kinds Of Lights

Different types of lighting are available

with a broad range of lighting efficiencies and varying degrees of color

distortion. The efficiency of lighting

(more technically called efficacy) is

measured by the light output per unit

of energy use. Common incandescent

lamps have poor efficacies, while

fluorescent lamps have much higher

efficacies. See the box on this page for

illustrations of the major lamp types.

Incandescent. Modern incandescent

lamps derive from Thomas

Edison’s work before the

turn of the century. They are

inefficient and usually have

short lives but produce a

pleasant color rendering similar

to that of natural sunlight.

Halogen. In the past 5 years, halogens

have surged in popularity.

Halogen lamps are about

twice as efficient as regular

incandescent lamps and

have longer lives. Halogen spotlights

focus light and add a lot of pleasing

“sparkle.” However, they are relatively

expensive and cost more to operate

than all other types of lamps except

incandescents.

Lighting Technology

Incandescent

Halogen

Compact

Fluorescent

Tubular

Fluorescent

High-Intensity

Discharge (HID)

Low-Pressure

Sodium

Types Of Lighting
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

36 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

Compact Fluorescent. Compact

fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are

miniature versions of standard

fluorescent lamps and usually

are coated to make their color

more similar to that of incandescent lamps. CFLs are four

times as efficient as incandescents and last 10 times as long in

many cases (significantly reducing the

cost of changeouts, particularly in

hard-to-reach areas), so they too are

growing in popularity.

Tubular Fluorescent. The ubiquitous

fluorescent lamps have a

wide range of efficiency

but in general are about

four times as efficient as

incandescent lamps. They

are cheap, last as long as 20,000 hours,

Less than 5 percent of

the electricity consumed

by an incandescent lamp

actually is turned into

useful light.

and are the staple of office lighting

throughout the country.

High-Intensity Discharge (HID).

This category of lamp includes

metal halide and high-pressure

sodium. HID lamps traditionally have been used

mostly in warehouses and in

street lighting, but new research and development have

created a market for lower power

lamps for institutional environments.

HID lamps offer good color, long life,

and inexpensive high ceiling and

security lighting.

Metal Halide

0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175

Light Source

Mercury Vapor

Compact

Fluorescent

Halogen

Incandescent

Efficiency (Lumens Per Watt)

Tube Fluorescent

High-Pressure Sodium

 – White HPS

 – Deluxe

 – Standard

Low-Pressure Sodium

Least Efficient Most Efficient

Comparison Of Lighting Efficiency

*Note: Light sources are not necessarily interchangeable and are commonly used in different applications (see

page 39). Comparison is purely based on efficiency.
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technical Support

ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 37

Success Story

Because some congregations’ members own or operate businesses (bookstores

and so on), we are presenting the following success story.

Saving With The Right Light Levels

A growing firm in Portland, OR, signed a 10-year lease to occupy a 30-yearold, 50,000-sq.ft. office building. The business planned to renovate much

of the space before moving in. Renovation plans for each 10-ft. by 12-ft.

office in the building included replacing a pair of old, 4-lamp, 4-foot

fluorescent fixtures in each office with a pair of new 4-lamp fixtures that

had high-efficiency lamps and electronic ballasts.

Fortunately, the business asked its design consultant to check the light

levels before signing off on the remodel drawings. The consultant checked

and found that the existing light levels were about 75 footcandles (units

of measure), when 50 footcandles would have been plenty. So at no cost

to the tenant, the designer changed the construction specifications to 3-lamp

fixtures. There were 200 offices affected by this renovation, meaning that

the firm saved more than $15,000 in 10 years by asking a simple question.

That’s a good deal.

Better Lighting Increases Comfort

New energy-efficient lighting can do more than just reduce your utility bills.

It can also add value by:

● Improving comfort and performance for congregational staff, volunteers,

and members working in the congregational office. Energy-efficient lighting

generates less localized heat than standard lighting, provides more pleasant color

rendition, and helps prevent headaches by reducing the amount of flickering from the

lights. Your office staff will work better when their work environment is comfortable,

and better lighting will allow members to be less distracted and concentrate more

on your congregational message.

● Improving appearances. Better color rendition means that your house of worship

will look its best. Your congregation will have better control over the ambience, feelings

of comfort, and overall experience that people have in your facility.

● Improving your congregation’s stewardship will help lead your members and

their employers to consider becoming more environmentally responsible

within your community. Your members will appreciate and share your efforts to

lower pollution and protect the Earth for future generations.
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technical Support

ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 39

What’s your share of $17 billion?

That’s the amount EPA estimates that United States building owners and tenants could

save each year from lighting upgrades.

In this section, we will help you identify lighting fixtures and controls in

your facility that can be replaced

while keeping your investments at a

3-year simple payback or less. Many

ideas pay for themselves in less than

one year. Let’s get started!

If you don’t have time to read this

whole section, just take a quick look

at the next page. It’s our Thrifty Facility Manager’s High-Speed Do-ItYourself Lighting Assessment. Take

a look at the list and call your lighting

or electrical contractor if you have any

of the fixtures noted. It’s that easy.

The rest of this section expands on

the ideas in the High-Speed Lighting

Assessment and explores more comprehensive upgrades as well.

Remove Incandescent

Lamps

Replace these lamps with anything else. Of the electricity

consumed by an incandescent

lamp, less than five percent is

actually turned into useful light.

Although incandescent lamps are

appropriate for certain low-use areas

such as closets, in most instances, incandescent lamps should be replaced.

Replace Incandescent Lamps With

Halogen Lamps. Halogen lamps are a

type of incandescent lamp

that is at least twice as

efficient as regular incandescent lamps. They last

two to four times longer than most incandescent lamps and have become

increasingly popular in spotlighting

and other decorative applications.

As an upgrade, the combination of

better color, higher efficacy, and better

cone reflectors means that many users

can replace 150-watt floodlights with

Lighting Part II: Upgrades

Incandescent Lamp Replacement Options

Halogen Highlights selected areas. Example of application:

a religious symbol in your house of worship.

Compact fluorescent Uses the same screw-in fixture. Example of

application: hallway.

Fluorescent tube For general lighting.

Metal halide For white light in high-ceiling areas. Example of

application: large public area.

High-pressure sodium For use outside or where color doesn’t matter.

Example of application: outside security.

LED For exit signs.

Note: Dimmable replacements are available from some manufacturers.

Note: “Energy saver” incandescent

lamps aren’t much more efficient than

regular incandescent lamps. They save

you money just by delivering less light.

Usually, this is not the best solution.
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

40 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

The Thrifty Facility Manager’s High-Speed Do-It-Yourself Lighting Assessment

Do you have any of the following?

USED AT

 EXISTING LAMPS LEAST

Incandescent lamps 6 hrs./day

Incandescent exit signs 24 hrs./day

Four or more fluorescent or 4 hrs./day more

incandescent fixtures on a than needed

single circuit

Incandescent, halogen, or mercury 10 hrs./day

vapor security lighting

Fluorescent lamps and ballasts 10 hrs./day

more than 8 years old

SAVE PAYBACK

OLD NEW ($/yr/lamp) IN LESS THAN

Incandescent Compact fluorescent $12 energy + 2 yrs.

$3 O&M*

Incandescent exit LED exit signs $22 energy + 3 yrs.

signs $11 O&M*

Four or more fluorescent or Occupancy sensor $4 to $16 + 3 yrs.

incandescent fixtures on a $4 O&M*

single circuit

Incandescent or mercury Metal halide (white) or $40 4 yrs.

vapor security lighting sodium (light yellow)

Fluorescent lamps and ballasts T-8 lamp with $5 5 yrs.

more than 8 years old electronic ballasts

If you do, here are some of your savings opportunities.

*Operations and maintenance
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 41

35- or 60-watt halogen lamps and still

get brighter, more focused light that

has better color rendition. The most

popular halogen lamps cost about $7

(compared with $1 for incandescent

lamps), but they last four times as long

as incandescent lamps and save about

$25 in energy costs over their lifetime.

The high operating temperatures of

halogen bulbs can be a fire and personal safety hazard in some applications, so ask for advice when you first

buy and install the lamps. In general,

halogens are recommended for floodlight and spotlight applications only.

Halogen lamp retrofits typically pay for

themselves in less than 3 years in

energy savings alone if the fixtures for

screw-in retrofits are used at least 2

hours a day or if fixture replacements

are used at least 8 hours a day.

Replace Incandescent

Lamps With Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). CFLs

have been specifically made

in a compact form to replace

incandescent lamps in traditional screw-in fixtures. Compact fluorescent technology has improved

recently, and the lamps currently available in the marketplace are brighter

and have very good color rendition

properties. For example, most modern

hotels have installed CFLs for corridor

lighting. The fixture pictured on this

page contains a CFL and costs less than

$40. Compact fluorescent fixtures with

reflectors provide an excellent substitute for floodlamps. Care should be

exercised when considering CFLs for

worship spaces. Perhaps you can test a

few for acceptability prior to making

wholesale changeouts.

The table at right shows the equivalency of CFLs to incandescent lamps.

You can replace these yourself; most

major hardware stores stock CFLs that

can be used in place of incandescent

lamps and cost less than $20. Utility

rebates can reduce your cost even

further.

Replace Incandescent

Lamps With Tubular

Fluorescent Lamps.

Fluorescent lamps are

the common tube lamps

found in nearly every nonresidential

building. They are usually about three

to four times more efficient than incandescent lamps and can last eight to

20 times longer. With newer fluorescent lamps, you can also specify

color correction to avoid the pasty

image traditionally associated with

fluorescent lamps.

Tubular fluorescent lamps have much

lower maintenance costs than incandescent or compact fluorescent lamps.

Replace your incandescent lamps with

just about any variety of fluorescent

lamp and your lighting, energy, operating, and maintenance costs may decrease by about 75 percent.

 If You Have Replace Them With These

Incandescent Lamps Compact Fluorescent Lamps

25 watts 5 watts

40 watts 7 watts

60 watts 13 watts

75 watts 22 watts

100 watts 27 watts

Comparing Incandescent Lamps And Fluorescent Lamps

Lamp Energy First Life Color Replacement

Type Costs Cost Costs

Incandescent Much Higher Lower Shorter Good Higher

Fluorescent Much Lower Higher Longer Better to Lower

Worse

Would you believe this attractive

fixture is made specifically for

compact fluorescent lamps and

costs less than $40?
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

42 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

Replace Incandescent

Exit Signs With Light

Emitting Diode (LED)

Exit Signs. LED exit signs use light

emitting diodes commonly seen in

electronic devices such as clock radios.

You can buy an upgrade kit to convert existing exit signs for $25 to $75

and do it yourself, or you can purchase new fixtures and install them

for less than $100. Because the upgrade kits don’t require any wiring,

they are easier than new signs to

install yourself if there is room inside

the panel to install them. LED exit

signs use about 5 percent of the

energy used by incandescent exit

signs and 20 percent of the energy

used by compact fluorescent exit

signs. LED exit signs also last 10 to

20 times longer.

The best LED exit signs on the market

today are produced by manufacturers

that follow EPA ENERGY STAR guidelines

for energy efficiency and conform to

Underwriters Laboratory (UL) standards for safety. Look for the ENERGY

STAR label when purchasing your new

exit sign. Given their installation costs,

lower maintenance costs, and low

energy costs, they generally pay for

themselves in one to 3 years. For

more information on ENERGY STAR

manufacturers, you can visit our Web

site at www.epa.gov. See the bar

chart on this page for annual operating costs for exit signs.

Upgrade Fluorescent

Lamps

Even within the generally

efficient category of fluorescent lighting, you can

reduce your energy use

by more than 66 percent

by changing from the worst to the

best type of fluorescent tubes. Fluorescent lamps were introduced at the

World’s Fair in New York City and the

Golden Gate International Exposition

in San Francisco in 1939. Surprisingly,

their designs changed little over the

years until recent breakthroughs that

have significantly improved their

efficiency and the quality of the light

they produce.

T-8 Lamps And Electronic Ballasts.

T-8 lamps use smaller diameters,

phosphors, and coating to improve

efficiency by about 10 percent compared with standard T-12 lamps. Their

electronic ballasts use about 30 percent less energy than old magnetic

Total Operating Cost per Year

2 15-watt

Incandescent

$0

$5

$10

$15

$20

$25

$30

Exit Sign Type

O&M Cost

Energy Cost

4-watt LED

Housing/Reflector Ballast

Lamps Lens/Louver

Tech Talk: Components Of A Light Fixture

Annual Operating Cost Per Exit Sign

EXIT
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 43

ballasts do. (Ballasts are devices that

provide the proper voltage and current

to fluorescent lamps, which don’t

regulate themselves like incandescent

lamps.) T-8 conversions cost $50 to

$100 per fixture, so you might wonder

if it is worth the trouble. The answer

depends on your local electricity costs

and how often you use the lights.

Generally, if you use the lamps 60

hours per week or more, the answer is

“yes” or at least “yes, it’s worth finding

out more information.” All you need to

do is ask your local lighting contractor

or electric utility company to perform a

detailed analysis for you. This can

usually be done free of charge.

Other Ideas. T-8 lamps and electronic

ballasts aren’t your only solution.

