Energy Stewards Initiative

ENERGY STEWARDS INITIATIVE (ESI)

is a one- to two-year nationwide LRC program

for ELCA congregations and Lutheran Outdoor Ministry sites

Lighting Retrofit, St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Milwaukee WI

Insulation project, First Lutheran Church, Decorah, IA

TESTIMONIALS

ESI have helped us bring things into focus and to celebrate victories, large and small!
Connie Barclay, Energy Steward
First Lutheran Church, Decorah, IA

It is amazing what difference a number of small actions can make. We now qualify for Energy Star certification with a rating above 90%.

David Rhoads, Energy Steward
Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, Racine, WI

The webinars allow participants to learn from each other by providing for sharing of specific experiences and best practices that are relevant for other congregations.

Sharon Hardy, Energy Steward. University Lutheran, East Lansing, MI.

The ESI Program is designed to help churches and camps:

reduce energy use and costs

lower carbon footprints

save money for other expressions of mission
Participants:

track their energy and water use online
follow an action plan;
engage in bi-monthly webinars;
benefit from the wisdom of energy experts, program leaders and participating camps or congregations.

Each congregation or camp appoints an Energy Steward to be the point person to participate in the program and work with their property team.

Participating congregations and camps use an online tool, the Energy Stewards web platform, to monitor their energy use, plan next steps, record actions taken, communicate with other participants, and track progress.

This initiative is an online program carried out by Lutherans Restoring Creation in cooperation with Rapid Improvement Associates of Madison, WI.

2015-2016 Participants

CHURCHES

Ascension - Northfield, IL

Augustana Lutheran - Chicago, IL

Bethel - University City, MO

Emmaus Evangelical - Racine, WI

Faith Lutheran - Homewood, IL

First Lutheran - Decorah, IA

First Trinity - Washington, DC

Good Shepherd - Decorah, IA

Good Shepherd - Woodstock, GA

Good Shepherd-Pearl River, NY

Holy Family - Chicago, IL

House of Prayer - Hingham, MA

King of Glory - Loveland, CO

Our Saviour's-Arlington Heights,IL

Shepherd of the Valley - CO

St. Andrew - Racine, WI

St. John - Winter Park, FL

St. Matthew's - Wauwatosa, WI

St. Paul's - Edison, NJ

St. Peter's - North East, PA

St. Peter's - Stafford, VA

CAMPS

Agape, NC

Carol Joy-NE

Crossways Camping Ministries - WI

Ewalu Camp & Retreat Center - IA

Frederick, OH

LOMC, IL

Luther Point, WI

Lutheran Memorial

Lutherhill, TX

Mount Luther, PA

Mt. Cross Camp & Retreat - CA

Rainbow, CO

Riverside, IA

Shetek, MN

Wightman, CT

Need ELCA MIF low or no interest loan for energy projects? Click here

RESOURCES FOR CURRENT ESI PARTICIPANTS

Click here for ideas and materials to help you carry out the ESI Program at your church or camp.

EPA Energy Star Manager Endorses Energy Stewards Initiative

"The Energy Stewards Initiative (ESI), sponsored by Lutherans Caring for Creation, is one of the few energy stewardship programs in the country that actually facilitates and documents concrete achievements in saving energy, saving money, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

While there are many well-intended, but merely “feel good” faith-based energy efficiency pledges, campaigns, challenges, covenants, etc., only a few are really generating and verifying actual results. Further, ESI is on track to shepherd a good many congregations to earning national ENERGY STAR certification.

Therefore, I am pleased to call out and recognize the solid achievements being tracked by the Energy Stewards Initiative and will hold it up as an example for denominations and other faith-based groups who really want to make a difference in congregational cash-flow back to the ministry from energy costs and to preventing pollution that threatens human life and health."

Jerry Lawson, National Manager
ENERGY STAR for Congregations
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Warren Gaskill ESI Co-Director

bio

Peter Bakken ESI Co-Director

bio

Responses from a Survey of 2012-13 ESI Participants
See what congregations have found valuable in the ESI program.
Download the survey summary at the bottom of this page or click here.