Save Energy and Money
I know there are a lot of opinions regarding environmental issues in the church. Interestingly, much of the discussion that I have heard from friends has been fairly reflective of the various political perspectives they have. Though all of that would be good to discuss…I’ll save that for a future post.
In spite of the different points of view, I think there is at least one concept that most of us will probably agree with: We should manage all of the resources God has given us wisely.
Today, I want to highlight one very easy way that you can save energy and ultimately save a significant amount of money. Recently, Melissa and I have been replacing nearly all of the light bulbs in our house with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). They last almost 10 times longer and use 75% less electricity than traditional lights.
I installed a few CFLs a few years ago, but was not all that impressed with quality of the light, the price, and the size of the bulb. However, the technology, size, and purchase price of CFLs has dramatically improved over the last couple of years, and I now see them as a more than acceptable alternative in most applications. We’ve purchased most of our CFLs from Sam’s Club or Wal-Mart, but you can get them at pretty much any major hardware store.
The bulbs that we have replaced so far will save us $2160 in electricity and bulb replacement costs over their life. Additionally, because of reduced electricity consumption…we are reducing over 15,000lbs of CO2 being released into the air over the life of the bulbs.
I encourage all of you to do your own research on the various ways you can be better stewards of energy, the environment, and other resources that we are entrusted with. Terry Storch also has a post today that mentions a few other websites that you can visit to research more.
Regardless of your position on global warming and the other debates…I encourage you to take an easy step that will, at a minimum, save you (or your church/organization) money. If you are interested in learning more, or would like to join me in pledging to replace a certain number of bulbs, you can do so at the Energy Star website. I’d also love to hear if you have already replaced your light bulbs. If so, do you have any tips for the rest of our swerve readers on brands of bulbs or stores with good deals?
Visit 
Bobby…great post and thanks for the link. Thanks for leading and stretching us all in so many areas.
[...] UPDATE: Bobby has a great post over at Swerve on this topic as well. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
Let me give a hardy, old-school “amen!”
My wife and I started doing this a year ago. We are constantly thinking about things we can do to save energy. No matter what one’s political view is, one can’t deny the fact that there are benefits to thinking green.
Terry,
I wish I could claim to be a leader in this area, but I have not been. I’m working on changing that though. Stewardship is so much more than a capital campaign. We all should be leading stewardship by example.
I think this is a great idea. I am in the process of switching mine out as well. Wal-Mart has a 6 pack of 60 watt equivalent bulbs (13 watts each) for under $10.
60 watts (current standard)
13 watts (CFL standard)
you do the math.
Bobby- I am impressed and unable to comment because this is out of my league. I generally by the cheapest bulbs.. :-) I think that I am going to have to do some research! Any thoughts on global warming? (grin) Good Post!
[...] Bobby G. talks about the environment! [...]
I’m happy you brought this up Bobby! The environment is definitely one of my burdens. Adrian and I switched out our light bulbs, we bought them on sale at Target. Other small changes we implemented are using reusable grocery bags, nontoxic cleaners and microfiber cloths instead of paper towels. There’s a bunch more but I won’t go on and on here :) Another thing we could do to better care for the planet is recycle all the water bottles, pop cans and paper we throw out at the LC campuses. Not sure if this happens at the other ones but it’s something I’d like to start doing at ours.
Bobby, Thanks you!
This is great and it’s good for now - even buys us some time to figure out how to handle their disposal when they finish their lighting lives ! They contain mercury so they can’t be thrown away in the normal fashion.
Save the energy and think of a solution to disposing of them - priceless.
My wife and I have been replacing them as our old ones are burning out. We have a few lights in the house that won’t work with CFL bulbs (Fluorescent bulbs are an inductive load rather than a resistive one, and as such don’t work with normal solid-state dimmers), and a few compact halogens. For those bulbs, we’re taking a very serious look at some of the LED options out there - they are even more efficient than the CFLs and last 5-6 times longer. We figured that if we replaced our 10 halogen track light bulbs in the kitchen with a comparable LED bulb, our total cost (bulbs and electricity) over the lifetime of the LED bulbs would be on the order of $160. Compare that to the $5000 or more we’d spend on the halogens (500W, replacing every 2 years or less).
