Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light, an organization committed to promoting environmentally friendly practices and sustainability in religious organizations, announced last week it received a $150,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Energy Development. The only faith-based organization to apply for the grant, H-IPL, plans to use the grant to install solar panels and cut energy uses in six central Indiana churches by 25 percent to 40 percent. Though none of the congregations are in Kokomo, the Howard County Ministerial Association has joined the H-IPL in promoting environmental friendliness and eventually hold a workshop for area churches.
“[Churches] use a lot of energy and it turns out it’s really easy to cut the energy they use. Just turning the thermostat way down in the winter when nobody’s in the building can save a huge amount,” said Madeline Hirschland, board vice chair of H-IPL. “Congregations are saving 35 [percent] to 40 percent just by doing these kinds of thing. The savings are enormous.”
Megan Graham, Kokomo Tribune
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