Modest gains are achieved from 34-

watt “energy saver” lamps. As discussed later in this section, de-lamping

and/or reflectors can also help. Some

designers are switching from fluorescent tubes to lower power metal halide

fixtures for a more industrial look.

Consider the example scenario shown

at the bottom of this page. There are

four different retrofit options; none is

the single “right” answer. They are all

viable, cost-saving, quality-enhancing

ideas. Choosing among them is a

financial and design decision.

If you’re not using

T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts in

your fluorescent fixtures, you’re using

vintage 1940s lighting technology.

Explore Your Options

A congregation has 20, 4-lamp, 4-foot fluorescent fixtures in an office area. They are on about 50 hours a week. Recommended

light level is between 50 and 75 footcandles.

Current Light Level 95 footcandles

Current Energy Use 9,984 kWh/year

Current Annual Energy Costs (at $0.08/kWh) $799

Energy Cost Annual Simple Light Light

Savings $ Savings Payback Level Quality

Upgrade Options kWh/Year $ Years

Option 1: Install 34-watt “energy saver” lamps.

Light level is lowered to about 85 footcandles. 1,664 $360 $133 2.7 Improved Slightly better

Option 2: Install four T-8 lamps and an electronic

ballast in each fixture. Light level remains the same. 3,744 $1,280 $300 4.3 Still too high Much better

Option 3: Install two T-8 lamps in each fixture,

with a specular reflector. Fixtures are “tandem

wired” so two fixtures share a single ballast.

Light level becomes 55 footcandles. 6,916 $1,340 $553 2.4 Ideal Much better

Option 4: Install new deep-cell parabolic

fixtures with T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts.

Fixtures are “tandem wired” and light level

becomes 55 footcandles. 6,916 $2,600 $553 4.7 Ideal Ideal
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

44 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

Install High-Intensity

Lamps

If your facility has high

ceilings and doesn’t have

fluorescent lamps, you

probably use HID lamps. If

you have older types of HID

lighting, you have several

upgrade options.

Upgrade From Mercury Vapor. At a

bare minimum, you should replace

mercury vapor lamps with more efficient metal halide lamps as the old

lamps burn out. Even if you need to

replace the ballast or the whole fixture, it turns out to be economical for

almost everyone and no one can even

tell you’re doing it. Metal halide lamps

render colors better than mercury

vapor lamps. They come in a variety

of power outputs, from 50 to 2,000

watts, and have long lives.

They also come with clear or coated

bulbs. The coated bulb has the best

color rendition property and can be

used for display lighting.

You’ve probably seen metal halide

lights without even realizing it. Most

of the new “big box” retail stores are

If you replace your outside

security incandescent

lamps with sodium lamps,

your costs may decrease

by 80 to 90 percent.

illuminated using metal halides. They

are the bright white lights typically

hung from the ceiling girders at 20 to

30 feet. Their typical payback is 5

years, and the intangible benefit of

better security lighting is very valuable

and immediate.

Also, manufacturers have recently started

selling small metal halide spotlights. The

bright white light combined with the

narrow beam and sparkle can make

selected objects really stand out—the

benefits of halogen with lower energy

costs!

Use Metal Halide Or High-Pressure

Sodium In Large, Open Areas.

Choose high-pressure sodium where

light quality is not critical and rockbottom energy use is the goal. The

typical payback based on 12-hourper-day use is about 3 years.

Use metal halide instead in high-profile

or color-sensitive areas or in areas where

people need to perform detailed work,

and install high-pressure sodium lamps

outside. High-pressure sodium lamps

are popular for outdoor and security

lighting. They come in a variety of

power outputs, from 35 to 1,000 watts,

and have about a 20,000-hour life.

Existing: Five 150-Watt PAR38 Incandescent

 Floodlights

(1,740 lumens each)

Lamp cost

25%

Labor cost

15%

Replace With: Two 70-Watt High-Pressure

Sodium Wallpacks

(4,630 lumens each)

Lamp cost

8%

Energy cost

15%

Labor cost

3%

Savings

74%

Energy cost

60%
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 45

Energy-Savings Potential With

Occupancy Sensors

Application Energy Savings

Offices (private) 25-50%

Offices (open spaces) 20-25%

Restrooms 30-75%

Corridors 30-40%

Storage areas 45-65%

Meeting rooms 45-65%

Conference rooms 45-65%

Warehouses 50-75%

Note: Figures listed represent maximum energy-savings potential under

optimum circumstances. Figures are based on manufacturer estimates.

Actual savings may vary.

Sources: CEC/DOE/EPRI

Your electrician can quickly replace an existing wall switch with an

occupancy sensor. You’ll save money because the sensor will turn the

lights off when the room is unoccupied.

Sodium lamps are the most efficient lamps you can buy. Most

of them have a light yellow tint,

but some of the newer lamps

have an attractive white color

rendition. These new lamps tend

to fade from white after a certain

number of hours of use, so be sure to

discuss the issue with your contractor

prior to installation in nonstorage areas.

Watch out for low-pressure sodium

lamps. They are efficient but have a

very murky yellow color and are

usually not recommended.

If you replace your outside security

incandescent lamps with high-pressure

sodium lamps, your costs may decrease between 80 and 90 percent.

The typical payback time is less than

2 years, and you will likely have much

better lighting than you do now.

For outdoor applications, consider

installing shields to reduce excessive

glare and focus the light where you

want it. An action as simple as focusing

exterior lighting downward at night can

potentially save a tremendous amount

of energy. The International Dark Sky

Association is dedicated to protecting

our night sky from wasteful light pollution. For more information on how your

congregation can save money while

enhancing our view of the universe,

please visit www.darksky.org.

Remove Lamps

What could be a better deal than getting

savings with no upfront cost? In many

offices, two lamps in a 4-lamp fluorescent fixture may be removed and lighting may still meet recommended levels.

People working on computers will probably prefer the lower level because it

increases the contrast on their monitors.

You can experiment to see if removing

lamps makes sense in your facility. Corridors also are good places to start because these areas often are overlit. Cost:

$0. Simple payback time: 0.0 years.

Lowering the number of lamps also can

be an excellent measure when combined with installation of reflectors.

Reflectors are not for everyone. We’ve

found reflectors are best applied to

areas that start with about 50 percent

too much light and 4-lamp fluorescent

fixtures. If that sounds like your facility,

remove half of the lamps and add

reflectors to meet your target amount of

light. Ask a lighting professional if they

would be applicable in your facility.
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46 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

How To Calculate Simple Payback

The Short Version

Simple Payback 5 Measure cost 3 1,000 4 [(watts before 2 watts after) 3 hours/year 3 energy cost]

Example:

Payback 5 $400 3 1,000 2 [(500w before 2 100w after) 3 6,000 hrs./yr. use 3 $0.08/kWh] 5 2.1 years .

.

Controls To Turn Lights Off

One easy way to save money and

help your lights last longer is to turn

them off when they are not needed.

Occupancy sensors use ultrasonic or

infrared sensors to detect people in a

room. These sensors cost between

$25 and $80 and are an excellent

choice for bathrooms or meeting

rooms that are likely to be unoccupied for large portions of the day. If

desired, these sensors can be purchased with an on-off switch.

Photocells are designed to turn exterior lights on automatically when it

gets dark. Motion sensors are suited

to exterior security lighting, loading

dock areas, and doorways. These

sensors turn lights on automatically

when movement is detected. Automatic dimming systems that adjust

lamp output based on measured

sunlight also are available.

Summary

Your lighting needs may be suited to

other technologies involving advanced

controls or alternative lighting equipment. Many fixtures simply can have

some of the lamps removed with

installation of reflectors. You may have

exterior lighting suited to installation of

low-pressure sodium fixtures, which

are efficient types of lighting used

when lighting quality is not important

at all. You can find out about these

and other technologies by calling the

toll-free ENERGY STAR hotline at 1-888-

STAR-YES.

Take The First Step Toward

Implementation

The following steps will help you decide

whether you should proceed further

with your lighting upgrade project.

1. Do a simple lighting assessment or

investigate and analyze other opportunities. Call 1-888-STAR-YES for

more information. Then, calculate

simple payback for the project.

(Refer to the box below.)

2. Call your local contractor or one of

EPA’s ENERGY STAR product and service providers if your simple payback is 5 years or less. Remember,

you won’t save a dime until the new

hardware is installed. Every day you

wait, you lose money that can never

be recovered.

Where Can I Learn More?

For more information on EPA’s ENERGY

STAR for congregations, lighting technologies, and lighting contractors, call

1-888-STAR-YES and ask for technical

information on the equipment you are

considering replacing.
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 47

Success Story

 Energy For The Kids At Sligo Adventist School

infrared sensors in the classrooms and ultrasonic

sensors for the restrooms.

Gair used several innovative ways to fund his

upgrades. He gained the support of the school’s

parent-teacher council and used the money he

received to finance his first project. Then, he

applied for rebates at his local utility. The money

from the rebate was then funneled back to the

next project, and so on. Gair was able to do most

of the work himself. He managed to get extra

labor at an affordable price by hiring students

from a neighboring high school.

Now that Gair has completed the lighting stage

of the program (Stage One), he is looking into

window replacement (Stage Three) and heating

and cooling system upgrades (Stages Four and

Five). Although these will be more expensive

upgrades, the success of his early project will help

Gair show that energy efficiency really does pay.

When we asked about his next project, he happily

marched us to the schoolyard to show us an allrecycled playground!

When Kenneth Gair, plant manager for the Sligo

Adventist School, talks about his involvement

with ENERGY STAR, his face lights up. He has

good reasons to smile—his facility received an

ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award in 1995

for the work done to upgrade the lighting

system in the school. Maybe his best reason to

smile is that all the wasted energy that went

into inefficient lighting systems now helps to

power the school’s new computer lab!

The lighting system at Sligo was more than

30 years old and very inefficient. Gair decided

to upgrade the system by starting with the

areas that would give him the quickest payback. He started with the hallways by replacing

incandescent lamps with T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts. This upgrade improved light

levels and certainly caught everyone’s attention. People were very happy with their new

working environment. He then moved on to

the cafeteria and the gym. Both areas were lit

with 300-watt incandescent lamps, which he

replaced with metal halides. In the gym, for

example, he replaced 36, 300-watt incandescent lamps with 10, 400-watt metal halides.

Gair also upgraded outside lighting to highpressure sodium fixtures.

Classroom lighting was upgraded to T-8 lamps,

and electronic ballasts and sensors were added

to each room. The hardest part about installing

the sensors, Gair says, was fine-tuning the

sensitivity and the delay time of the sensor. At

first he got a few complaints from teachers and

students because the lights would typically go

off in the afternoon when teachers were alone

in their rooms. Gair was able to establish the

right delay time to have the classrooms lit

when needed and to ensure that the lights

would be off only at appropriate times.

Technical information for carrying out the

upgrades came mostly from EPA’s ENERGY STAR

program. Gair received a video explaining the

significance of sensors and how to choose the

right one for his application. He used passive
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 49

Success Story

Something To Dance About

During a periodic review, a dance studio manager in New York

City noticed that his total electric bill had gradually increased to

the point of doubling over the course of a year. He was now

paying about $500 per month instead of the $250 he used to pay.

His business hadn’t changed and the rates looked about the same,

so he called the local utility for help. The utility company sent

out an energy surveyor who performed a free assessment. The

surveyor concluded that wiring inadvertently allowed the expanding business next door to use the studio’s power. That 5-minute

comparison and free assessment saved the studio $200 per month!

Building Tune-Up

Replacing filters regularly is an easy way to get

high air quality, low energy use, and long life

for your heating and cooling equipment.

A

ll cars should get a tune-up and

an oil change every few thousand miles to keep them running

smoothly and help them last

longer. When was the last time you

gave your building and equipment a

tune-up? You’ll get the same kind of

savings from a building tune-up as you

would from an automobile tune-up—

modest savings at a low cost—and an

opportunity to extend the life of your

investment. Every once in a while you

may even get a boost in horsepower.

Check Your Timers And Thermostats.

Have you adjusted them for daylight saving

time? What about the last time there was a

power outage? Did your weekly calendar

compensate for last February 29? Does the

temperature seem right? Most mechanical

timers won’t correct for power outages.

Resetting them will improve comfort and

save you some money. Ask your heating

contractor to recalibrate your thermostat

on the next visit.

Check Your Filters. Unless the filters are

inaccessible, you don’t need to call your

heating and cooling contractor out for an

expensive visit just to make sure you

have clean filters. Check them yourself

every month or two. Each dirty filter you

replace will make your air cleaner, work

your fan less, and keep the inside of the

system cleaner so that it operates more

efficiently. Although a new filter might

cost only $2, each dirty filter can cost you

$5 a month in extra energy consumption

and can decrease the life of your system.

Check Your Bills. Do you know how

much your energy bill is now compared with a year ago? Once or twice a

year, take time to compare your bills.

You might want to compare them with

neighboring congregations’ bills as well.
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

50 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

Homeless Shelter Becomes Energy-Efficient Haven

The Doorstep Homeless Shelter in Highland Park, MI, provides housing and

food for those down on their luck in the Detroit area. The shelter also provides medical treatment, food, and housing for the mentally ill. With such a

clear mission to serve the community, the Doorstep Shelter is a haven where residents find refuge and help.

