St. Alban's Episcopal Church Receives EPA's Congregation Award

Congratulations to St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Monroe, Georgia, one of only five recipients across the nation to win the EPA's ENERGY STAR® Congregation Award this year!

St. Alban’s Episcopal, which is headed by Father Brent Owens, has been working hard to reduce their energy use. In 2008, the congregation received an energy audit from Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, which helped them develop a staged program of energy improvements.  Some improvements were completed in 2009 using an Energy Improvement Matching Grant from GIPL for $5,068. These energy efficiency measures included switching out incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent ones, insulation for many areas of the church building, and other improvements to the church building envelope.

St. Alban’s applied for and received another Energy Improvement Matching Grant from GIPL in 2010 for the amount of $6,140. This round of grant money, which is being matching by the congregation, will be used to clean their heating and cooling duct and add a new return duct.  The sanctuary and narthex HVAC systems will also be replaced with Energy Star® compliant units, and the grant will pay for a portion of this upgrade.

St. Alban’s also has a commitment to creation care; they offer a variety of programs for children on topics such as energy efficiency and recycling. The congregation also has a recycling program for aluminum cans, cardboard, and office waste.

On Sunday, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church will be honored by the EPA in their 10:00 AM service. GIPL will also be there to be recognized as a collaborating organization. We look forward to celebrating this achievement with the congregation.

Note: St. Alban’s Episcopal Church was one of eight congregations that were awarded Energy Improvement Matching Grants in June 2010. The next round of applications are due on November 15, 2010. Congregations must receive a Power Wise Energy Audit to be eligible for a Matching Grant.