As mentioned throughout departmental documents and publications, Property and Assets seeks practical ways to apply our mission,“securing our future and preserving our patrimony.” Our interest in energy conservation flows directly from the pursuit of this goal. Of course, guidance from Rome helps us connect the dots. Laudato Si, Pope Francis’s Environmental Encyclical, tells us to administer and maintain our facilities in a way that demonstrates our commitment to energy and water efficiency.
Following Laudato Si, translated “Praise be to you,” presents a moral imperative coupled with practical results. Certainly, we have a duty to preserve resources for future generations; we also have a commitment to fiscally responsibility. The perfect intersection of these concepts occurs when parishes reduce energy consumption and use new forms of energy having lower impact on the environment. Operational efficiency improves, translating into money saved.
Some good practices to reduce energy consumption:
- PVC windows with triple low e film
- Foam and batt wall insulation to 6”
- Foam ceiling insulation
- New HVAC and lighting control system
- Occupancy control sensors
- LED lighting throughout
- Dyson hand dryers
Some benefits of these measures:
- Enables money saved to be redirected towards underfunded priorities
- Extends useful lifespan of facility and equipment
- Increases asset value of property
- Improves overall comfort, functionality and appearance of facilities
- Engages the support of clergy and parishioners, especially youth groups; key action step for Laudato Si.
In our Resources section, start with some energy conservation guidelines and then dig deeper into the process with Conservation and Sustainability Interfaith Partnership (CSIP). For inspiration on Pope Francis’s Environmental Encyclical, see Acting on Laudato Si. Check out these websites to learn more about benefiting from energy conservation initiatives:
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
US Energy Information Administration