Judy Bugaiski, controller of the shelter, explained, “As our logo suggests, we provide a way in and a way

out. But in these times of economic hardships, nonprofit organizations must look into all operational expenses to save money without sacrificing the valuable services they provide to people in crisis.” Shelters like

Bugaiski’s rely heavily on donations. Without a reliable source of funding, these shelters need to be as

cautious as possible with their operating budgets.

Bugaiski first learned about potential energy savings for the shelter when she was contacted by Tom Cleaver

of Environmental Contract Services (ECS), an energy savings performance contracting company and a member of ENERGY STAR. An energy survey by ECS identified several low-risk, high-return, energy-efficient upgrades.

Bugaiski soon realized that the upgrades were a wise investment that would generate substantial returns in

lower energy bills. Because the shelter provides housing, Bugaiski knew that improving the lighting and

heating systems, two of the largest energy users in the facility, would reduce operating costs (especially during the coldest winter months).

Creating A Radiant Refuge

Bugaiski hired ECS to perform the upgrades that had been recommended in the energy survey. ECS replaced incandescent bulbs, T-12 lamps, and magnetic ballasts with compact fluorescent lamps, T-8 lamps, and electronic ballasts.

Bugaiski explained, “The new lighting system provided brighter light. Management, technical staff, and residents

alike have commented favorably to the change. It is nice to know that technology can provide a bit of relief to

those in need.” The cost to upgrade the lighting system was $7,500, but the shelter will save $5,073 per year.

Warm Hearts Provide A Warm Place

Providing a helping hand, an ear to listen, and a warm heart is what the staff at the Doorstep Shelter have

been trained to do. But they also want to provide a warm place for the homeless to stay. By replacing an

old, low-efficiency boiler with a new, high-efficiency one, and by cleaning radiator traps in the rooms,

Bugaiski and her staff provided residents with a warm, comfortable place to stay while reducing the shelter’s

heating costs. The new boiler cost $25,100, but it saves Bugaiski $11,200 per year in heating costs.

Helping Hands Come To The Rescue

Heavily dependent on donations, shelters such as Bugaiski’s must, by necessity, have tight operating budgets. Finding the financial resources for the upgrades was tough, Bugaiski said. Since she was committed to

the idea of upgrading the lights and heating system, Bugaiski organized two fundraising activities—a Christmas donation fund and a benefit choir event. The money from the donations and ticket sales went straight

to the energy upgrade budget. Once the word spread, Bugaiski received additional private donations.

“What’s great about energy-efficient upgrades,” Bugaiski explained, “is that they don’t have to be done all at

once. Each phase of the upgrade can be staged according to the available budget and immediate needs.”

Initial upgrade costs often can be recovered in just a few years, so the incentive to install energy-efficient

equipment is great. As Bugaiski learned, energy-efficient upgrades can increase the comfort level for residents while cutting energy costs—and that frees up money to help the homeless in other ways.

Bugaiski looks forward to continuing other energy-efficiency upgrades that the shelter desperately needs,

but for that, she says she must wait for more hearts to open up and donate to those in need.

Success Story
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 51

T here are a lot of mysterious things

about computers, but energy use

isn’t one of them. The computer

that sits on your desk may look

innocent enough, but it silently consumes $40 per year in electricity. Although $40 isn’t enough money for you

to justify throwing out your old computer and buying a new, efficient one

(there are plenty of other reasons for

you to do this), it is enough money that

you should consider energy use when

the time comes to shop for a new

computer.

Office equipment is the fastest growing electrical load in nonresidential

facilities. Unfortunately, computers, fax

machines, printers, and copiers waste

energy when they remain on and idle.

To reduce this waste of energy and the

pollution associated with it, manufacturers of just about every major brand

of office equipment have partnered

with EPA to introduce ENERGY STAR

labeled machines that will automatically power down when not in use.

The chart on this page shows the

typical savings you can achieve if you

buy ENERGY STAR labeled office equipment instead of inefficient equivalents.

It does add up. What would happen to

your mission budget if you could cut

all of your facility operation costs by

50 percent?

In addition to its direct energy consumption, office equipment gives off

heat. Your air-conditioning unit must

work harder to remove this unwanted

heat. Introducing energy-efficient office

equipment provides the added benefit

of lowering utility bills due to reduced

air-conditioning loads. This is Stage

Three of the ENERGY STAR program.

Even better, you don’t have to spend

anything extra to get this savings. You

don’t have to sacrifice any performance,

and payback time is 0.0 years. Your

choices remain virtually the same as before because so many major manufacturers have chosen to join ENERGY STAR.

Just specify ENERGY STAR labeled products

or look for the logo on display models.

EPA offers a number of informational

fact sheets and brochures on ENERGY

STAR labeled office equipment and maintains a regularly updated, detailed list

of qualified products. For more information, call the ENERGY STAR hotline at

1-888-STAR-YES or visit the Web site at

www.energystar.gov (click on “products” to locate office equipment).

Begin Saving Today

Teach your congregation’s equipment

users to modify their behavior to include turning off computers, printers,

and copiers at night, over the weekend, and at other times when the

equipment is not being used. If you

have multiple computers, consider

Office Equipment

Annual ENERGY STAR Percentage Of

Labeled Office Equipment Total Operating

Office Equipment Cost Savings Cost

Computer $19 49%

Fax machine $13 52%

Printer $39 65%

Copier (medium) $57 57%

Copier (large) $130 58%

Typical Savings If You Buy ENERGY STAR labeled

Office Equipment

Energy-efficient office

equipment may lower

utility bills due to reduced

air-conditioning loads.
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

52 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

networking your computers to share

printers so that fewer printers remain

idle during the day.

Your computer may already have

energy saver software installed; if so,

make sure that it is enabled.

How Does It Work?

The following facts on ENERGY STAR

labeled office equipment will help you

to be a better shopper and decisionmaker when buying and operating

new equipment.

Computers. ENERGY STAR labeled computers automatically power down to 30

watts or less when not in use and are

available from almost every manufacturer. To optimize your ENERGY STAR

labeled computer, make sure that the

power management feature is enabled

and that you have set it to the shortest

acceptable time for your operation.

Laptops use less energy than desktops.

Monitors. These are among the biggest savers. When not in use, ENERGY

STAR labeled monitors automatically

power down to 30 watts or less. If you

are going to implement a screen saver,

make sure you select one that is compatible with the monitor’s power management feature. Most screen savers

actually prevent the monitor from going into sleep mode. Furthermore,

turning monitors off at night and during the weekend is a practice that will

provide you with dual benefits. It not

What You Will Save

Energy Cost Savings Per Year Percent

Savings At Different Electric Savings

(kWh/yr) Rates ($/kWh)

$0.06 $0.08 $0.10

Save Now

Turn 24-hour equipment off at night so it runs only 9 hours

per day.

Savings per computer 675 $41 $54 $68 61%

Savings per large copier 1,688 $101 $135 $169 49%

Save Later

Replace older 24-hour equipment with new ENERGY STAR

labeled equipment that is used 9 hours per day.

Savings per computer 795 $48 $64 $80 72%

Savings per large copier 1,980 $119 $158 $198 58%

Use our online calculators

at www.epa.gov/

congregations

Make the Right Call. This 20-computer telemarketing center uses a lot of energy for computers and

cooling. ENERGY STAR labeled computers would cut the

center’s annual electric bills by about $500.
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 53

only reduces energy costs, but in fact,

extends the life of the units by preserving the same phosphorus substance

that screen savers were designed to

save. Finally, when buying a new

monitor, consider the size of the unit

as part of your purchasing criteria.

Large monitors use more energy, so

buy the smallest monitor that suits

your operation.

Printers. ENERGY STAR labeled printers

that go into sleep mode when not in

use save you energy and money.

ENERGY STAR labeled printers that have

double-sided printing capabilities also

reduce your paper costs. Networking

one printer for several users is one of

the best strategies you can implement

to reduce energy consumption and

save your congregation money. Not

only will you benefit from reducing

your energy costs, but you also will

lower your capital expenditures by

purchasing fewer printers.

Facsimile Machines. Because fax

machines remain on 24 hours a day,

they hold huge energy savings potential—up to 50 percent. ENERGY STAR

labeled fax machines save energy in

two ways. They go into sleep mode

after being idle for a set period of

time, and they scan double-sided

pages. You will not miss any faxes if

the fax machine goes into sleep mode.

Copiers. ENERGY STAR labeled copiers

are equipped with a feature that allows

them to automatically turn off after a

period of inactivity, which reduces

their annual electricity costs by more

than 60 percent. There are also several

strategies that you can implement

regardless of the type of copier you

operate. You can purchase a correctly

sized copier, use the 1- to 2-sided copy

option to ensure that the duplexing

feature is being used, and run copies

in batches to decrease the time your

copier spends in the high-powered

mode.
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 55

Y

ou may not think of your paper

use as an area with potential

energy savings, but it is. Paper

producers in this country buy

more than $3.5 billion worth of energy

each year. In fact, every $5 ream of

paper you avoid using eliminates

about $0.34 worth of energy production and related emissions by a paper

mill—not to mention the energy spent

to harvest and ship the trees and to

ship the paper to your desk. In this

section, we review simple steps to

optimize your use of this valuable

resource. You will save money, reduce

waste, and protect our nation’s forests

so they can be enjoyed by generations

to come.

Double-Sided Copying

Copiers often have the capability to

automatically copy on both sides of a

piece of paper. Selecting two-sided

copying for long documents, articles,

or drafts can instantly reduce your

paper use without adding any associated inconvenience. For more information, see the text box at right.

Recycled Paper

Many paper products contain some

recycled content. Recycling allows

fibers to be reused in the production

cycle so that fewer trees are required

to provide the same amount of paper.

Cardboard and newsprint may contain

as much as 75-percent recycled content, while standard copy paper often

has less than 5-percent recycled content. Selecting papers with high recycled content can be the simplest

way you can help preserve our forests.

Paper

Double-Sided Copying Makes Great

Stewardship Sense Because It:

● Reduces the amount and cost of paper used

● Lowers mailing costs because the paper amount and weight

are reduced

● Reduces paper output, which takes up less storage space

in offices

● Appears more professional

● Reduces the environmental impacts of paper throughout the

production process; therefore, fewer trees are harvested, there

are lower chemical and energy inputs during pulping, and transportation and storage costs are reduced

● Shows a congregation’s commitment to environmental protection

_______________________

Andrew Duncan, Greening of the Campus Conference Proceedings. Ball State

University, Indiana. 1996.

Recycled papers and other products

are rated by their “post-consumer

content” and “total recycled content.”

These percentages are usually in very

small print on the paper packages.

Post-consumer content is the more

important factor and refers to fibers

that have been used and then collected through recycling programs.

Total recycled content refers to the

total nonvirgin content of the paper,

including production scraps and postconsumer fibers. Paper does not have

to be conspicuously labeled “environmentally friendly” to have a high

recycled content, so a little research

can identify some real bargains.

Paper can have a high

recycled content even if

it is not conspicuously

labeled “environmentally

friendly.”
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56 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

Recycling

Many municipalities sponsor programs

to collect paper and fiber products

such as corrugated cardboard; paperboard (cereal boxes); white, colored,

or glossy paper; newsprint; and books

bound with glue. Collecting and returning your used paper to a recycling

center will return that fiber for reuse

and may reduce your waste disposal

costs. Large users of one or more of

these products can set up their own

collection program with a local salvage

company. They are paid by the ton for

the materials that they collect and they

save from reduced disposal costs.

Consider including a statement on

printed materials such as “Printed on

50-percent recycled paper containing

20-percent post-consumer waste” to

highlight your congregation’s commitment to the environment.

Reduce Your Paper Use

There also are other ways that organizations can reduce their paper use and

streamline their operations. Announcements routinely issued to all members

can simply be posted on area bulletin

boards. Instead of making a copy for

each person, you can circulate many

documents by using a routing tag

containing the names of relevant

people. An employee/volunteer checks

off his or her name and passes the

material to the next person on the list.

Many congregations have revolutionized their operations through e-mail

and local area networks (LANs). In

addition to greatly improving internal

communication and facilitating team

projects, these tools can significantly

reduce paper use by replacing memos,

event calendars, forms, and draft

documents.

Energy For Paper Production And Use

Conserving paper is an important step in saving energy, lowering pollution, and

ensuring the long-term health of our forests.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Energy Per Sheet (Watt-Hours)

Production Printing

Using

Ink-Jet

Printer

Printing

Using

Laser

Printer
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 57

Most congregations use hot

water, even if only for hand

washing. Some congregations

have kitchen facilities and

some operate homeless shelters, day

care or elder care facilities, schools,

and other facilities that use hot water

for purposes such as dishwashing,

showers, and laundry. Hot water can

represent 25 percent or more of your

total energy bill. Fortunately, there are

many low-cost, easy-to-apply methods

for reducing your congregation’s hot

water costs.

Water Heaters

Turn Off Your Water Heater When

It’s Not Needed. Although this may

seem obvious, it really is a great idea.

