Houses of worship now can earn Energy Star status, with the Environmental Protection Agency beginning to offer a portfolio manager so churches can measure their carbon footprint.
Churches and other worship facilities use in excess of $3 billion in energy annually, EPA estimates.
By improving energy savings at the 370,000 U.S. houses of worship by just 10 percent each, a total of 2 billion kilowatt hours could be saved each year, according to EPA.
Doing so would prevent about a million tons of emissions and save $315 million annually. Here is the EPA's congregations page.
More and more churches are reaching for the light, adding solar to their facilities.
For instance, Christ Congregation in Princeton, N.J., added solar to provide up to 80 percent of the building's needs.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church in Reno, Nev., uses solar panels, as well, reports KOLOTV.com.
