If your congregation has taken steps to reduce your energy use and carbon emissions, apply to be a Certified Cool Congregation today!
Eco-friendly bamboo plaque is available for each level of certification
With this certification you will demonstrate your leadership in your community by showing that it is possible to reduce emissions, care for our common home, and often save money in the process
How to Apply
First download the application questions and record your answers offline. This is helpful because you have to complete the online application in one sitting, it is not possible to save a draft and complete it later. The application questions includes the updated 2021 certification policy.
Download the Application Questions
Use the Cool Congregations calculator for congregational facilities to take a “before” snapshot of your congregation’s carbon footprint, then make the changes to reduce your footprint, and come back to the calculator again to take an “after” snapshot. If you have reduced by 10% or more, you qualify for certification. Apply above.
You will receive a certificate suitable for framing and you can purchase a classy eco-friendly wooden plaque to show your leadership and inspire your congregants to make changes at home. You can apply for 10, 20, 30, or 40% reduction certification. Due to many congregations achieving higher levels of reduction, in 2020 IPL added new categories of 60, 80 and 100% reductions that a congregation can apply for. The average certified congregation has reduced 42%!
The Certified Cool Congregations listed here are jointly preventing over 1,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere every year. This is the equivalent of not burning one million pounds of coal every year. Read their inspiring stories and apply for certification!
Use the start up kit for congregations: “5 Steps to Becoming a Cool Congregation” to get started on a project to reduce your congregation’s carbon footprint.
100% CO2 Reduction – Platinum Medallion
First Universalist Church of Denver
Denver, CO First Universalist Church of Denver is a national IPL Certified Cool Congregation at the 100% reduction level for ...
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Decorah, IA Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Decorah, Iowa is certified as a Cool Congregation at the 100% reduction level ...
Loomis Basin Congregational United Church of Christ
Loomis, CA Loomis Basin Congregational UCC, in Loomis, California, is certified as a Cool Congregation at the 100% reduction level ...
Lutheran Church of Honolulu
Honolulu, HI Prompted by deep concerns about climate change and rising energy costs from O’ahu’s only energy provider, the Lutheran ...
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
Davis, California Becoming a Zero Carbon Church The Episcopal Church of St. Martin offered a virtual tour of their Zero ...
Crosslake Presbyterian
Crosslake, MN Gold Certified Cool Congregation, 110% carbon reduction equivalent Crosslake is a rural town some refer to as “God’s ...
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Framingham, MA Gold Certified Cool Congregation, 110% carbon reduction The 168 solar panels that grace the lovely St. Andrew’s Episcopal ...
80% and above CO2 Reduction – Gold Medallion
St. John’s Lutheran Church
Stamford, CT St. John’s Lutheran Church in Stamford, CT has achieved a whopping emissions reduction of over 80% through holistic ...
Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church – All Hands on Deck!
Cincinnati, Ohio Mt. Auburn Presbyterian has reduced their carbon emissions by 75 tons through energy saving measures and the installation ...
Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Tucson, AZ Gold Certified Cool Congregation, 80% carbon reduction A progressive and diverse urban parish, Grace Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church ...
Temple Beth El in Stamford
Stamford, CT Gold Certified Cool Congregation, 80% carbon reduction Temple Beth El in Stamford, Connecticut now has one of the largest ...
60% and above CO2 Reduction – Silver Medallion
Unitarian Universalist Congregation New River Valley
Blacksburg, Virginia Unitarian Universalist Congregation New River Valley in Blacksburg, Virginia, is certified at the 60% and above level for ...
Congregation Kol Shalom
Bainbridge Island, Washington Congregation Kol Shalom has gone electric! They replaced an old fuel-oil boiler with heat pumps cutting out ...
Emmaus Cut the Carbon by 60%!
Emmaus United Church of Christ, Vienna, VA A group of dedicated volunteer Green Team members have worked for years to ...
Temple Sinai of Glendale
Glendale, California Temple Sinai of Glendale began with a small but important step – getting an energy audit from their ...
50% and above CO2 Reduction
La Mesa First United Methodist Church
La Mesa, California La Mesa First United Methodist Church in La Mesa, California is certified at the 50% reduction level ...
Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church Cut Energy Use in Half!
Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, Severna Park, MD 50% and above reduction Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park, MD carefully ...
40% and above CO2 Reduction – Bronze Medallion
St. John’s Episcopal Church
Kula, Hawaii St. John’s Episcopal Church in Kula, Hawaii, is a Certified Cool Congregation at the 40% and above level ...
Central Baptist Church
Wayne, PA Central Baptist Church is a Cool Congregation certified at the 40% level, saving 6 tons of carbon emissions ...
Mountain View United Methodist Church
Mountain View United Methodist Church Boulder, Colorado Mountain View United Methodist Church has reduced their carbon footprint by 40% and ...