Buy a 7-day timer (you can get one for

about $30) to turn off your electric

water heater at night and on days it is

not needed and to turn it back on one

hour before your operation starts up in

the morning. If you have a big water

heater, you can get even more aggressive and turn it off an hour or two

before people leave. The already heated

water should be sufficient to “coast”

through further use. You’ll save anywhere from $10 to $50 per year with a

water heater timer. Along the same

lines, consider shutting off a dedicated

water heater that is rarely used and

turning it on only when needed.

If you use a circulating pump, be sure

that it is shut off when the facility is

unoccupied. Again, a timer will help

you remember. Circulating pumps

increase heat loss through pipes that

circulate hot water. A one-eighth

horsepower pump that is turned off

for 2,000 hours per year will save you

$25 in pump energy alone.

Water Heaters And

Water Use

Lower The Thermostat Setting. The

hotter the water temperature, the faster

you lose energy through the pipes and

water heater tank walls. Therefore,

lower the thermostat to provide hot

water at the lowest acceptable temperature. Some tasks (such as doing laundry

or washing dishes) and some buildings

(such as health care facilities) require

higher water temperatures than others.

These temperatures may be set by state

and local codes. However, a small

office with an electric water heater that

is used only for handwashing purposes

would save about $10 per year if the

setting is changed from 130 degrees to

120 degrees. See the chart on page 58

for some recommended hot water

temperatures.

If one task, such as laundry, requires

significantly higher temperatures than

other tasks, it may be more efficient to

reconfigure your piping to include a

blending valve. The hottest water

would be piped directly from the

heater to the high-temperature task;

the water for the remaining tasks

would branch off and pass through a

blending valve, which mixes in cold

water to reduce the water temperature

Summary

To optimize energy use of your water heater:

● Minimize hot water waste

● Provide hot water at the lowest temperature

acceptable for the task

● Insulate the tank and pipes

● Obtain hot water from the most efficient sources

● Perform periodic maintenance procedures

The Tap Water Burn

Resource Center recommends 110oF and below

as a safe temperature

for typical hot water use

(www.tap-water-burn.com).
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58 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

for the other tasks. Alternatively, you

may wish to install separate heaters for

high-temperature and low-temperature

tasks or to provide booster heaters for

high-temperature tasks. Some machines

provide their own booster-heating

mechanisms.

Insulate Your Tank. To reduce heat

losses in your hot water system, make

sure that your hot water storage tank

and the hot water pipes connected to it

are insulated. Nowadays, few hot

water tanks are totally uninsulated.

Move Your Water Heater. If you are

remodeling, take the opportunity to

relocate your water heater as close as

possible to the main point of water

consumption. This will reduce heat

loss from the pipes.

Buy A New Water Heater. If you buy

a new water heater, be sure to consult

the EnergyGuide label on the appliance so that you select an efficient

model. Consider using a heat pump

water heater, particularly in situations

where the simultaneous cooling it will

provide would be useful. A relatively

new and more efficient technology,

heat pump water heaters remove heat

from the surrounding air and transfer it

Typical Recommended Hot Water Temperatures

Temperature

Process (Degrees Fahrenheit)

Hand Washing 105

Showers 110

Laundry* 160

Dishwasher Rinse** 180-195

_______________________

*Check code requirements.

**Many dishwashers have booster heaters. Check with the manufacturer to determine

minimum temperature requirements.

Source: ASHRAE.

to the water. Because these water

heaters also cool and dehumidify the

surrounding air, they are particularly

beneficial in warm, humid areas such

as kitchens and laundry rooms.

Another excellent alternative is tankless, instantaneous, on-demand water

heaters, which are quite popular in

Europe. They are growing in popularity here, too, especially in areas where

relatively small amounts of hot water

are used on occasion. Tankless water

heaters eliminate tank and piping

losses and are great for buildings that

have only sinks. They typically supply

up to two gallons per minute of hot

water, about the same as required for

a shower and more than enough for

most sinks. One catch is that they may

require heavier wiring, so check with

your contractor before making a

decision. For information on whether

instantaneous water heaters are right

for your facility, please call 1-888-

STAR-YES.

Or don’t buy a new water heater.

Consider turning your standard water

off except for emergencies and using

“free” waste heat recovery to meet

some of your water heating needs.

Waste heat sources include laundry or

dishwashing rinse water, steam condensate lines, and refrigeration equipment.

Maintenance

To maximize savings and keep your

hot water system operating efficiently,

you should perform periodic maintenance procedures as prescribed by the

owners’ manual. Storage-type water

heater tanks should be flushed out

annually to remove sediments that

reduce system efficiency. (Flushing

involves opening the drain valve at the

bottom of the tank and drawing off

water until the water runs clear. Follow

your manufacturer’s instructions. In

areas with high mineral content in the

Before you buy a new

water heater, consult the

EnergyGuide label so that

you select an efficient

model.
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 59

water, you may need to do this more

often.) The burners of gas or oil-fired

water heaters should be tested and

adjusted annually to make sure that

the fuel is being burned as efficiently

as possible. In addition, it is a good

practice to periodically flush your

fixtures with very hot water to control

bacteria growth.

Solar Water Heating

You really can’t do any better than

solar power for energy savings and for

the environment. Solar water heaters

are simple devices that capture the

sun’s energy to heat water for ordinary

use. They often are piped directly into

systems with conventional water

heaters, lowering your energy costs

while still providing hot water on

overcast days. Solar water heaters are

extremely cost-effective for heating

swimming pools, where other types of

heating can be very expensive.

Solar water heating is an established

technology used throughout the world.

In California, solar systems are the

only type of pool water heating allowed by many local codes. Even the

pool built for the Atlanta Olympics is

heated with a solar system, although

this was a unique, showcase system.

While you may think of the large

number of units in sunny areas like

Florida or California, you may be

surprised that even in the rainy areas

of the Pacific Northwest, solar water

heaters can pay for themselves in less

than 10 years. Check with your local

utility or your state energy office to

find out about incentives that apply to

the installation of solar energy systems.

You can get more information, locate

a solar installer, or find a supplier for a

do-it-yourself system by contacting the

American Solar Energy Society at (303)

443-3130 (Web site: www.ases.org).

For additional information on solar

initiatives, see www.solarstewards.org.

Water Use

You may wonder why an energy manual

is discussing water use. Certainly within

your own facility it costs money to heat

the water. But your water company also

spends a lot of money on energy to

pump and purify the water it delivers to

you. So a portion of your water bill is

actually an energy bill. The same logic

holds true for sewage treatment. If your

congregation uses large amounts of

water, you will benefit even more from

water use optimization.

Like everything else, savings from

water measures can vary. You can save

on the cost of the water, you can save

on sewage, and you can also save on

energy costs for pumping or heating

processes. Because savings come from

so many sources, water reduction

upgrades are frequently profitable.

Efficient showerheads and faucet

aerators are inexpensive devices (they

generally cost between $2 and $20)

that screw into existing pipe fittings

to help reduce water consumption.

These devices reduce the amount of

water wasted in common daily tasks.

If your congregational facilities include hot water sinks and showers,

you can use these devices to significantly reduce your water heating bills

as well as your water bills.

Solar water heaters use

the sun’s energy to heat

water and can help you

lower your energy costs.

Installing an aerator on a faucet takes just 10 minutes and costs less than

$10. Aerators help prevent water waste and save water heating costs, even

though the flow from the faucet appears to be the same.
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60 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

By repairing a seal that leaks a drop of

electrically heated hot water every five

seconds, you can save about 400 gallons of water, 59 kWh of electricity,

87 pounds of carbon dioxide, and

$7 per year (at 8¢ per kWh).

Automatic controls such as valves or

springs with sensors that turn faucets

off can also help save water. The

spring-loaded valves will automatically

turn the water off when the user releases the handle. Photocell-equipped

sensors are gaining popularity in controlling water use in restrooms. Almost

all major airports have installed them

due to their high rate of use and because luggage and other articles tend to

fill travelers’ hands. These sensors

detect motion and shut the water off

after the user leaves.

The amount of water used when

flushing toilets can be drastically reduced without compromising efficacy

by using new, low-volume toilet fittings. These fittings can reduce the

amount of water used per flush by

about 66 percent by using improved

water flow characteristics. High-quality,

pressurized, low-volume toilets tend

to cost about $200 more than gravity

toilets, but they are worth the premium

if the toilets will be flushed more than

20 times per day.

New washing machines with a horizontal axis design use much less water

than older types of washing machines.

The new machines can help save water

as well as reduce water heating costs

for facilities such as day care centers.

They can also reduce the amount of

detergent that is used for washing the

same amount of clothes. The newer

design machines occupy less space

and do not produce as much heat as

the older design washing machines,

which use much more hot water; thus,

your rent and air-conditioning requirements can also be reduced. New

machines also remove more water

from the laundry during the spin cycle,

thereby greatly reducing drying time

and energy use.

Xeriscaping And Gray

Water

Your congregational facilities may need

landscaping. Xeriscaping (xer means

“dry,” from Greek) is the technique of

utilizing native, hardy, low-maintenance

plants for landscaping. Xeriscaping can

save you money on your water and

maintenance costs. And because native

plants cope better with your particular

soil, climate, and insects, they require

fewer pesticides and less fertilizer

(something your 4-legged neighbors

and feathered friends will appreciate).

If you enter “xeriscape” into your

Internet search engine, you will find

dozens of Web sites offering information and programs. For example, try

www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/

xeriscape.html, www.windstar.org/

wildlife, or www.nwf.org/nwf/habitats/

index.html.

Repairing a seal that leaks

a drop of electrically

heated hot water every

five seconds can save you

about 400 gallons of

water, 59 kilowatt-hours

of electricity, 87 pounds

of carbon dioxide, and

$7 per year (at 8¢/kWh).

Success Story

Water Heater Tune-Up

Consider the case of a manager of a 2,000-sq.ft. congregation building who discovered a leak in the pipes from a 40-gallon electric

water heater. While repairing the leak, she decided to install an insulated blanket wrap around the water heater to prevent additional

heat loss. The cost of the installation, the insulation, and the repair

was approximately $40. By setting the water heater thermostat to a

setpoint of 120 degrees Fahrenheit, the office manager saved $35

per year and had a one-year payback. That extra $35 goes back

into the congregation’s funds year after year.
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 61

Water from sinks or washing machines

that may contain soap but is otherwise

still clean is called “gray water.” Many

drought-prone areas of the country

have encouraged use of this gray

water for landscaping purposes. St.

Petersburg, FL, has even installed a

citywide system that provides reclaimed water for 7,000 homes and

businesses. Other cities do not permit

reuse of gray water at all because of

water quality concerns. For more

information on promotional programs

or restrictions on gray water use, call

your local building permits office or

check out the EPA Web site at

www.epa.gov.

Where Can I Learn More?

If you want more information on smart

water heating, the Gas Appliance

Manufacturers Association (GAMA)

publishes a Consumers’ Directory of

Certified Efficiency Ratings for electric,

gas, and propane water heaters (www.

gamanet.org).

We also recommend:

● U.S. Department of Energy (for

information about hot water heaters):

www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/

factsheet.html

● Indoor Water Efficiency Spreadsheet (contains information on

calculating energy savings): http://

solstice.crest.org/environment/

gotwh/general/indoor-water/

index.html

● Iowa Energy Center (for information about buying, installing, and

upgrading hot water systems):

www.energy.iastate.edu/efficiency/

residential/homeseries/waterheaters/

index.htm

● WaterWiser, The Water Efficiency Clearinghouse (for information on water efficiency and

conservation): 1-800-559-9855;

www.waterwiser.org
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 63

Refrigeration

Refrigeration equipment is one

of the highest energy users in

your kitchen. Upgrades that

reduce your refrigeration costs

can make your congregation’s kitchen

more efficient. One of the most exciting aspects of refrigeration is that

there have been so many great developments over the past 25 years to

make systems more efficient. The

downside of all these innovations is

that you may have a hard time keeping up with them. So look for help.

A new residential-size refrigerator with

the ENERGY STAR logo is guaranteed to

use 30 percent less energy than federal

government standards require.

If your equipment is more than 10

years old, call a local refrigeration case

supplier and request a checkup. You’ll

be surprised at all the possibilities. A

typical new residential refrigerator uses

about 800 kWh and costs about $64

per year to run. This is less than half

what you’d pay to run the same size

unit that is 20 years old.

No-Cost Action Items

For The Refrigeration

Amateur

Keep The Doors Shut. Repeated

fluctuations in temperature will damage your food quality and cost you

money.

Check The Temperature Settings. If

your settings are lower than necessary,

chances are you are wasting energy.

The most common recommended

settings are between -14 degrees and

-8 degrees Fahrenheit for freezers and

between 35 degrees and 38 degrees

Fahrenheit for refrigerators.

Load Your Refrigerator Properly.

Overloaded units disrupt air flow patterns needed to cool efficiently, and

deterioration occurs. On the other hand,

underloaded units waste energy. If you

have several partially filled units, consolidate them and turn one or more off.

Position Refrigeration Units Properly. Don’t put your refrigerator right

next to your stove or in direct sunlight.

