Interfaith Power & Light’s Cool Congregations Challenge Opens November 1st!
“Safeguard our Sacred Earth for Future Generations” is this year’s theme of Interfaith Power & Light’s Cool Congregations Challenge. Many people of faith say their primary motivation for caring for our Sacred Earth is to ensure a stable climate for their children and grandchildren. Reducing the carbon pollution from our buildings and grounds of our houses of worship is a doable way to meet that challenge. This includes adopting and encouraging the use of electric vehicles.
Many of you have taken steps to be good stewards of our Sacred Earth. We thank you and we are pleased to partner with Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) to offer you the opportunity for recognition of your achievements.
Save the date! Starting November 1, 2024, IPL will begin accepting applications for the Cool Congregations Challenge, our annual contest for congregations becoming sustainable leaders in their communities. The deadline to apply is December 15, 2024.
There are six entry categories:
Energy Saver: Lighting, Insulation, Windows & Doors, Heating & Cooling Systems
Renewable Role Model: Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Solar Water Heating
Sacred Grounds: Native landscaping, Organic Gardening, Water Conservation, Bike Racks, Wildlife Habitats, Recycling & Composting
Community Inspiration: Inspiring Congregants to Reduce at Home, Helping Communities Transition from Fossil Fuels to Clean Energy, Helping Communities Prepare for the Impacts of Climate Change
Cool Congregations Planner: Audits, Planning Reports, Fundraising
Electric Vehicle Leader: EVs, Charging Stations, Education, Advocacy, Outreach
The Electric Vehicle Leader category covers congregations with EV charging stations, educating and advocating for EVs, and EV ownership by congregants and staff. It includes all-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and electric bikes.
The top winner in each of the six categories wins $1,000!
Plus, all entries will be recognized with a listing on the “Be the Change” page of IPL’s Cool Congregations website!
Projects can take place inside the worship space or other buildings, on the grounds, in congregants’ homes, or in the community.
Consider applying for the Cool Planner category if your congregation has made plans to take advantage of the new federal funding for congregations made available through the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce energy use at your congregation.
AND for those of you who completed your projects previously…
The eligibility window includes projects completed in 2022, 2023, and 2024. If you applied before and have not won the Challenge previously, you are eligible to apply again for your projects completed in those three years.
The deadline to apply is December 15.