Nativity Catholic Church
Burke, VA Nativity Catholic Church, a large congregation with 10,000 members has taken seriously the call from Pope Francis in ...
Taftsville Chapel Mennonite Fellowship
Taftsville, VT Taftsville Chapel Mennonite Fellowship, a tiny church with only 55 members, has reduced the emissions from their worship ...
Shalom Mennonite Church
Shalom Mennonite Church Joins Network of Solar Congregations Indianapolis, Indiana Shalom Mennonite Church in Indianapolis, Indiana has cut their emissions ...
Church of the Brethren Modesto
Modesto, CA Gold Certified Cool Congregation, 40% carbon reduction As part of their Earth Stewardship mission, Church of the Brethren in ...
Flagstaff Federated Community Church
Flagstaff, AZ Gold Certified Cool Congregation, 50% carbon reduction Solar power has slashed the cost of electricity at Federated Community ...
St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church
Dover, MA Gold Certified Cool Congregation, 50% carbon reduction St. Dunstan’s in Dover, Massachusetts can be very chilly in the winter ...
30% CO2 Reduction – Green Medallion
Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas is an Interfaith Power & Light Certified Cool Congregation at the ...
Niles Discovery Church
Fremont, CA This small congregation that is part of both the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples ...
St. Thomas ELCA Lutheran Church
Bloomington, IN Certified Cool Congregation, 30% carbon reduction St. Thomas Lutheran Church has an ongoing commitment to Creation Care, and ...
Central Union Church, Honolulu, HI
Honolulu, HI Certified Cool Congregation, 30% carbon reduction Central Union Church, a historic landmark church in Honolulu, decided to become ...
Emmanuel United Methodist Church
Laurel, MD Certified Cool Congregation, 30% carbon reduction Emmanuel United Methodist Church is operating on 100% renewable energy, without solar, ...
First Unitarian Church of Cleveland
Shaker Heights, OH Certified Cool Congregation, 30% carbon reduction A large canopy over First Unitarian's parking lot provides shade over ...
Salvisa Christian Church
Salvisa, KY Certified Cool Congregation, 30% carbon reduction Salvisa Christian Church is a small, rural Green Chalice congregation, worshipping in ...
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Knoxville, TN Certified Cool Congregation, 30% carbon reduction Electric power usage has a tremendous impact on our carbon footprint, especially ...
20% CO2 Reduction – Blue Medallion
Aldersgate United Methodist Church
Lincoln, NE Aldersgate United Methodist Church earned recognition as a Sacred Grounds winner in the Cool Congregations Challenge for their ...
People’s Church of Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, MI People’s Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Society, has set a goal for themselves to reach zero ...
St. John’s United Church of Christ
Lyons, IL St. John’s Church Council and their Green Facilities Team reduced their worship facilities carbon footprint by 20% or ...
Bethany Lutheran Church
Cromwell, CT Seeking to improve its environmental stewardship through meaningful and relevant action, Bethany Lutheran Church has reduced the carbon ...
Genesis of Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI Genesis of Ann Arbor house of worship is shared by Temple Beth Emeth and St. Clare's Episcopal ...
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 ...
Durham Community Church
Durham, NH Certified Cool Congregation, 20% carbon reduction Right next door to Maine is the Durham Community Church of the ...
Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church
Louisville, KY Certified Cool Congregation, 20% carbon reduction How many church members does it take to change a lightbulb? Quite ...
St. John Neumann Catholic Community
Reston, VA In response to the stewardship messages in the Pope’s recent encyclical, Laudato ‘Si, a team of parishioners formed ...
10% CO2 Reduction – Red Medallion
First Presbyterian Church
Conway, Arkansas First Presbyterian Church in Conway, Arkansas, is a Certified Cool Congregation at the 10% reduction level, having reduced ...
Bethany Christian Church
Lincoln, Nebraska Bethany Christian Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, is a Certified Cool Congregation at the 10% or above level for ...
Woodmont Christian Church
Nashville, TN Woodmont Christian Church, in Nashville, Tennessee is a certified Cool Congregation at the 10% reduction level, saving 67 ...
Hillside, a Baptist Fellowship
Hillside Church, a Baptist Fellowship 10% carbon reduction Hillside Church, a Baptist Fellowship, is committed to Creation Care by reducing ...
Covenant Christian Church keeps the covenant for the Earth
Urbandale, Iowa Covenant Christian Church is a certified Interfaith Power & Light Cool Congregation at the 10% level! Covenant is ...
St. Teresa of Avila Parish
San Francisco, California Motivated and emboldened by Pope Francis’ “Laudato Si” encyclical on care for our common home, St. Teresa ...
First Unitarian Church
Louisville, KY Certified Cool Congregation, 10% carbon reduction For the past ten years the First Unitarian Church of Louisville has ...
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 ...
