Growing a Green Church

Diverting funds from mission and ministry outreach to building upgrades makes for difficult conversations. But by 2018, St. Martin's had reduced its carbon footprint by about 60%, its annual natural gas bill by 50% and grid electricity bills by 75%, with overall energy costs reduced by nearly 20%. With the switch to an all-electric HVAC system and the 2021 installation of the last solar array on the roof of the Sunday school classroom building, St. Martin's achieved net-zero carbon. 

If you want to make your church property more sustainable, consider these ideas around energy efficiency, transportation accessibility and building use. Going green might be simpler than you think.

The Episcopal Church seeks to connect Episcopalians and others around gardening and growing food through its Good News Gardens movement. Landscaping changes at St. Mary's in Laguna Beach, California, have helped the parish not only limit its water usage but also reintegrate with the natural landscape and connect with the community.

A request from Irish bishops strives to increase awareness of church teaching on ecology and highlight the role of people of faith in protecting creation.

Demographic changes over decades have led to many congregations becoming older and smaller than they once were. That can leave a handful of people taking care of a large, old building in need of expensive upkeep and repairs. Choices made about whether to keep or sell, preserve or demolish buildings are one way churches can combat climate change. Maintaining these structures, though challenging, shows a commitment to preserving God's creation.

Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church in West Virginia installed an array of 60 solar panels with a scrappy financial model, hoping to lead by example and inspire other communities in Appalachia to transition to solar energy as well. It might be working.

Established to facilitate evangelization, Nyeri Hill Farm, owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri, has expanded its goals to focus heavily on forest restoration and environmental conservation.

Gemini Energy Solutions and Green The Church want African American churches to become clean energy hubs.

When a Catholic urban planner noticed D.C. church properties weren't living up to their sustainability potential, he helped start Laudato Trees, a collaborative program to address the climate needs of city and church.