Church Saves $268,000 By Going Green

The First Baptist Church in Springdale, Ark., which has about 6,000 in attendance on Sunday mornings, implemented an energy savings plan in the last year and managed to save $268,000. The plan involves simple, practical things like shutting off the lights, powering down computers at night and turning down the thermostat over night.

"We tell our [staff]: Hey, act like you're at home," says Ben Mayes, the church's executive leader of finance, explaining how simple the changes are. "I think biblically, you're called to be good stewards of what God blesses you with, and I think that's the underlying reason why you do it."

A few things we can learn:

• They partnered with a company called Energy Education. Churches partnering with things can be a huge win and a great show of what God calls us all to.
• They focused on two types of stewardship. This is an issue about the environment and the economy. This encourages people who care about each of these things. (Although, of course, people will still find a way to get upset.)
• They taught. They did this, but they let their members and other church know about it to spread the word that they can help too.
• They made sacrifices. The thermostat settings changed throughout the week (but not on Sunday), and people cut back. This helps make the goal personal and, in a small way, encourages people to live a life of sacrifice.

In the end it's easy money saved in a tight economy that can be used for something more important. And it communicates your church's priorities. Remembering to turn off the lights to do more missions--that's good marketing. (via Monday Morning Insight)

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