St. Lawrence Catholic Church Receives GIPL Grant

St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Lawrenceville was a awarded a GIPL Power Wise Energy Efficiency Matching Grant to support their in-house energy efficiency efforts.  Following their energy audit in October 2016, they applied for a $5,000 grant to recommission their existing building automation system to better manage their energy usage. Recommissioning the BAS should reduce annual energy costs by $4,200 with a simple payback of 1.2 years. In addition, they also wanted to upgrade their campus lighting to LED. GIPL contributed $1.500 to the $31,590 project costs. Estimated annual energy savings should be $3,402 and a simple payback of 9.3 years. The total award was $6,500 and the church will supply a similar amount to complete the projects.St. Lawrence Catholic Church has been motivated to energize their Creation care program by the Pope Francis encyclical, Laudato Si. Reading groups were established by the Adult Faith Formation Ministry to discuss the encyclical. A Care for Creation Ministry was formed in September 2016. With the support of their pastor, Fr. John Howren, they have organized the group to address energy and water conservation and recycling issues on the church campus. They are also developing efforts to help parishioners implement similar Creation care projects at home.Congratulations to St Lawrence Catholic Church on their matching grant, and their continued efforts to increase their energy efficiency! We look forward to their continued work with the GIPL community, and hope that their sustainability efforts inspire other faith communities across Georgia to join the GIPL Power Wise ProgramThe next matching grant application deadline is November 15, 2017. If your congregation has not yet received a GIPL energy audit, visit our website to sign up today!