Welcome to Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light

Information presented at the
Fighting Climate Change Caused by Power Plants event
on June 2, 2013 is available here.

CARES
Congregations Acting to Renew Earth’s Sustainability

A Project for Faith Communities in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville

The more you save on your energy bills at home,
the more your house of worship earns for energy upgrades.

For energy saving actions you take at home, CARES donates to your house of worship:

$50 for each free Mass Save home energy assessment.
$100 for each Solar Hot Water system installed - and you get a matching $100 discount.
$300 for each Solar Electric system installed - and you get a matching $300 discount.
Your house of worship can earn thousands of dollars for important energy upgrades.

CARES will:

Pinpoint the best ways your house of worship can SAVE MONEY and LOWER ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT;
Show your congregation how to access programs that will pay for up to 70% of energy upgrades;
Help your congregation raise funds to cover the rest;
Assist lower income congregants to get no-cost weatherization services and home heating fuel assistance - click here for more information;
Teach congregants energy savings skills they can use at home;
Train your congregation on how to form a Creation-Care Team or mobilize your community.

To become a congregation that CARES contact: Vince Maraventano, Executive Director of MIP&L at vince@MIPandL.org or 617-244-0755.

For more information and frequently asked questions (FAQs) please click here.

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Houses of worship leave a notable environmental imprint.

Houses of Worship

Per capita, per hour of use, they're often among the biggest wasters of energy, and the United States has more houses of worship than any other country!

Many congregations recognize the moral imperative for stewardship, but don't always stand on the moral "high ground" when it comes to actual energy usage. We need to become better stewards and, in the process, encourage and inspire our congregants to do better at home, school, and work.

Membership in MIP&L offers a concrete way to put faith into action. Together, we will work toward environmental justice and care of creation. We will be a powerful religious response to global warming and environmental degradation!

If we don't, who will?

SUCCESS STORIES

Boston Synagogue All Steamed Up?

Boston Synagogue was all steamed up, not just about climate change but especially about its cost (in $s and environmental impact) for using steam to heat its building. Boston Synagogue (also known as Charles River Park Synagogue) is a small, lay-led synagogue located in the heart of the Old West End near Massachusetts General Hospital. The building was constructed in 1971. It is a single-story structure, with a dramatic pitched "skylight" roof over the Sanctuary.

The result? During 2009 Boston Synagogue reduced their carbon dioxide emissions by 70%, from over 200,000 lbs to just over 80,000 lbs. Their annual energy costs decreased by 57% during this period, to about $6,800 as compared to about $15,750. Also, their annual repair and maintenance bills dropped significantly. As a result,the estimated payback time on their capital investment is approximately 5 years.

Read the full and very detailed case study by clicking here (PDF).

SUPPORT MIP&L

Your support helps more faith communities take action to fight climate change

To donate, click on the button and you will be directed to the donation page at PayPal

JOIN MIP&L

Click here to learn how your congregation can join more than 200 other Massachusetts faith communities in pledging to protect creation.

Click here for our current newsletter

Click here for past newsletters

SEARCH MIP&L

EES of the month

Low Income Weatherization EES

Click here to download the EES brief.

Find MIP&L on Facebook!

We've just started a Facebook group and we encourage you to join us. Click here or on the logo to access our group page.

Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light is a non-profit organization that provides a faith based response to climate change by promoting energy efficiency, environmental justice, green job training, and policies that will lead to a sustainable future.