Dear Kim - Celebrate good news with Interfaith Power & Light by helping us honor some of the greenest congregations in the nation. The Cool Congregations Challenge winners once again prove that America's faith communities lead the way as changemakers! We hope you are as inspired by these religious communities transforming their faith into healthy and sustainable actions as we are.
Every year we invite people of faith across the country to tell us what they're doing in response to climate change by entering the Cool Congregations Challenge. In 2023 we received twice as many applications as the previous year! Together these congregations are reducing carbon emissions by 1300 tons annually. IPL acknowledges the excellent work of all applicants with a listing on our "Be the Change" webpage. Click “Be the Change” on our winners' page to see the complete list of congregations that applied. Thanks to a generous donor, we were able to award the top winners in each category with $1,000 and also award 18 runner-ups with $500 each! There were so many inspiring stories that made the decision difficult. We're excited to announce our winners! Click here to read about the winners. Our winners represent congregations of many different faith traditions that have come together around one common goal—to respond to climate change by reducing their carbon footprint.
These six congregations are casting a vision for the kind of world in which they want to live, and then carrying out that vision with practical actions that make a real difference in creating lasting solutions to climate change. Whether a small or large congregation, rural or urban, these projects demonstrate that when we work together, we can create positive change, save energy and money, and live out our calling to care for Creation.
Challenge winners and runners-up have been awarded in six categories - planning, energy efficiency, renewable energy, grounds, electric vehicles, and community inspiration. Due to the difficulties of making improvements during Covid, IPL will again expand the project eligibility window for next year’s Challenge to include projects completed in 2021, 2022, and 2023. If your congregation qualifies, plan ahead to apply!
Join me in congratulating these congregations for their work, and their inspiration to others in their communities. Blessings,  Rev. Susan Hendershot President
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