[SustainableTompkins] Reduce Global Warming Emissions

[Cnielsen56 at aol.com]

For  Immediate Release 
Tuesday,  August 28, 2007 
Contact:  Edward P. Bennett at 518-399-7733 
Religious  Leaders Launch Online Store to Reduce Global Warming Emissions 
Energy Efficiency Products Save  Congregants Money  
Ballston  Lake, New York, August 27, 2007 – New York Interfaith Power and 
Light (NYIPL)  today announced the launch of “ShopIPL.org,” an online store 
designed to  mobilize faith communities and their members nationwide to reduce 
global warming  emissions, air pollution and energy costs. Collaborating with 22 
other IPL  organizations under a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA)  to develop and launch this website, New York IPL is calling on 
people of faith  to lead the way to protect and preserve God’s  creation. 
“People of faith throughout New York recognize the urgent need to reduce  
global warming emissions, yet until now they were at a loss for solutions,” said  
Edward Bennett, President of NYIPL.  “ShopIPL provides affordable means for 
individuals, families and  congregations to take action, clean the air and save 
money at the same  time.” 
On ShopIPL, (_www.shopipl.org_ (http://www.shopipl.org/) ) 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 
congregational ministries such as youth groups  may sell the energy efficient 
products for fundraisers. Individuals not  affiliated with a religious 
organization may purchase products at retail prices  from the website. 
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 switch plate occupancy sensors that turn lights on and off 
as  people enter and exit rooms 
·        Install Energy Star qualified exit signs 
·        Use fans instead of air conditioning 
·        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   
Congregations should also contact New York Energy Research and  Development 
Authority or their utilities to find out about rebate and tax  incentive 
programs that may offset some of the up front costs associated with  making their 
sanctuaries, offices and other buildings more energy efficient.   
“Global warming is a serious  and urgent moral issue for people of faith to 
address,” said the Rev. Sally G.  Bingham, founder of Interfaith Power & Light. 
 “Nothing and no one will escape its  effects - not rich or poor, human or 
nonhuman, food or  habitat.  People of all religious traditions have a 
responsibility to  show leadership by example.  If we do others will  follow.” 
Edward Bennett said “New York’s 11,000 Houses of Worship have a  tremendous 
potential to make a real difference.  When everyone gets involved we can  
achieve the size and speed of emissions reductions we need to avert the worst  
global warming impacts. ShopIPL.org makes it affordable and convenient for  
families and congregations to take action,” said Edward  Bennett 
ShopIPL is a response to public demand for solutions resulting from the  IPL 
Spotlight on Global Warming” campaign in Fall 2006 when over 4,000  
congregations of all denominations across the country participated in the  unprecedented 
inter-religious screening and discussion of educational films  about global 
warming, featuring Paramount’s An Inconvenient Truth, HBO’s Too Hot Not to 
Handle and the  independent documentary Lighten Up.  Working collaboratively 
under an EPA  grant of $450,000, 10 state IPL organizations developed the website 
and plan to  market it to faith-based organizations nationwide. 
David Gahl, Air & Energy Program Director for Environmental Advocates  of New 
York notes that “encouraging the use of energy efficient products should  
result in decreased local and statewide electricity demand, and protect New  
Yorkers from the harmful effects of air pollution. These harmful effects include  
respiratory problems for people suffering with asthma, increased levels of  
mercury contamination, destruction of our forest ecosystems by acid rain, and  
wide ranging negative effects associated with climate  change.” 
Interfaith Power & Light is a nationwide multi-faith movement to  engage 
religious communities in the urgency to address global warming.  IPL has 4,000  
participating congregations  across the country.  Products on  ShopIPL.org are 
made available through the consumer division of Energy  Federation 
Incorporated, a nonprofit organization that is one of the leading residential distributors 
of energy  efficiency products in the United States.  

Visit _ShopIPL.org_ (http://www.energyfederation.org/ipl/default.php)  and 
_www.nyipl.org_ (http://www.nyipl.org/)  to find out more about on global  
warming, its impacts, and what you can do. 

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