Your refrigerator will have to work

harder to maintain the desired cool

temperature. Make sure that there is

enough ventilation available for your

refrigerator’s mechanical equipment. A

1-inch gap on the sides and a 4-inch

gap at the back are recommended to

allow the condenser and fan to have

access to a steady flow of air.

Clean The Cooling Coils. Dirt accumulation impairs proper heat transfer

and lowers the efficiency and capacity

of refrigerators.

Check The Door Seals. Tight seals

and properly closing doors prevent

warm air from entering the unit, which

reduces cooling energy and prevents

frost buildup. Use this rule of thumb: If

you can easily slide a dollar bill into

the seal, have the seal adjusted.

Performing each of the above activities

can save you between $5 and $25 per

year. These activities also can improve

your product quality and extend the

unit life. At no cost except a few

minutes of your time, these activities

are a bargain.

A new residential-size

refrigerator with the

ENERGY STAR logo is guaranteed to use 30 percent

less energy than required

by federal government

standards.
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64 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

Shorten Defrost Cycles. This is

starting to get a bit technical. Fifteen

minutes an hour isn’t perfect for everyone or for every season. If you’re in a

dry climate or season, gradually decrease your defrost cycle time until

you see hints of frost buildup on the

coils. Back the setting up a bit and you

are optimized. This procedure, like

others, can help extend the unit life.

If you are in the market for a residentialtype refrigerator, look for the ENERGY

STAR logo—your guarantee of savings.

And use the EnergyGuide label to help

you identify its annual operating costs

and if a particular model compares with

other models on the market and their

annual operating costs. Base your purchasing decisions on the price you can

afford to pay and the highest efficiency

available in your range. Calculate the

simple payback for the cost premium

to see how much increased efficiency

you should buy.

Purchase freezers and refrigerators

with Energy Efficiency Ratings (EERs)

ranging from 7-9 for medium temperature systems and from 5-6 for lowtemperature systems.

A Note About CFCs

The major challenge the refrigeration

industry has faced is the mandated

phaseout of chlorofluorocarbons

(CFCs). Until recently, many refrigerators used CFC-based refrigerants. The

foam insulation built into older refrigerators also contains CFCs. Because

CFCs deplete the ozone layer and

contribute to global warming, new

refrigerants have been developed to

replace CFCs and are currently available in new units or as replacements

for CFCs in old units. Call the EPA

Stratospheric Ozone Hotline at 1-800-

296-1996 for information on converting

your existing refrigerators and on

disposal methods.

Compare the Energy Use of this Refrigerator

with Others Before You Buy.

Use the EnergyGuide label to select efficient

residential-size refrigerators. (Also available

for other appliances.)

This Model Uses

776kWh/year

Energy use (kWh/year) range of all similar models

Uses Least Uses Most

Energy Energy

776 1467

Refrigerators using more energy cost

more to operate. This model’s estimated

yearly operating cost is:

$64
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 65

T he phrase “set in stone” is frequently used to describe things

that must be accepted as facts of

life. This may be how you view

your building’s construction and the

way it affects your energy bill. Just because your building is set on a firm

foundation doesn’t mean that you can’t

make some changes—large or small—

to reduce the impact that your building’s exterior has on your heating and

cooling costs. What’s more, most of

the changes you make to reduce your

energy costs also will bring improvements in comfort and your building’s

appearance.

Fortunately, there are many small-scale

upgrades that you can make to your

building’s envelope (walls, roof, and

windows) to reduce your heating and

cooling costs. Unlike the equipment

inside your facility, simply changing a

wall or a roof just because the original

equipment isn’t efficient enough isn’t

really a feasible solution. However,

sometimes windows of opportunity

do occur to upgrade your building’s

construction at relatively little extra

expense.

For example, roofs need to be replaced

periodically and the additional expense

of adding insulation or reflective coverings at that time can be justified by the

savings they will provide. Similarly,

energy-saving window upgrades may

be worthwhile when your building’s

facade is being remodeled to modernize its appearance. When it is time to

replace your heating or cooling system,

you may find that by investing some

money in wall or roof improvements,

you can reduce your building’s heating

and cooling needs enough to reduce

the size and cost of the unit you need

Building Construction

to buy. Alternatively, if your current

system can’t quite heat or cool enough

on extreme temperature days but is still

new enough that you would rather not

replace it, you can make building

improvements to reduce your heating

and cooling loads enough to allow your

current system to meet your needs.

Most of the upgrades that you can

make to your facility involve reducing

heat losses in winter, reducing heat

gains in summer, and reducing air

leakage throughout the year. The

particular envelope upgrades that

make the most sense for your building

depend on both the climate and the

layout of your facility. A congregation

in Phoenix, AZ, will be more concerned about what the summer sun is

doing to its cooling bill than one in

Caribou, ME.

Concentrate Efforts Where They Will 

Do The Most Good

Focus 

on 

window 

upgrade

Focus on roof upgrade

You can reduce heat losses

in winter, reduce heat

gains in summer, and

reduce air leakage

throughout the year by

upgrading your facility.
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66 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

Unless you have single-pane windows

and are located in a cold climate, the

savings from replacing your windows

with more efficient ones are hard to

justify financially unless the replacement is done as part of a larger renovation. You can improve the efficiency

of your existing windows, however, by

installing window films.

Window films are thin coatings that

can be applied to the interior surface

of windows to help block radiant heat

gains and losses. These coatings are

similar to those used in low-E windows.

Their primary benefit is in reducing

summer heat gains because they can

prevent from 61 to 80 percent of the

incoming solar radiation from entering

your building. In winter, these coatings

can help reduce heat losses by preventing 19 to 44 percent of indoor heat

from escaping out the window. In addition to providing energy-cost savings,

window films improve comfort by moderating heat losses and gains, reducing glare and overheating, increasing

privacy by restricting visibility from the

outside, improving the appearance of

the windows, and reducing the fading

of carpets, furniture, and merchandise.

Window films typically cost between

$1.35 and $3 per square foot to install,

and they generally have a lifetime of

7to 12 years. They must be installed

properly to avoid bubbles, cracks, or

damage to your windows. It is not advisable to use window films to cover

stained-glass windows due to the unevenness of their surfaces and the possibility of trapping moisture between

the window and the film.

Window accessories also affect your

energy costs. White roller shades and

Venetian blinds, when fully drawn, reflect heat. Draperies or curtains, when

made of a tightly woven, opaque material in a light, reflective color, can reduce heat gain. If a curtain fits tightly

against the window, it also can reduce

winter heat losses. Awnings on the

south, east, and west sides of your

Window R-Values*

Single Pane 1.0

Double Pane 2.0

Triple Pane 2.9

Decrease R-Values by at least 20 percent if

aluminum frames.

Increase R-Values by about 30 percent if low

emissivity.

 * When purchasing new windows, manufacturers often categorize windows with U-Values

(the ability of a material to conduct heat) or

simply the reciprocal of the R-Value.

Windows

Windows are one of the most appealing parts of any building, providing its

“look,” and, of course, natural light.

But windows also are an area where a

lot of your heating and cooling costs

can literally “go out the window.”

Windows typically have low insulating

levels, as anyone who has sat next to a

large, single-pane window on a cold

winter day can attest. In addition,

windows can allow a lot of unwanted

summer heat gain, especially if they’re

located on the west or south side of

the building. In recent years, window

manufacturers have developed lowemissivity (low-E) windows with

dramatically higher insulating values

and reduced heat gains, but it is unlikely that these are being used in your

building if it was built before 1990.

Success Story

The Georgetown Gospel Chapel of Seattle, WA, will reap the

rewards of energy efficiency for many years to come. Savings thus

far are estimated between $3,000 and $5,000, not to mention the

prevention of 60,000 pounds of CO2 each year. The Chapel saved

by conducting a comprehensive upgrade of facilities that included

lighting, insulation, heating, windows, and water measures. “We

eliminated one gas furnace due to our conservation and efficiency

practices and greatly reduced electrical heating,” said Reverend

Leroy Hedman.
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 67

building can reduce summer heat gains;

trees planted on the east and west sides

of the building also can reduce summer

heat gains. The chart below provides

a simple guide to when you should

use your shades, depending on the

season and the time of day. For more

information on windows, see www.

energystar.gov (click on products to

locate windows). Another excellent

source is www.efficientwindows.org.

Roofs And Walls

Your building’s roof generally can be

improved in two ways: by improving

the insulation and by improving its

reflectivity to reduce heat gains. Your

priorities will depend on the type of

building you have and where it is

located. Roofing improvements are

generally better investments for buildings that currently have a poorly

insulated roof and in locations with

extreme temperatures in either summer or winter.

If heating costs are a priority at your

facility, or if you work in a warm

climate and have an attic, roof insulation could be a good investment. If

your congregation has attic space,

insulation may be added at any time to

the attic floor at a relatively low cost

either by blowing in insulation or by

installing batts of insulation on the

attic floor. Depending on the type of

roof you have, insulation may be

added on either the inside or the

outside. If you have a flat roof, your

best bet will probably be to wait until

your roof needs replacement and to

install rigid insulation on the roof

exterior when it is being replaced.

How much insulation is enough? Your

state or local building codes usually

require a specified level of insulation,

but keep in mind that this figure is a

minimum required amount. Because

codes have gradually increased the

amount of insulation required, many

old buildings have less than the amount

required by current codes. To get a

better idea of advisable insulation

levels for energy cost savings in your

area, check with your state energy

office or local electric utility. ASHRAE

recommends an R-Value between

25 and 30 for optimum cost effectiveness. See the chart on page 68 for

some roofing rules of thumb for frequently occupied spaces. For an intermittently occupied space such as a

worship space, minimum insulation as

prescribed by code is sufficient.

If your air conditioner runs significantly

more than your heating system, ask

your roofing contractor about reflective

roof coverings. Covering the roof with a

light-colored stone, coating, or membrane is less expensive than a full roof

replacement. The lighter color will

cause your roof to absorb less heat and

extend the life of the roof by slowing

its deterioration. Another alternative is

a roof spray system, which has moisture sensors that control spraying water

over the roof to keep temperatures

down. Of course, this affects water use

and your water bill, but the tradeoff can

be calculated to help you decide.

If your building has attic space, you

may be able to install a radiant barrier.

A radiant barrier is essentially a layer of

aluminum foil tacked to the underside

of your roof deck with the shiny side

facing down toward the air space in

your attic. It blocks 95 percent of the

Pull Your Shades

SUMMER Down Block the sun

WINTER Up Let in the sun

DAY

NIGHT

SUMMER Up Let building

heat out

WINTER Down Keep building

heat in

Roof insulation could be

a good investment if

heating costs are a priority at your facility or if

you work in a warm

climate and have an attic.

For more information

on insulation, see www.

ornl.gov/roofs+walls/

insulation/ins_05.html
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

68 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

heat that otherwise would be radiated

downward from your hot roofdeck. All

of these options result in lowered roof

or attic temperatures, which make your

upper floor a much more comfortable

place during the summer. In one application in New Orleans, for example, the

installation of a radiant barrier and attic

vents dropped the attic temperature by

50 degrees. You can imagine the effect

on comfort downstairs. Finally, forced

ventilation in attics can decrease temperatures by 30 degrees or more, for a

big increase in comfort and savings.

Reducing Air Leaks

When unconditioned air from outside

slips into your building, or conditioned

air seeps out, you have to pay to heat

or cool that extra, or replacement, air.

Consequently, it pays to minimize

these leaks, especially because the

methods used to reduce it are generally inexpensive and easily applied.

Reducing leaks also will improve your

occupants’ comfort, because nobody

feels comfortable sitting in a draft.

Roofing Rules Of Thumb

Existing Condition Cost Effective To Add Insulation?

New Construction Yes, always. R-19 to R-38 depending on

location and codes.

Existing Buildings:

Current Insulation Level

0-1 inches Yes, always.

2-4 inches Yes, if attic is accessible or if built-up roof

is being repaired.

5-9 inches No, in moderate climates. Just add when

remodeling.

Yes, in extreme climates and where the

attic is accessible.

More than 9 inches No.

Use caulk to seal air-leaking cracks and

to install or replace weatherstripping

around doors and operable windows.

Small air gaps may look inconsequential, but they add up. A 1

/8-inch air gap

along the opening of a pair of 6-foot,

8-inch doors is equivalent to a 10-

square-inch hole in the wall. Replace

the glass in any broken windows as

soon as possible. Make sure all doors

and windows close properly and—an

often forgotten procedure—cover the

exterior portion of any window air

conditioners in the winter.

If You Plan To Remodel

Increasing the insulating value of

existing walls is difficult to justify

from a cost-savings point of view.

However, you may wish to do so if

a cold wall is a significant comfort

problem. If you have frame walls,

you can have insulation blown into

the wall cavities. Otherwise, you can

increase the insulating value by adding a layer of insulation over the

existing interior wall and covering it

with new wallboard. (You will also

need to move any light switches or

electric boxes out.) This solution will

slightly decrease the size of the room.

See the figures on page 69 for variations of wallboard coverings.