LEDs also don’t have the mercury issues that happen with CFLs. (According to EPA regs, to contain the amount of mercury in a single 13W CFL bulb requires 16,000 cubic yards of soil) - on the other hand, the amount of mercury that doesn’t get pumped into the air by a coal-fired power plant because you’re using 75% less electricity is more than what is contained in the bulb.
I started doing this a few years ago at the church. I have to be honest it wasn’t for environmental issues though. Because of the 15′ ceilings I was getting sick of climbing up a ladder and changing the bulbs. I highly recommend them.
Thanks Bobby! This is a really good step in the direction that lots of us are thinking…but not yet doing.
mark
Dave and Ian,
You both bring up a fact that is good for everyone to know…the lamps do contain a small amount of mercury vapor. There are actually some ways to recycle the lamps at the end of their life (I anticipate there will be many more options over the next few years too…you can find out more at http://www.nema.org/lamprecycle/recyclers.html
LED lamps are also a great alternative, but still very pricey. I imagine that by the time these CFLs are at the end of their life, we will have several economical options including LED.
As a builder who specializes in technology, this is something that I pay very close attention to. My view on energy efficiency and environmental preservation stem from a stewardship commitment, rather than a (highly) political perspective. I think it’s ironic that CFLs are a helpful approach to preserving the macro-environment, but can pose a major danger in the micro-environment (your home).
By law, if a CFL breaks in your home, you MUST document this in your disclosure form when you sell the home. To properly remediate the danger posed by exposure to mercury due to the bulb’s breakage, you’re looking at $1,000-3,000 for an exposed room.
For us, with a small child at home, we’re sticking with LED, low-wattage halogens, and low-voltage solutions. I prefer a simple broom versus bio-suits when a bulb breaks.
Bobby is correct, LED will eventually prevail as the most energy-efficient form of lighting for the near future. While LED is still more expensive than CFL, LEDs consume a fraction of what even CFLs consume, and last tremendously longer, thus making the up-front investment worth it.
CFL will be the “8-track” of lighting.
Jeff,
Do you have any good vendors to recommend for LED lights?
Thanks to the many voices that brought up CFL’s mercury issue. By and large the public is unaware. There is a small note on the bulb packaging that says they have to be disposed of in accordance with state and federal law, but there really is no mention of the danger posed by the mercury in CFLs.
Just another reminder that the “cost” of something is much more than what we pay for the item and how much we save!
What I love about CFLs is that they have us thinking about new, better, more efficient ways to light our homes. They have also proven that there is a market out there for different kinds of lightbulbs that are more ecco-friendly. I think this is true in other markets as well. We will pay a little more for something up front if it saves money and the environment in the long-run.
Live Shalom,
mdd
I’ve probably bought over 25 sample bulbs from different vendors and manufacturers for testing, as there’s currently tremendous variation in quality of light you can get out of different LEDs. The best bulbs (color and luminance) I’ve found are from Lumia.
http://www.lumiabulbs.com/index.html
My favorites are the Prolight 3×1 (3 diodes @ 1w each). Based on my testing, these outperformed any other LED-based bulbs I could find, and in my opinion, had better temperature (color), and equal perceived luminance of a 60w clear, incandescent bulb. They also have a 3×3 version for areas needing greater output.
For accent and decorative/creative lighting, I order from SuperBrightLEDs.com
http://www.superbrightleds.com/led_prods.htm
Some of their stuff is pretty cheap (low quality) for real geeky-use, but they have some nicer products, too, which I’ve used heavily in my furnished model. (You can see pics of the LED accent lighting at http://www.jeffclickhomes.com/gallery/swf///84 )
Scott Williams - Since you asked(grin); The funniest thing about global warming is the debate over who started it this time, God or Man? The logic being, if God started it, then we are either being rebellious or wasting our time trying to do anything about it. If Man started it then God doesn’t exist. What? I’m just taking the two sides to their fast track conclusion (grin). Nobody says the same thing about Global dimming. We’re well aware that man caused global dimming and that man decreased it by radically decreasing particle emission in pollution. We’re also aware that doing this possibly caused global warming to increase. That is, if we accept that global warming is being caused by man. Oh, you didn’t know about global dimming? Never mind. (grin). Ask me sometime and I’ll tell you the history of the (grin).
