Energy forum designed to educate church leaders

BEAUMONT—Church leaders in Southeast Texas learned how congregations can save electricity and money in the state's changing utility environment during the recent House of Worship Energy Management Forum.

The forum, sponsored by the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission and Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, was designed to educate churches on how energy is priced and offer tools to increase energy efficiency.

Since utilities often are the second-largest expense in a church's budget, the CLC works to inform congregations about practical steps to cut utility costs. As costs decrease, funds can be utilized in ministry opportunities and in the community.

"It is important to keep the utility costs in churches as low as possible, so the largest portion of church budgets can be used for ministry," CLC Director Suzii Paynter said. "Utility costs can rob ministry."

Each community is unique in terms of rates and charges for electricity.

Beaumont-area participants at the forum received practical tips, tools and resources about how to use their facilities in more energy-efficient ways.

For example, experts told church leaders to cycle when equipment is turned on. Don't turn everything on at once, properly program thermostats to cool/heat facilities to match church programs, and unplug all appliances and computers not in use, they learned.

The forum answered questions such as how electricity is priced, and participants learned no-cost ways churches can cut energy costs and improve energy efficiency.

Texas churches experience high utility costs because they often are classified as commercial customers.

Pricing structures are based on two components—peak demand usage, which is the highest point of when energy is consumed during a measured time period, and kilowatt hours, which is how much energy is being used over the course of a billing period. Churches need to mitigate both their peak-demand usage and their kilowatt-hour usage as they look to reduce costs. 

The CLC is addressing the energy issue from two directions. In Austin, the commission works on the policy and regulatory sides of the issue. For example, the CLC worked with the legislature to pass a low-interest loan program for churches.

The commission also works to provide pastors information that quickly and efficiently can improve how energy is being used in ways that cost no money, as well as resources to undertake capital projects that make sense for the congregation.

Speakers at the forum included Paynter; Dub Taylor, director of the State Energy Conservation Office; Kelley Carson from Entergy Texas; and Mike Martinez, program consultant for CLEAResult.

 For more information about how a church can save money on its energy bills, contact the CLC at (888) 244-9400.