Energy Saving Volunteers Work at Nexus of Climate and Poverty

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church has won a national award from Interfaith Power & Light (IPL), including a cash prize of $1000. The award was for the “Community Inspiration” category in IPL’s annual “Cool Congregations” challenge. (Cool Congregations is similar to GIPL’s Power Wise program.) There were five categories in all and Good Shepherd Church in Hayesville, NC joins congregations in Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, and Arkansas as national winners. The headline  aptly describes the mission of this ministry at Good Shepherd, which is to help to preserve God’s Creation by helping God’s people save energy.  Learn more about the recognition here.

Although in North Carolina just north of the Georgia state line, this church serves families in Georgia as well. To date Energy Saving Volunteers have helped 45 families and counting to save on their electric bills by reducing wasteful uses of energy. The all-volunteer group visits each home to do an energy assessment and then schedules a return visit for the work. Typically they provide energy efficient lighting, water heater wraps, shower head flow restrictors, weather stripping doors and windows, light repairs to reduce energy use, and other such efforts. Sometimes they provide partial funding and help with other sources to provide more substantial upgrades, such as added insulation, new water heaters, new heat pumps, window replacements, etc. And sometimes, their coaching of the clients helps with no work at all – such as understanding to use only cold water in washing clothes, dry clothes on a clothes line, take shorter showers with reduced hot water temperature, set their thermostat back, or be smarter to avoid the use of auxiliary or emergency heat on heat pumps.

While this effort is sponsored by Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, volunteers are welcome from of all faiths and religious backgrounds to assist in helping our neighbors become more financially independent and reduce the financial stress of occasional extremely high energy bills. You don’t have to be particularly handy; you just need to have some time and a desire to help your neighbor and this beautiful planet that is our home. Also, if you live outside of our area we would love to help you create an Energy Saving Volunteers effort in your local congregation or community.For more information or to request help from the Energy Saving Volunteers, contact the church at 838-389-3397. GIPL salutes this exception team of dedicated volunteers that seek to preserve God's good earth while caring for our neighbors in need.