Cool Congregations

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Find Inspiration

Read about Cool Congregations across the country to fuel your imagination. These success stories will provide you and your team with concrete project ideas that are both fun, rewarding, and cost saving.

Shalom Mennonite Church

Shalom Mennonite Church

Shalom Mennonite Church Joins Network of Solar Congregations Indianapolis, Indiana Shalom Mennonite Church in Indianapolis, Indiana has cut their emissions ...
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EMBODYING OUR SPIRITUAL VALUES IN OUR BUILDING Congregation Kol Emeth, Palo Alto, California won the 2020 Cool Congregations Planning Award for their new net zero energy worship facility and zero waste plans. They had outgrown their aging building that had failing systems such as heating and cooling that were costly to maintain. They wanted to embody their spiritual values in constructing a new building that avoided waste of energy and resources, inspired their congregants, and provided for greater involvement with the local community. The entire congregation of 1200 rose to the challenge and raised $25 million in record time and the building is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2020. The new building has been designed to embody the spiritual beliefs and religious practices of the community, as well as to support learning and celebrations for all ages. The site and building will maximize daylighting, capture water for irrigation, support solar electricity production, encourage EV and bike commuting, and use other green building principles. They expect to save approximately $66,000 in energy costs once the new building is completed. The congregation has also committed to zero waste inspired by their religious beliefs to avoid waste, (Baal Tashchit) which in the modern era is expressed in sustainable practices. The leadership team has met with the City of Palo Alto and the waste hauler to get advice on green purchasing, waste sorting and other measures to reduce consumption, and to ensure that waste is either composted or recycled as fully as possible. The educational staff will work with students and families to encourage zero waste practices as part of the congregation’s values. They hope to inspire their congregants towards more sustainable living in their homes and workplaces. They also hope to inspire other faith communities to orient themselves in affordable, doable ways towards embodying care for the Earth as a central religious value.

2019 Cool Planner – Embodying our Spiritual Values in our Building

EMBODYING OUR SPIRITUAL VALUES IN OUR BUILDING  Congregation Kol Emeth, Palo Alto, California  won the 2020 Cool Congregations Planning Award ...
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Sacred Ground - Aldersgate Gardens and Nature Based Playground

2019 Sacred Ground – Aldersgate Gardens and Nature Based Playground

ALDERSGATE GARDENS AND NATURE-BASED PLAYGROUND Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska won IPL’s Cool Congregations Challenge Sacred Grounds award for ...
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2019 Renewable Role Model - Solar for the Next Generation

2019 Renewable Role Model – Solar for the Next Generation

SOLAR FOR THE NEXT GENERATION Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church in Brevard, North Carolina won the Cool Congregations Renewable Role Model Award ...
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New bespoke LED sanctuary lighting

2019 Energy Saver – Fulfilling the Paris Pledge with Persistence

Urbandale United Church of Christ in Urbandale, Iowawon the Cool Congregations Energy Saver Award for the work of their “Green Boat ...
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2019 Community Inspiration Winner - Inspiring members to make changes at home

2019 Community Inspiration Winner – Inspiring members to make changes at home

All Saints Episcopal Church, New Albany, Ohio won the 2019 Cool Congregations Community Inspiration award for inspiring members to make ...
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2019 Cool Congregations Runners Up

2019 Runners Up

COMMUNITY INSPIRATION The Providence Climate Agreement Sisters of Providence of St. Mary of the Woods, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN collected pledges ...
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2018 Community Inspiration Winner

Community Inspiration Winner – Community-Wide Anti-Idling Campaign

First Parish UU of Medfield MA https://www.firstparishmedfield.org/ Nearly four million gallons of fuel are wasted in the US every day ...
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Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

Prairie Village, KS Certified Cool Congregation, 10% carbon reduction Lutheran Church of the Resurrection is a vibrant and busy church ...
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Brackett Memorial United Methodist Church

Brackett Memorial United Methodist Church

Peaks Island, ME Certified Cool Congregation, 20% carbon reduction Brackett Memorial United Methodist Church is located on Peaks Island in ...
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Durham Community Church

Durham Community Church

Durham, NH Certified Cool Congregation, 20% carbon reduction Right next door to Maine is the Durham Community Church of the ...
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First Universalist Church

First Universalist Church

Rockland, ME Certified Cool Congregation, 20% carbon reduction First Universalist Church of Rockland, Maine is situated in one of the ...
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