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You are here: Home / Take the Cool Congregations Challenge / 2019 Cool Congregations Challenge Winners

2019 Cool Congregations Challenge Winners

2019 COOL CONGREGATIONS WINNERS

Congratulations to the 2019 Cool Congregations Challenge Winners and Runners Up! You have truly gone the extra mile and are leading the way to a brighter future for us all!

Thanks to our expert panel of judges this year! By category they are:  Community Inspiration: Ashaki Scott, IPL National Office Manager and Program Assistant and Elena Bettis, Communications Director from Faith in Place, IPL’s affiliate in Illinois. Energy Saver: Ryan Snow, Director of Education at the U.S. Green Building Council and Hannah Bastian, Research Analyst from The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Renewable Role Model: Jerry Bernstein, Special Projects Coordinator. Sacred Grounds: Rev. Paul Uzel, Presbyterian Minister and Chair of the Iowa IPL Chapter, “Dubuque Interfaith Green Coalition” and Rev. Derrick Elliot, Pastor of Desert Heritage United Church of Christ, Mesa, Arizona. Cool Planner: Jerry Lawson, National Manager of the EPA’s Energy Star for Congregations program and Mikelann Scerbo, Senior Associate, Research at the Alliance for Saving Energy.

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

Sacred Ground - Aldersgate Gardens and Nature Based Playground

2019 Sacred Ground – Aldersgate Gardens and Nature Based Playground

2019 Renewable Role Model - Solar for the Next Generation

2019 Renewable Role Model – Solar for the Next Generation

New bespoke LED sanctuary lighting

2019 Energy Saver – Fulfilling the Paris Pledge with Persistence

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

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

2019 Cool Congregations Runners Up

2019 Runners Up

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