We're used to everything being bigger in Texas, but today TXIPL salutes our colleagues at Illinois IPL and the faith communities they work with for winning our friendly competition to see which state could generate the most sales on ShopIPL during our first six months of operation. Illinois IPL and their parent organization Faith in Place generated double TXIPL's sales on IPL's energy efficiency webstore, and they celebrated today by donating 500 CFLs to a congregational outreach ministry to be distributed to low-income seniors.
TXIPL members, don't let this early upset discourage you! Visit ShopIPL in 2008 for great deals on energy efficient products that will help reduce air pollution and global warming and reduce your electric bills.
Here's Illinois IPL's press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 31, 2007
CONTACTS: Rev. Clare Butterfield, Faith in Place
312-733-4640 (w) 773-395-1991 (c)
Rev. Laura Truax, LaSalle Street Church
312-573-8800 (w)
Lt. Governor Pat Quinn
312-401-7351(cel for Jonathon Zirkle)
Illinois Religious Congregations Beat Texas Congregations
In National Competition to Sell Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
Local Church Helps Win Competition and Receives 500
Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs for Low-Income Families
CHICAGO, IL – Faith in Place announced today that Illinois religious congregations beat Texas congregations in a national competition to sell energy efficient light bulbs to parishioners. Faith in Place donated 500 CFLs to LaSalle Street Church for helping win the competition.
On Thursday, January 3 at 10:30 a.m., Lt. Governor Pat Quinn will help distribute the free bulbs to low-income seniors at the LaSalle Street Church Senior Center. The media are invited. The center is located at 1111 N. Wells St.
“Faith in Place called on people of faith to lead the way to protect and preserve God’s creation. And LaSalle Street Church responded,” said the Reverend Clare Butterfield, director of Faith in Place. “We are delighted to present these light bulbs to them to distribute to the low-income seniors and families they serve.”
“I commend Faith in Place, LaSalle Street Church and congregations throughout Illinois for taking steps to protect the environment,” said Lt. Governor Pat Quinn.
Faith in Place organized the national competition through “ShopIPL.org,” an online store designed to mobilize faith communities and their members nationwide to reduce global warming emissions, air pollution and energy costs. Faith in Place, a not-for-profit and member of the national Interfaith Power & Light, has helped more than 300 Illinois congregations adopt better environmental practices.
The four month competition resulted in sales of more than $4,200 in light bulbs and water conservation tools in the two states ($2,861 in Illinois versus $1,364 in Texas). LaSalle Street Church alone sold over $1,300 through a congregation-wide sale.
“Global warming is harming God’s creation: first the poor of the world and eventually all of us and all life,” said the Reverend Laura Truax, senior pastor at LaSalle Street Church. “We wanted to do our part at LaSalle Street Church.”
On ShopIPL, congregations may buy energy efficiency products proven to reduce emissions and energy bills such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, rechargeable batteries, water heater timers, motion sensors, weatherization products and more at discount prices. Congregation members may order products for personal and business use and youth groups may sell the energy efficient products for fundraisers.
The EPA reports that if more than 300,000 places of worship across the United States reduced energy usage by 10 percent, they would save nearly $200 million. Cutting energy use by just 10 percent would also prevent more than 2 million tons of greenhouse gas (global warming) emissions -- the equivalent of removing 400,000 cars from the road. Some simple, inexpensive ways to achieve a 10 percent reduction in energy use can be found on ShopIPL.org
∑ Replace incandescent light bulbs with Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent lights
∑ Install occupancy sensors that turn lights on and off as people enter and exit rooms
∑ Install Energy Star qualified exit signs
∑ Use fans
∑ Seal air leaks with caulk and weather stripping
∑ Fix toilet leaks
∑ Use water-saving faucets, showerheads and toilets
∑ Replace old or broken appliances with Energy Star products
“Global warming causes floods, draughts and diseases that harm people, and poor people the most,” said the Reverend Clare Butterfield. “If we love our neighbors, we need to conserve energy and switch to clean energy whenever we can.”
Faith in Place collaborated with 25 Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) organizations nationwide under a $450,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop and launch the SHOP IPL website.
Faith in Place gives religious people the tools to become good stewards of the earth. Since 1999, Faith in Place has partnered with more than 300 congregations in Illinois - Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Zoroastrian, Baha’i and Unitarian. They helped the first church in Chicago go solar, fifteen congregations purchase wind energy, and dozens more install energy saving devices.
Faith in Place is a member of Interfaith Power & Light, a nationwide movement to engage people of faith in the urgency to address global warming.
LaSalle Street Church serves the Near North Community and is located in close proximity to the former Cabrini-Green Homes. They manage extensive full-time Christian ministries to serve the poor, including a weekly meal, senior services, and Family Support Teams. It is a non-denominational church.
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