Consider installing a vestibule at your

primary entrance because of the number of times doors are opened for

religious services, meetings, and other

functions. A vestibule consists of a

space between two sets of doors that

acts as an airlock to reduce the amount

of air that enters or escapes from the

building as people enter or leave. You

may be able to create one by installing

an extra set of doors inside your building, or you may wish to build it as a

small addition. This area does not need

to be heated or air conditioned. In

addition to reducing energy costs, this

When unconditioned air

from outside slips into

your building, or conditioned air from inside

seeps out, you have to

pay to heat or cool the

extra, or replacement, air.
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 69

modification will dramatically increase

the comfort of anyone who sits or

stands near the doors. Studies show

that vestibules can reduce related

infiltration by more than half. Such

a measure likely will not be justifiable based solely on energy cost

savings unless it is part of a larger

upgrade, but it is justifiable when

you consider the added comfortable

space it provides.

Your options for reducing your

building’s energy costs are limited to

some extent by the choices made

when it was built. Making the decision

to use energy-efficient windows and

appropriate insulation levels is far less

expensive when a building addition is

still on the drawing board. At that

point, the actual cost of each upgrade

should be considered the incremental

cost between the more and less efficient alternatives.

The options that provide the best return

on investment can be identified by

comparing the incremental cost with

the energy cost savings that will accrue

over the building’s lifetime. Software

packages are available that can be used

to analyze these choices. If your architect is unfamiliar with them, you may

wish to hire a consultant to help you

make the optimal choices.

air space larger than 3 1/2"

3/4" lath and plaster

3/8" built-up roofing

2" concrete deck

corrugated metal deck

insulation

metal ceiling suspension

1/2" wallboard

1/2" fiberboard

 sheathing

1/2" wood siding

2" x 4" stud

8" common brick

1/2" wallboard

Technical Closeup: R-Values

R-Values measure the effectiveness of insulation. The

higher an object’s R-Value, the better it resists heat loss

(or gain). Heat loss through an object is inversely proportional to its R-Value, so you get more bang for your buck

from increasing the R-Value of a building component that

initially has a lower R-Value than you would with a higher

one. Increasing insulation from R-1 to R-20 will save you a

lot more money than increasing from R-20 to R-40. For

example, adding an R-Value of 1 to a window that currently

has an R-Value of R-1 represents a 50-percent decrease in

heat loss; adding R-1 to an R-15 wall decreases its heat loss

by 6.25 percent.

Drawing 1

Drawing 2

Drawing 3

R-Value

Without With

Insulation Insulation

Drawing 1 R-5 R-12

Drawing 2 R-4 R-8

Drawing 3 R-5 R-9
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 71

Heating, ventilating, and airconditioning (HVAC) systems

account for 39 percent of the

electric energy used in commercial buildings in the United States.

Consequently, almost every congregation has the potential to realize significant savings by improving its control

of HVAC operations and improving the

efficiency of the systems it uses.

Invest In Energy Optimization. It

makes good financial sense for so

many reasons. You’ll typically get a

30-percent return or better on your

investment, and ENERGY STAR for congregations will help you find sources

that can provide financing if initial

funding is a problem.

Don’t Worry. You don’t have to

become an energy expert or spend a

lot of time working on new projects to

get all these benefits. Because you’re a

congregations partner, we’ll help you

find reliable energy analysts and contractors so you can turn your attention

back to your congregational work.

When you do need technical support

to be a smarter shopper, we’re here

with the information you want. Call us

at 1-888-STAR-YES or visit our Web site

at www.epa.gov/congregations.

What’s left to decide? Call an expert

and get started!

Heating And Cooling

1970s-Style Conservation:

It Still Works

The most straightforward method for

saving on your HVAC bill is simply to

operate the systems less by turning the

systems off or back when the building

is not occupied; by using natural ventilation, ceiling fans, or economizers

whenever possible; and by choosing

more efficient temperature setpoints so

the systems run less often.

A week contains 168 hours. Even if

you have some facilities that operate

during 40 or even 80 of those hours,

you still occupy your facility during

only a fraction of the week. Consequently, savings are available by

setting back your thermostat when the

building is unoccupied. The term

“setting back” is used to indicate both

changing the temperature setting

(setting back to a lower temperature in

winter and setting up to a higher one

in summer) and making sure that the

fan switch on the thermostat is set to

“auto” rather than “on.” A fan left in

the “on” mode runs nonstop 24 hours

per day; in “auto” mode, the fan cycles

on only when heating or cooling is

being supplied. In some instances the

fan savings can be significant even

when only minimal temperature setback changes are made. If your system

draws in ventilation air from outdoors,

cycling the fan during unoccupied

Save on your HVAC bill by

turning the systems off (or

back) when the building is

unoccupied.
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

72 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

hours can also help with humidity

control in humid areas.

Substantial savings also are available

by adjusting your temperature

setpoints—lower in the winter and

higher in the summer. Change your

thermostat settings gradually, no more

than a degree or so per week, to see

how low (or high for summer) a setting you need to maintain a comfortable facility. Make these changes

without advertising the fact that you

are doing so to avoid having staffers or

congregation members begin grumbling about changes before they can

actually feel them. This method also

can help identify problem areas. Check

out the areas where you first receive

complaints about comfort to determine

whether the problem is one of inadequate air supply, excessive drafts, or

intense sunlight.

Hire a contractor to repair old valves

and steam traps, if you have them. A

steam trap costs approximately $50. If

broken, it can waste hundreds of dollars

each winter. One supplier estimated

that an average of 20 percent of traps

nationwide are broken. Broken steam

traps not only waste money and energy,

they also cause extreme discomfort.

How much can you save? That depends

on your climate, the size and shape of

your building, how much you set back

your thermostat, and how many hours

per week your building operates.

1980s Efficiency

Improvements:

Programmable

Thermostats

Although night-setback and temperaturesetpoint changes are simple enough to

be done manually, an automatic control

is much more efficient and reliable.

Electronic, programmable thermostats—

which allow you to program in desired

setpoint and cutoff times for a 7-day

week—are available for $50 to $200.

Most models include manual override

features, so a staff member or volunteer

who needs to come in at a time when

the system is in setback mode can override the setback and gather in comfort

without having to reprogram the system.

Be sure to locate the thermostat in a location where the temperature is representative of the entire area served by the

system—not next to the air-conditioning

diffuser or a coffee pot. Many congregations find it worthwhile to install a locking enclosure around their thermostats to

avoid unauthorized tampering with the

setpoints. If you have a heat pump, be

sure you get a heat-pump-programmable

thermostat with a “smart recovery”

feature, which will bring your system

on early enough to minimize the use

of electric strip heating. Heat-pump

thermostats cost about twice as much

as other thermostats because they have

to control multiple types of heating.

1990s And Beyond:

Whole-Building Energy

Optimization And

Management Systems

Programmable thermostats are effective

and work quite well, especially with

individual-unit air conditioners and

heaters. If your facility uses larger,

central systems such as boilers and

chillers, you may wish to use an energy

management system (EMS) instead. In

the 21st century, the EMS market will

likely expand into smaller and smaller

facilities. In addition to the setpoint

and night-setback features, which can

be handled by a programmable thermostat, an EMS can be used to provide

savings in many other ways. Depending on the type of system you have,

an EMS might be used to provide
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 73

some of the following money-saving

automatic control functions:

● Consider installing an economizer.

There may be times when you need

cooling in the building but the outside temperature is low. An economizer allows your system to circulate

outdoor air for free cooling during

these periods. If implemented without an EMS, economizers will cost

$500 to $1,000, installed, on each

rooftop unit.

● Adjust supply-air temperatures

based on indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity to let the

heating and cooling systems operate

most efficiently.

● Adjust chilled-water and hot-water

temperatures based on indoor and

outdoor temperature and humidity

to let the cooling and heating systems operate most efficiently.

● Implement holiday period automatic

setpoint adjustments.

● Monitor space temperatures to

minimize overheating or overcooling

of spaces on a zone-by-zone basis.

An EMS can be used to control other

functions in your building as well,

such as lighting. It can be monitored

and controlled from a console in a

remote location, such as your home or

your maintenance manager’s home.

EMS suppliers typically estimate that

their EMS can cut the heating and

cooling bills of a congregation with a

central chiller and heating system by

10 to 50 percent (many estimates are

clustered in the 20-percent range).

Approximate Percentage Savings From

Thermostat Setback In Non-Worship Space

(Savings for systems serving worship spaces

can be significantly more)

Degree-Days* Setback Temperature

60 55 50

1,000 13% 25% 38%

2,000 12% 24% 36%

3,000 11% 22% 33%

4,000 10% 20% 30%

5,000 9% 19% 28%

6,000 8% 16% 24%

7,000 7% 15% 22%

8,000 7% 13% 19%

9,000 6% 11% 16%

10,000 5% 9% 14%

*Look up your degree-days on the map below or call your utility for local data.

For a definition of “degree-day,” see the glossary in section 3.

Savings based on 65 degrees Fahrenheit and assuming setback for 14 hours per

weeknight and all weekend.

Source: Reducing Energy Costs Means a Better Bottom Line. National Frozen Foods

Association/U.S. Department of Energy.

Zone 1 — Greater than 7,000 heating degree-days

Zone 5 — Less than 4,000 heating degree-days and greater than 2,000 cooling degree-days

Zone 4 — Less than 4,000 heating degree-days

Zone 2 — Between 5,500 and 7,000 heating degree-days

Zone 3 — Between 4,000 and 5,500 heating degree-days
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

74 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

Improving Your System

Efficiency

The remainder of this section offers

suggestions on how to improve the

efficiency of various types of HVAC

systems. Because advice is offered

about a variety of different systems, not

every suggestion will apply to your

facility. One piece of advice does apply

uniformly to every congregation, however, regardless of the type of HVAC

system: Maintain your HVAC system.

Regular maintenance is an oftenoverlooked key to saving on your HVAC

costs and improving the performance

of your system. Although some maintenance jobs may require calling in an

outside technician, many can be accomplished inexpensively using in-house

staff. Because it also extends the life of

your HVAC equipment, regular maintenance provides significant cost savings

for minimal investment.

Most procedures will be included in a

standard preventive maintenance visit

by an air-conditioning contractor. This

type of system checkup typically costs

less than $100 for a single system, with

additional units included at a discount.

Some examples of systems checks and

standard maintenance procedures that

you or your contractor should do on

HVAC systems include:

● Replacing your air filters regularly. Accumulated dirt and dust

make your fans work harder. Clean

filters help system performance and

also help reduce allergens in your

place of worship. You can do this

without a whole system checkup.

● Cleaning the heat-transfer coils

in heat pumps, air conditioners,

and chillers. Make sure that leaves

and plants do not obstruct outdoor

coils and have any bent coils straightened. In addition to saving energy,

this measure will increase the capacity of your system.

● Inspecting ducts and piping for

leakage and missing or damaged

insulation and making the indicated repairs. Insulation is especially important in unconditioned

spaces.

● Making sure that furniture or

other obstructions do not block

air flow around radiators, convectors, or air intakes and diffusers.

● Identifying any areas in your

facility that are unused, but are

being conditioned. Consider

turning off the HVAC that serves

these areas or closing the vents.

● Adjusting temperature and humidity setpoints seasonally.

Unless it is absolutely required for

humidity control, consider turning

off “reheat” from late spring to fall.

● Having your fuel-fired boiler or

furnace checked out at least

annually, before the heating

season starts. Have the technician

check the combustion efficiency and

report the results along with any

suggestions for improving boiler

efficiency.

In addition to the maintenance

changes suggested here, making operational changes and/or upgrading

some aspects of your HVAC system

may result in significant savings. These

upgrades are more complex in scope

and should be undertaken only after

consultation with an engineering

professional.

This Is Stage Five

Do you remember the five-stage approach from pages 31 and 32? If you

plan to upgrade heating or cooling

equipment, be sure to do this after

your other ENERGY STAR upgrades have

been implemented because your

earlier upgrades (such as lighting

replacements or building construction

improvements) may result in a change

If you plan to upgrade any

heating or cooling equipment, first implement

your other ENERGY STAR

upgrades. Earlier upgrades

(such as lighting replacements or building construction improvements)

may change the size

requirements for your new

heating or cooling system.
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 75

in size requirements for your new

heating or cooling system. If you have

a large or architecturally unique site,

insist that the contractor complete a

sizing worksheet or run a computerized sizing analysis for your facility in

its current state of repair. If you think

the results inflate your needs, seek

another quote.

Never buy oversized heating or cooling

equipment on the theory that more

capacity is better. This simply is not

true. Grossly oversized cooling equipment will cycle too often and be unable

to sufficiently dehumidify your space,

which creates a serious comfort issue.

Such equipment also will cost more to

run all year long. Heating equipment

will be equally inefficient if oversized.

This advice is perhaps the most difficult

to follow in this whole guide. Nobody

wants to spend $5,000 on a new air

conditioner and find themselves sweating when cooling is sought. But both

comfort and costs are at stake. Get the

right size, not the right size plus one,

and you’ll be happy.

If your system was properly sized

before making any ENERGY STAR improvements, your contractor may find

that your system is now oversized

and savings potentially can be realized by downsizing portions. If your

system was undersized before you

began your ENERGY STAR upgrades,

you may find that your improvements

have, in effect, balanced your loads

and capacity.