Jeff Click - I think the negatives of CFL’s are far outweighed by the positives at this time. Besides, we used 8-track tape for quite awhile before switching to cassettes. IMHO, as always.(grin)
Jeff I have seen some of your houses… great job…
I was a carpenter (high end cabinetry) before becoming an appraiser…
You build beautiful homes..
Easy there, Jimmy. What’s this “we” business? ;)
Jeff Click - eh, respect yer elders! And now I feel old.(grin)
Bobby, for your buildings there is actually reflective lighting that you can use and it saves about 40% on electric bills. I use to be a process improvement consultant. I had to cut expenses to increase revenue without an increase in income. I have a contact name still if you guys want to check it out. (I am sure you guys can see my email address - just email me.)
[...] But it’s hard to get that focused and not wind up staring at the 800lb. gorilla in the “room”. Fortunately, this time I can start with Terry Storch’s blog post; Environmental Awareness = Action. OK, he works for LifeChurch.tv, so I still wind up staring at gorilla fur. Oh well. There’s a follow-up to Terry’s post in LifeChurch.tv’s Swerve blog. See Save Energy and Money. There appears to be a very small amount of mercury in a CFL lightbulb. But even a small amount of poison calls for caution. The best advice on CFL breakage I’ve found is; put a drop cloth on the floor when installing a CFL lightbulb so that any accidental breakage can be easily cleaned up. The other main concern is the increased risk of breakage in households with children. Applying common sense prevention methods should allow for some CFL replacement options even in this case. Don’t put CFL’s in floor or table lamps. Only put them in light sockets out of the path of children. Incorporate CFL safety into other home safety lessons. This site contains some interesting information on CFL caution; Urban Legends Reference Pages, the Light Fingered article. [...]
Thanks Bobby, I remember the first Earth Day. The church was on Mars with it and still is overall.
Our relatively small auditorium at Grace Community cranks over 20,000 watts when in use on lighting alone. We are scheming ways to reduce that. LED sources were helpful
Bobby,
Being in the energy efficiency business for 25 years , I think I’ve seen it all, good and bad. Lighting is a great, great way to start out but the savings from more energy intensive equipment is absolutely incredible in this day and age.
There are many, many wonderful technologies out there that can apply directly to LC. We just need a little planning on the front end. For instance, Edmond and most OKC campuses are ripe for geothermal energy applications - for heating and cooling. In fact, geothermal heat pumps were perfected at OSU.
Second, several new forms of insulation are available for metal buildings which cut energy costs significantly. Windows are also a huge factor - as well as energy efficient blade servers and PC’s.
I agree with other posters - LED’s are the best, and thier proces willcome down soon, Hopefully they can be soon be used on a large scale for stage/show lighting.
The beauty of these technolgies is that they can be installed at the end of the useful like of the existing equipment. The utiltites in Florida, NY, and Tx all have programs and provide rebates to commercial customers for the installation of this efficient equipment. (FW campus = compact fluorescents = $) Lighting controls are dirt cheap and can save tons of $’s in churches - bathrooms., storage areas, even class rooms.
But, there is more to energy efficiency than bulbs and equipment. There are issues with power quality and the penalties charged by the utrilities for poor power factor - this can be easily fixed and is ALWAYS cost effective. You also have to understand utiltiy rates and how they are structured. NY and Tx are deregulted, Tx more than NY, but the choice of energy supplier can absolutley kill your cash flow - or save it.
Well, I have hijacked this thread - and I apologize to all.
It’s a passion thing I guess.
