The Covenant of Sustainability
What is The Covenant of Sustainability?
The Covenant is a non-binding, voluntary agreement
to help the State of New Jersey reach its greenhouse gas reduction goal
as set forth in its Greenhouse Gas Action Plan. A congregation can adopt
the Covenant by passing a simple resolution at its governing board meeting.
By signing the Covenant, a congregation makes a declaration of commitment
to work as a community toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions in support
of New Jersey's goal.
GreenFaith encourages faith-based institutions to adopt
the Covenant of Sustainability and help New Jersey fight global warming.
Faith-based institutions meet the Covenant's goal of reduced emissions
either through energy conservation, through the use of renewable energy,
or both.
Congregations that sign the Covenant receive a certificate
signed by a representative of the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection and information from GreenFaith on measuring and reducing
greenhouse gas emissions.
How will adopting the Covenant of Sustainability
benefit my congregations?
Adopting the Covenant of Sustainability benefits congregations
in several ways:
- Financially, congregations benefit through reduced
energy costs. These savings can be directed into other programs.
- The Covenant also becomes a vehicle through which
congregations express their belief in the importance of providing
stewardship for the environment. Through their actions they become
models for congregations and the community.
What other steps can my house of worship take to
protect the environment and fight global warming?
- Schedule a time for GreenFaith staff to speak to
your congregation about spiritual values and traditions that reinforce
our shared commitment to protect the environment.
- Set up a Green Team/Environmental Committee
within your congregation to identify environmental actions your congregation
can take. Ask GreenFaith staff to visit you and assist you in designing
an environmental program your congregation can implement.
- Schedule an energy audit for your congregation
to identify ways for your congregation to conserve energy. The cost
of an audit is easily paid off in one-two years and the savings continues
for the lifetime of your building. For more information on energy
audits, visit www.epa.gov/smallbiz/congregations,
or call 1.800.STAR.YES.
- Encourage your youth, teen or adult groups to sell
water conservation kits as fundraisers. Surprisingly, the process
by which water is purified and delivered to our homes is energy-intensive.
By conserving water, a house of worship or individual is also conserving
energy.
- Implement suggestions from the Energy Star Congregations
Stewardship Action List for NJ. These suggestions can help your
congregations reduces its energy costs and reduce greenhouse emissions.
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