Hot New Technologies: VariableSpeed Drives, Heat Recovery, And

Radiant Heating Variable-Speed

Drives (VSDs). If you have a larger

system in your building, you may be

able to take advantage of available

savings through installing VSDs on air

blowers or even pumps. VSDs allow

sophisticated control of how much air

or water is provided by heating and

cooling equipment, which has a significant effect on how much energy

is consumed.

Heat Recovery. Your congregation

may operate a building that requires

high levels of fresh air (for example, a

nursing home). Installing heat recovery

equipment will allow you to recapture

some of the energy you have invested

in heating or cooling that air and transfer it to the fresh air stream.

Radiant Heating. For areas where

high ceilings or low insulation levels

make heating costly, natural gas-fired

radiant heating (which heats occupants

directly) is an option to consider.

Tips For Selecting Heating

And Cooling Systems

● Proper sizing is critical to efficient

performance

● Check if utility rebates are

available

● When buying smaller heating or

cooling equipment, look for the

ENERGY STAR logo—your guarantee

of savings

● Call the ENERGY STAR hotline

(1-888-STAR-YES) to request all

the materials you need to make

you an “energy-smart shopper”
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

76 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

To find out more about these and

other technologies, call the toll-free

ENERGY STAR hotline at 1-888-STAR-YES

and ask for materials suited to your

congregation. And remember, we’re

here to provide you with unbiased

technical information for all your

energy-efficiency upgrades.

Time For Another Repair?

Because of the high cost of large HVAC

equipment, the energy savings alone

may not justify replacing equipment in

good working order. If your equipment

requires frequent repairs or is nearing

the end of its life expectancy, however,

it may be wise to consider replacing it

from both a preventive maintenance

standpoint and an energy savings standpoint. A scheduled replacement can

generally be negotiated at a lower cost

and with less inconvenience than the

emergency replacement of a failed unit.

Call your utility to find out if it offers

rebates on high-efficiency equipment.

Success Story

HVAC Equipment Pays Back In North Carolina

The cost of replacing HVAC equipment can be a burden for any

facility, but a smart shopper can use the replacement as an

opportunity to reduce operating costs by purchasing energyefficient equipment.

An ENERGY STAR partner in Durham, NC, needed to replace HVAC

equipment in its 2,200-sq.ft. building. The 23-year-old system was

a gas furnace with a continuously burning pilot light and an open

flue. Cooling was provided by a condensing unit with a poor

seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of 7.

The new heating system included a gas furnace with electronic

ignition and a forced draft fan. Cooling equipment with a SEER

of 12 was installed. This new system outperforms the old one,

cutting both electric and gas usage while increasing comfort. The

electronic ignition eliminates the continual gas use by the old

pilot light, and the forced draft fan contains any heat lost through

the open flue. The new gas furnace cut gas usage by more than

20 percent in its first heating season. Elimination of the pilot

light’s energy use will add to the total savings. Electric savings

due to the increased energy efficiency of the cooling equipment

is predicted to be approximately 40 percent.

Technical Talk: Special Types Of Heating And Cooling Systems

Systems That Simultaneously Heat And Cool. In reheat systems, air that is colder than required is supplied to a specific area and then

reheated before it enters the room. In dual-duct or multizone systems, heated air is mixed with cooled air. Although these systems provide

good temperature and humidity control, this simultaneous heating and cooling is inherently wasteful and should be minimized. If this is being

done for humidity control, consider alternatives such as desiccants and heat pipes.

Single-Zone Chilled-Water Systems. Consider reducing the air volume and, during relatively dry seasons, raising the cooling supply

temperature. Also consider conversion to a variable-air-volume (VAV) system.

Water-Side Systems. Consider downsizing oversized pumps and motors, installing variable-speed drives on pump motors, and converting

single-loop configurations to a configuration with primary and secondary loops.

Water-Cooled Centrifugal Chillers. If your chiller predates 1990, it may be using R-11 or R-12 refrigerants. Manufacture of these has

been banned due to the Clean Air Act of 1991, reducing their availability and making their prices skyrocket, so any upgrade should consider

converting the chillers to utilize newer refrigerants. Consider replacing your chiller if it is more than 20 years old.

Boilers. Consider replacing an oversized, inefficient boiler with a smaller, more efficient boiler. Also consider upgrading an existing boiler

with energy savings options such as a newer, more efficient burner (which will also reduce emissions), baffle inserts (to increase the efficiency

of fire-tube boilers), combustion controls (to optimize efficiency each hour), warm-weather controls for hot-water boilers (to reduce the

water temperature during milder weather), economizers (to preheat feedwater), and condensate return systems (for open-loop steam boiler

systems). If you have multiple boilers, keep in mind that it is more cost effective to run one of them at full load than both at partial load.

Multiple boilers can be staged in response to return water temperature.

Large Central Systems. If you have a large central system and you find that one area of your facility operates for substantially more hours

than the others, it may be cost effective to install a smaller, dedicated system in that area.
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 77

Other Ideas For Energy

Stewardship

Should You Buy A High-Efficiency Motor?

Example: 5 Horsepower Motor

$80 Cost Premium For High-Efficiency Motor

$480 Total Cost For High-Efficiency Motor

$0.05 $0.08 $0.10 $0.12

1,000 $5 $7 $9 $11

2,000 $9 $15 $19 $22

4,000 $19 $30 $37 $45

6,000 $28 $45 $56 $67

8,760 $41 $65 $82 $98

Motor Use

Hours/Year

Annual Cost Savings At Electric Rate Shown

Always buy standard efficiency

Buy high-efficiency motor upon burnout

Buy high-efficiency motor immediately

I

deas on energy optimization and

related profit enhancements are far

more numerous than the ones

presented in this guide. The possibilities are endless. In this section we

will point out a few more specific

ideas, but don’t let us constrain you.

There may be an opportunity for

improvement anywhere energy is used.

Cooking Equipment

Don’t Preheat Your Cooking Equipment. Don’t preheat your equipment,

whether it is electric or gas, for more

than a few minutes. Use a microwave

or gas stove in place of electric resistance cooking when possible. Both

cost less.

Buy The Efficient Version. Many

fryers, broilers, soup kettles, and other

equipment have optional controls and

features that minimize their energy

use. They are often worth the additional cost.

Improve Kitchen Ventilation. Turn

off your exhaust hoods (and makeup

air unit, if any) whenever you are not

cooking. These units demand tremendous amounts of energy. You need to

provide a safe and comfortable environment without odors and smoke,

but turn both systems off when they

are not needed.

Motors

Congregations with forced air heating

and cooling will likely have motors. The

rules of thumb here are simple. First,

buy high-efficiency motors whenever

you replace old ones. Second, if you

use a standard efficiency motor (less

than 100 horsepower) 24 hours every

day, replace it with its high-efficiency

equivalent right away and your investment will pay for itself in less than 5

years. Beyond that, your decision is

mainly a factor of the motor-cost premium, hours of use, and your electricity cost, shown in the table below in

dollars per kilowatt-hour ($/kWh).
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

78 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

This blower operates 24 hours a day, supplying fresh air to this all-night

business. The nameplate on the front of the motor indicates 78-percent

efficiency. Replacing it with a new 87-percent efficiency motor could save

$82 a year (at $0.08/kWh), paying back the investment in 3 to 4 years.

Other Resources

Solar Initiatives: www.solarstewards.org

www.eren.doe.gov/millionroofs/

Xeriscape: www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/

xeriscape.html

www.windstar.org/wildlife

www.nwf.org/nwf/habitats/index.html

Green Power www.eren.doe.gov/greenpower/

www.epa.gov/globalwarming/actions/

cleanenergy/index.html

www.epa.gov/globalwarming/news/

speeches/hogan_080700.html

www.eren.doe.gov/cleanenergy/

www.green-e.org/what/index.html

Green Building www.usgbc.org

www.eren.doe.gov/EE/buildings.html

www.archrecord.com

www.greenconcepts.com

Climate Change www.epa.gov/globalwarming

Fuel Conversions

Electric resistance heating is typically

the most expensive option when compared with natural gas, propane, and

other fuels. If you already have gas

on-site but still use electric-resistance

heat for water heating, clothes drying,

cooking, or other processes, ask your

plumbing or general contractor to tell

you what it will cost to convert your

equipment. It could be a very good

investment for equipment you use

often or were going to replace anyway.

Green Power

Your congregation may want to ask

its local utility company about purchasing green power. The term green

power is used to define power generated from renewable energy sources.

Energy sources for green power often

include solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, landfill gas, and hydropower

sites. Energy generated from these renewable sources has fewer negative

environmental impacts than energy

generated from traditional methods.

In markets where green power is

available, you usually will have to pay

a premium, or additional charge, for

having your power produced from

renewable sources. However, power

produced from these renewable

sources results in reduced greenhouse

gas emissions.
3

ENERGY STAR

PARTNER

Supporting

Material
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 81

Glossary

AHU: See air-handling unit.

air side systems: Equipment used to heat, cool, and transport air within building

HVAC systems.

air-handling unit (AHU): Equipment used to distribute conditioned air to a

space. Includes heating and cooling coils, fans, ducts, and filters.

ARI: Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute.

ASHRAE: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning

Engineers, Inc.

ASME: American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

balancing: The process of measuring and adjusting equipment to obtain desired

flows. Applies to both air side and water side systems.

ballast: A power-regulating device that modifies input voltage and controls

current to provide the electrical conditions necessary to start and operate gaseous

discharge lamps.

boiler: A pressure vessel designed to transfer heat (produced by combustion) or

electric resistance to a fluid. In most boilers, the fluid is water in the form of

liquid or steam.

British thermal unit (Btu): A unit of energy equivalent to the amount of heat

required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.

Btu: See British thermal unit.

calibration: The process of adjusting equipment to ensure that operation is

within design parameters.

carbon dioxide (CO2

): A colorless, odorless, incombustible gas formed during

respiration, combustion, and organic decomposition. Increasing amounts of

carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are believed to contribute to the global warming phenomenon.

carbon monoxide (CO): A colorless, odorless, poisonous gas formed during

incomplete combustion of fuel.

CAV: See constant volume.

central plant: A centrally located equipment that satisfies a building’s cooling

and heating loads.

CERCLA: The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and

Liability Act (1980). Also known as the Superfund law.
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82 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

CFCs: See chlorofluorocarbons.

cfm: Cubic feet per minute.

chiller: A mechanical device that generates cold liquid, which is circulated

through cooling coils to cool the air supplied to a building.

chlorofluorocarbons: Chemical compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen,

chlorine, and fluorine, once used widely as aerosol propellants and refrigerants.

Believed to deplete the atmospheric ozone layer.

coefficient of performance (COP): A measure of efficiency in which a higher

value designates a more efficient system.

coil, condenser: A heat exchanger used to condense refrigerant from a gas to a

liquid.

coil, cooling: A heat exchanger used to cool air under forced convection with or

without dehumidification. May consist of a single coil section or several coil

sections assembled into a bank.

coil, fan: A device that combines a heat exchanger and a fan in a single unit that

conditions air by forced convection.

coil, heating: A heat exchanger that heats air under forced convection. May

consist of a single coil section or several coil sections assembled into a bank.

color rendering index (CRI): A measure ranging from 0 to 100 of the accuracy

with which a light source renders different colors in comparison to natural light,

which has a measure of 100.

combustion air: Air that supplies the oxygen required to burn fuel.

commissioning: The quality assurance process that ensures design intent is met

for new facilities or major rehabilitation.

condenser: A heat exchanger in a refrigeration system that expels building heat

absorbed in the evaporator.

conditioned air: Air that serves a space and that has had its temperature and/or

humidity altered to meet design specifications.

constant volume (CAV, constant air volume): A type of air-handling system

that maintains comfort in buildings by providing a constant air flow and varying

the air temperature.

control: A device that analyzes the difference between an actual process value and

a desired process value and brings the actual value closer to the desired value.

control, pneumatic: A control that uses air pressure to vary equipment operation.

control, set back: The practice of reducing the thermostat setpoint during

unoccupied times.

cooling tower: A device that dissipates heat from water-cooled systems through

a combination of heat and mass transfer, whereby the water to be cooled is

distributed in the tower and exposed to circulated ambient air.
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 83

COP: See coefficient of performance.

CRI: See color rendering index.

cycling: The noncontinuous operation of equipment.

dampers: Single- or multiple-blade devices, either manually or automatically

opened or closed, that control the flow of air.

deadband: A setting in the lighting control that provides a time delay, signaling

the lights to switch off only if the light level is somewhat above the setting, or on

only if the level is somewhat below the setting.

degree-day: A rough measure used to estimate the amount of heating required in

a given area. A degree-day is defined as the difference between the mean daily

temperature and 65 degrees Farenheit (F). This is based on the assumption that no

heating is required when the temperature is above 65oF, and that proportionately

more heating is required the further the average temperature is from 65oF. Cooling

degree-days also may be calculated to estimate cooling requirements.

