Whether large or small, urban, rural, or suburban, most congregations use energy for lighting, heating, or cooling in order to conduct the variety of program ministries and worship events that are an integral part of church mission. Almost every congregation across the country is powered and heated at least in part by coal, oil, or natural gas. The fossil fuels used by congregations have been rising in price and impacting church budgets. Their use also adversely effects human and environmental health.

Burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas to power places of worship is increasingly costly to congregational finances, congregants' health, and God's creation. By utilizing energy efficiency and clean energy technologies, congregations can cut utility costs by 25-30 percent, saving $8,000 to $17,000 per year. This shift can make significant contributions to a cleaner environment. If each of the nation's congregation buildings cut its energy use and costs 25 percent, they would save nearly $500 million to spend on other priorities while preventing more than five million tons of carbon emissions.

This report addresses:
• The costs and savings by state for congregations that invest in clean energy and energy efficiency
• Ways that judicatories can pool resources to invest in clean energy and encourage energy efficiency
• The Christian call and moral obligation to protect God's creation and address global warming and pollution through proper energy stewardship
• Resources needed to take the next steps toward saving money to spend on church mission while caring for creation.