Blessings and save those kW,
Tony
This issue is another case of the “Oklahomacentric” thinking we need to avoid at LC (and any church wishing to expand outside their city). When I lived in Vermont, their entire mindset about the environment is so different from here. Recycling is something people sort of think of as an after-thought here. Landfill space is so plentiful and out of sight. And no one’s going to come chop down OUR scrubby trees for paper. In Vermont (and many other regions of the country), environmental protection is a front-page issue. They wouldn’t even let our much-admired WalMart in because they wanted to build on a wetland. (They forced them into empty retail space FYI.) This is just another application of Paul’s “all things to all people” concept.
I just ran into this site this morning, according to the site it can help you stop receiving those unwanted mail order catalogs.
http://www.catalogchoice.org/
Here is a link to the EPA’s site about broken CFL bulbs and how to clean up after them:
http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm#flourescent
And their CFL FAQs:
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf
[...] Bobby Gruenewald responding to Terry’s post [...]
I am curious as to what other churches are doing in the realm of environmental stewardship. We recycle cans and bottles, cardboard and paper. And by we, I mostly mean I. There is limited knowledge and as a result support here in Arkansas as in Oklahoma.
God has placed a burden on my heart to care about the environment but it seams that it is not a popular view point among Christians. Mostly due to environmental issues being on the opposite political side of what Christians are “suppose” to support and vote for. I guess I am not the first Christian that God has given a passion to that even the Christians don’t support.
I just ordered new letterhead and envelopes made out of recycled paper. But we still use cheap Styrofoam cups for coffee on Sundays. Styrofoam cups are $12 for 1000 at Sams verse $12 for 100 paper ones.
I don’t think that churches realize the potential growth that could happen in the Kingdom if the church cared about the environment. When we care about what non-Christians care about that is when they will take notice of us. The time will come.
The EPA put together a guide for Churches to help with “putting energy into stewardship” I bet it is the first time the government ever used the “Christian” word stewardship. Check it out.http://www.energystar.gov/ia/business/small_business/congregations.pdf
also, check out the book “Saving Gods Green Earth” http://www.savinggodsgreenearth.com/
Looks like I have more questions than answers.
Here are some things that I think a lot of churches could do:
programmable thermostats
recycle
turn off lights
turn off computers at night
buy recycled products
Research building Green as a part of the building process
donate or loan old curriculum to other churches to use
green shopping bags with churches logo on them
the biggest thing is to encourage your congregation to do these things. the multiplication of a Pastors influence is untaped in this area.
What are some other ideas?
“we are reducing over 15,000lbs of CO2 being released into the air over the life of the bulbs.”
And there is was, CO2…
Just think… That’s 15,000lbs of CO2 that the farmers and ranchers won’t get to use in their crops absorbing it and turning into energy(photosynthesis) for better crop yields. In turn making more food for everyone. From grains to meats. Additionally phytoplankton photosynthesis will lose that net gain and phytoplankton are responsible for much of the oxygen present in the Earth’s atmosphere, up to 90%.
I’m with you on the saving money and being a good steward of what God has blessed us with, but what are the repercussions on a micro, macro, and systems scale of our good intended actions of trying to cut all CO2 from the world.
On a lighter note… According to a study by the United States Department of Agriculture, an average person’s respiration generates approximately 900 grams of carbon dioxide per day. Which is 13,095,458,376 lbs of CO2 per day world wide. Everyone hold your breath!
If you buy the Cool White CFLs, it will be a much whiter, brighter light than the Soft White ones.
And today I found one that could be used with a dimmer switch at Wal-Mart.
I wish LC would adapt more recycle friendly programs. How many bulletins are wasted per campus each week? How many Krispy Kreme donut boxes? Coffee Cups, cans, paper towels, etc? Also, the kids use alot of the hand sanitizer (the kind with alcohol and is not biodegradable and can be toxic for the kids). We should use an environmentally safe one such as CleanWell (http://www.cleanwelltoday.com/). I’m willing to wager that tons of trash can be recycled from each LC campus each weekend. Not to mention we could take advantage of geo-thermal heating, LED lighting, grey water systems (especially for the AZ campus) and other sustainable building practices for LC and help set a standard in being good stewards of God’s gift to us.
Thank you for the great post! It is our responsibility as Christians to take care of God’s creation.
Do you know if LifeChurch.tv has a Creation Care, Green, or Environmental ministry?