DEHP: Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, an insulator used to replace PCBs in ballast

capacitors starting in 1979. DEHP is listed as a hazardous waste in its pure form,

but, according to RCRA, it is no longer considered hazardous when used in a

lighting ballast.

demand charges: Fees levied by a utility company for electric demand.

demand ventilation: A method of controlling the amount of outdoor air intake

based on carbon dioxide levels in a space.

demand, electric: Electrical power delivered to a system at a given time or

averaged over a designated period. Expressed in kilowatts.

desiccant: A material that absorbs moisture from its surrounding environment.

diffuser, HVAC: A device that distributes conditioned air to a space.

diffuser, lighting: A device that distributes light produced by lamps into a space.

direct expansion system: A cooling system in which the refrigerant runs in the

cooling coil to cool the air directly; that is, there is no water loop between the

refrigerant and the air to be cooled.

domestic hot water: All hot water consumed in a building that is used for

purposes other than heating a space.

downsizing: The process of reducing the size (capacity) of equipment so that it

operates efficiently at design load conditions.

ductwork: The distribution system for air in HVAC systems. It is usually made of

sheet metal or fiberglass.

EER: Energy efficiency ratio. Cooling capacity (Btu/hr) divided by total input

power (watts) requirement.

efficacy: The ratio of lamp lumen output to total lamp power input expressed in

lumens per watt.
Supporting Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

84 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

efficiency: The ratio of power output to power input.

EMS: See energy management system.

energy management system (EMS): The control system that monitors the

environment and energy usage in a building and alters equipment operation to

conserve energy while providing occupant comfort.

ENERGY STAR label: EPA’s registered trademark symbolizing excellence in energy

efficiency.

evaporator: A heat exchanger in a refrigeration system that absorbs heat from

chilled water or building air, thus reducing the supply temperature.

exhaust air: Air removed from a building and not reused.

fan, cooling tower: Fans that are used to draw air through the cooling tower to

carry away water vapor.

footcandle (fc): A unit of illuminance equal to one lumen per square foot.

fouling: The buildup of a film that reduces heat transfer.

gasket: Material used to seal a joint against leakage.

glazing system: A configuration of materials with a transparent or translucent

element designed to admit sunlight.

glazing: Glass set or made to be set in frames.

GPM: Gallons per minute. A measure of water flow rate.

Green Power: Power that is generated from renewable sources, such as solar,

wind, or geothermal sources.

heat exchanger: A device that transfers heat from one fluid to another.

heat gain: Waste heat produced during the operation of electrical equipment.

Typically, heat gain can be minimized by improving efficiency.

heat, latent: The heat required to change the phase of a substance (that is, liquid

to gas or gas to liquid).

heat pump: A device that extracts heat from one medium and transfers it to

another portion of the same medium or to a second medium at a higher temperature.

heat, sensible: The heat required to change temperature without changing

phase.

heat-exchange area: An area where heat is transferred from one medium to

another.

HID: High-intensity discharge.

hp: Horsepower. A unit of mechanical power.

humidistat: A device that responds to humidity changes and controls equipment

by seeking a setpoint.
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 85

HVAC: Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning.

IAQ: Indoor air quality.

IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.

IES: Illuminating Engineering Society.

illuminance: Commonly called light level, the light intensity arriving on a surface

measured in footcandles.

impeller: The rotating element of a fan or pump used to circulate the air or

water.

infiltration: Air that leaks into a building through the building shell.

internal rate of return (IRR): The compound interest rate at which the total

discounted benefits equal total discounted costs for a particular investment.

IRR: See internal rate of return.

kilowatt (kW): A unit of power equal to 1,000 watts.

kilowatt-hour (kWh): A unit of electric consumption equal to the work done by

one kilowatt acting for one hour.

kW: See kilowatt.

kWh: See kilowatt-hour.

load: Demand on the operating resources of a system. In the case of energy loads

in buildings, the word generally refers to heating, cooling, and electrical (or

demand) loads.

load, cooling: The cooling (typically measured in Btu/hr or tons) required to

maintain an indoor design temperature.

lumen: A unit measurement of the rate at which a light source produces light per

unit time.

luminaire: A complete lighting unit consisting of one or more lamps together

with a housing, the optical components to distribute the light from the lamps, and

the electrical components (ballast, starters, etc.) necessary to operate the lamps.

luminance: Commonly referred to as brightness, the light leaving a surface

measured in footlamberts. It considers both illuminance on the surface and

reflectance of the surface.

luminance ratio: The ratio between the luminances of any two areas in the

visual field. This is a measure of the uniformity of luminance.

maintenance: An ongoing process to ensure equipment operates at peak

performance.

meter: A device used to measure and display or record data.

nitrogen oxides (NOx): Chemical compounds that contain nitrogen and oxygen.

They react with volatile organic compounds in the presence of heat and sunlight

to form ozone and are a major precursor to acid rain.
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86 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

occupancy sensor: A device that detects the presence or absence of occupants

and controls operation of equipment accordingly.

off-peak: Refers to a utility rate schedule that designates the time of day when

energy and demand costs typically are less expensive.

on-peak: Refers to a utility rate schedule that designates the time of day when

energy and demand costs typically are more expensive.

packaged unit: A self-contained HVAC unit that provides heating and/or cooling

to a building space.

part-load: The condition when equipment operates at less than full capacity to

meet the demand placed upon it.

part-load conditions: Time when equipment is operating at less than design

loads; represents the majority of the time equipment is operating.

part-load performance: Equipment efficiency at less than full capacity.

payback, simple: Also known as payback. Measurement of the elapsed time

between an initial investment and the point at which accumulated savings are

sufficient to offset the initial investment.

payback: See payback, simple.

PCB: Polychlorinated biphenyl; a substance used as an insulator in the capacitor

of fluorescent and HID magnetic ballasts prior to 1970. PCBs have been labeled

as carcinogenic and can cause skin, liver, and reproductive disorders.

peak (cooling) load: The maximum cooling required to maintain an indoor

design temperature under the most adverse summertime outdoor air conditions.

photocell: A device that responds electrically to the presence of light.

power factor: The ratio of real power to total apparent power.

power quality: The degree to which voltage and current wave forms conform to

a sinusoidal shape and are in synchronous phase with one another. Poor power

quality can have negative impacts on electrical equipment.

PPM: Parts per million. A unit of concentration.

pressure drop: The loss in pressure experienced by flowing water or air due to

friction and obstructions.

pump, chilled-water: A device that circulates chilled water.

radiator: A device that provides warmth to a space through radiant or convective

heat provided by either steam or hot water.

RCRA: The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1976).

recommissioning: See tune-up, building.

reflector: A device installed in luminaires used to direct light from a source via

specular or diffuse reflection.
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 87

refrigerant: A substance, such as CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, air, ammonia, water, or

carbon dioxide, used to provide cooling by evaporation and condensation.

reset, chilled water: The practice of increasing chilled water temperature to

obtain higher chiller efficiency.

reset, condenser water: The practice of decreasing condenser water temperature to obtain higher chiller efficiency.

rightsizing: The process of correctly sizing equipment to the peak load.

roof curb: A raised and reinforced area on a roof for mounting equipment.

rooftop unit: Air-handling equipment such as packaged units located on the

roof.

scaling: See fouling.

schedule: A control sequence that turns equipment on and off.

seasonal energy-efficiency ratio (SEER): Cooling capacity (Btu/hr) divided by

total input power (watts) requirement where both are seasonal averages.

SEER: See seasonal energy-efficiency ratio.

setpoint: Desired temperature, humidity, or pressure in a space, duct, etc.

sheave: (Pronounced shiv.) Pulley.

space: The distinct area to which conditioned air is delivered.

steam trap: A device that separates air and condensed water from steam.

strainer screen: A filtering device used in water side systems to protect equipment from dirt, rust, and other particles.

sulfur dioxide (SO2

): A heavy, colorless, pungent air pollutant formed primarily

by the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal. It is a respiratory irritant and a

precursor to the formation of acid rain.

TAB: See testing, adjusting, and balancing.

testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB): The process of adjusting HVAC system

components to supply air and water flows at design or revised specifications.

thermostat: A device that responds to temperature changes and controls equipment by seeking a setpoint accordingly.

timeclock: The control device used to turn equipment on and off at set times of

the day.

ton: A unit of cooling capacity equal to 12,000 Btu/hr.

transformer: A device that reduces the incoming line voltage, usually to a standard level, so that it may be used to operate electrical equipment in a building.

tubes, condenser: Heat exchanger tubes through which condenser water is

pumped to allow heat transfer between the condenser water and the refrigerant.
Supporting Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

88 ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide

tubes, evaporator: Heat exchanger tubes through which chilled water is pumped

to allow heat transfer between the chilled water and the refrigerant.

tune-up, building: The purposeful sequence of maintenance and operational

improvements, undertaken at a specific point in time, designed to reduce energy

use, heating loads, and cooling loads of existing facilities.

variable air volume (VAV): A type of air-handling system that maintains comfort

in a building by varying the quantity of air supplied through the building.

variable-speed drive (VSD): A device used to adjust the speed of an air-conditioner motor to match load requirements.

VAV: See variable air volume.

VCP: See visual comfort probability.

visual comfort probability (VCP): A rating given to lighting systems expressed

as the percentage of people who will be expected to find it acceptable in terms of

glare discomfort.

volts, voltage: The international system unit of electric potential and electromotive force.

VSD: See variable-speed drive.

W/sf: Watts per square foot.

water side systems: Equipment used to heat, cool, and transport water to

building HVAC systems.
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ENERGY STAR® For Congregations Guide 89

Energy-Efficiency Quicklist

This guide recommends a lot of different energy upgrades. Where should you start? First walk

through your congregational facilities with this Quicklist in hand and use it to identify moneysaving opportunities. Then post the Quicklist on your wall and check off items as you perform

upgrades to keep track of your progress.

Lighting

Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps

Convert exterior lighting to high-pressure sodium or metal halide lighting

Upgrade fluorescent fixtures with T-8 fluorescent lamps and electronic ballasts

Remove or disconnect unnecessary lights

Convert exit signs to LED

Lower light levels where appropriate, such as around computer monitors

Install occupancy sensors in areas, such as bathrooms, that are frequently unoccupied

Install timers or photocells on outside lights

Water Use And Water Heating

Install a water heater insulating blanket and wrap the first 3 to 6 feet of hot water supply

pipe with pipe insulation

Install faucet aerators and efficient showerheads

Select native or other low-water plants for landscaping

Find and fix leaks

Refrigeration

Repair doors and seals so they close tightly

Make sure fans and equipment are not obstructed

Combine refrigerated goods and disconnect unneeded refrigerators

Building

Install weather stripping, caulking, or seals on openings that create drafts

Add or repair insulation to create a continuous blanket around building

Heating And Cooling Systems

Clean and replace filters regularly

Set back your heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems when the

building is unoccupied. This includes setting the fans to “auto” rather than “on”

Repair leaks in system components such as pipes, steam traps, and couplings

Make sure radiators, convectors, air intakes, and air diffusers are not obstructed so

that air can flow freely

Reduce your water heater settings to the minimum required temperature
Yes No

Heating

High-Efficiency Gas Furnace ___ ___

Pulse Combustion Boiler ___ ___

High-Efficiency Heat Pump ___ ___

Insulated Pipes/Ducts ___ ___

Ducts All Inside Building ___ ___

 Envelope

Electronic Ignition ___ ___

 (No Pilot Light)

Cooling

Newer High-Efficiency ___ ___

 Cooling Units

Economizers/“Free Cooling” ___ ___

Coils Clean And Free of ___ ___

 Moisture

Other

Locker Room ___ ___

Access To Bike Path ___ ___

Subway Or Bus Nearby ___ ___

Xeriscaping ___ ___

Lease That Rewards Efficiency ___ ___

Notes

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

ENERGY STAR Shopping List For Congregations

 Yes No

Lighting

General T-8 Fluorescent Lamps ___ ___

Compact Fluorescent Lamps ___ ___

Occupancy Sensors ___ ___

LED Exit Signs ___ ___

Low-Glare Daylight ___ ___

Warehouse High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) ___ ___

 Or Metal Halide (MH)

 Lighting

Retail Halogen ___ ___

Office Light Level Below 75 Foot- ___ ___

 candles

Deep-Cell Parabolic Fixtures ___ ___

Exterior HPS Or MH ___ ___

Photocells or Timers ___ ___

Hot Water

Insulated Pipes ___ ___

Water Heater Insulating ___ ___

 Blanket

Faucet Aerators ___ ___

Efficient Showerheads ___ ___

Solar Hot Water ___ ___

Building

Low-E Windows ___ ___

Awnings To Block ___ ___

 Summer Sun

Window Film ___ ___

Roof Insulation ___ inches

Wall Insulation ___ inches

Tight-Closing Doors/ ___ ___

 Windows

Reflective Roof ___ ___

Operable Windows ___ ___

Heating And Cooling Distribution

Energy Management System ___ ___

Programmable ___ ___

 Thermostats

Variable-Speed Drives ___ ___

Energy-Efficient Motors ___ ___

Buying or leasing a building with these preferred technologies can lower your operating costs. Use

this list when walking through a prospective building. Call 1-888-STAR-YES if you have any questions.