Hindu American Seva Communities (HASC) & U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR®: Helping Temples Save Money by Becoming More Energy Efficient ®

ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency.

Our Inspiration

The Dallas Fort Worth Hindu Temple

Dharmic* traditions teach stewardship of natural resources which support life on Earth. We take inspiration from the great Vedic Dharma teachings that are highlighted in this profound verse from the Ishopanishad 1.1: The Almighty is Omnipresent in the universe, including planet earth (in the oceans, rivers, forests, mountains, air, water, atmosphere, and space). Take only what you need from the bounties of planet earth; sacrifice greed so that every one's needs are also met; do not plunder, do not hoard. Whose property is it after all? It all belongs to God. (Dharmic generally refers to Buddhist, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs)

The Problem •

In 2011, the electricity sector was the largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for about 33% of the U.S. total. GHG emissions from electricity have increased by about 18% since 1990 as electricity demand has grown and fossil fuels that produce air pollution have remained the dominant source for generation.

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GHG emissions have caused rising global temperatures, which have been accompanied by changes in weather and climate. Many places have seen changes in rainfall, resulting in more floods, droughts, or intense rain, as well as more frequent and severe heat waves. The planet's oceans and glaciers have also experienced major changes—oceans are warming and becoming more acidic, ice caps are melting, and sea levels are rising.

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Large Dharmic, Hindu and Jain temples, like any other large establishment, consume huge amounts of electricity. This adds to the air pollution emissions from power plants that produce this energy. As more temples are built, and as more people participate in temple events, the problem of pollution continues to grow. Therefore, it is important that temples take an active part in addressing climate change and environmental challenges.

More Resources •

HASC works in collaboration with the University of North Texas. Learn about our efforts at: http://www.hinduamericanseva.org/EcoSeva

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HASC partner GreenFaith offers an environmental Certification Program. http://www.greenfaith.org/programs/certification

Save Money and Our Planet The EPA estimates that if America’s 370,000 congregations cut energy use just 20%, it would save nearly $630 million, while providing more than 3.6 billion “new” kWh electricity without additional cost or pollution. These energy savings would prevent more than 2.6 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions—the equivalent of eliminating emissions from 480,000 cars, or planting 60,000 trees. Energy efficiency reduces utility costs to temples. Greater efficiency in temples, devotees’ homes and workplaces can also help protect the Earth for our children and grandchildren and make life better for everyone today.

What Can Temples Do? •

Temples can raise awareness and increase Eco-Dharmic Consciousness by teaching and informing their members and devotees about Dharmic concepts of respect for mother earth and taking steps to reduce their energy consumption as suggested in this bulletin.

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Tirupati Temple has set a great example for other temples to follow. They use solar energy to convert water into steam that then cooks the food in the kitchen. The street lamps are solar-powered. Also, many companies have donated wind turbines which generate a combined total of 7.5MW of power.

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On the energy efficiency side, temples can utilize the ® ENERGY STAR Guidelines for energy management which will walk a congregation through the process of becoming more efficient. A guide to utilizing these steps is the ENERGY STAR Action Workbook for Congregations found at www.energystar.gov/WhiteHouseEnergyStewardship

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It is important for a property to be able to track and measure energy use. Using Portfolio Manager can help a temple accurately assess their energy and water use so they can develop strategies for greater efficiency.

Benchmark your property, then track energy, water and financial performance ®

Portfolio Manager is EPA’s free on-line tool to help users assess energy and water consumption (and greenhouse gas emissions) in individual properties. -- Create an account: To begin using Portfolio Manager, create an account at www.energystar.gov/benchmark. -- Attend training: ENERGY STAR offers free, online training. To sign up for Portfolio Manager 101, visit www.energystar.gov/buildings/training and select “Upcoming Live Training Sessions.” -- Benchmark: Enter a year of energy and water consumption and cost data. This is your “benchmark.” -- Track progress: Continue to update consumption and cost data over time to track energy performance, set energy management goals, and identify opportunities for savings and recognition. -- Share data: Each temple can accurately calculate GHG emissions reductions and dollar savings in Portfolio Manager. You can easily share data with HASC, as well as report achievements to your congregational members for saved energy, water, utility dollars, and greenhouse gas emissions. -- Earn the ENERGY STAR: Over 40 Christian, Jewish and Muslim congregations are ENERGY STAR labeled. Will your temple be the first Buddhist or Hindu or Jain Temple or Sikh Gurudwara to earn the ENERGY STAR? Learn about eligibility at www.energystar.gov/buildings/aboutus/how-can-we-helpyou/recognition?s=mega.

ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management

Take Action in Your Temple to Save Energy with Sure Savers It’s easy to start improving the energy efficiency of your temple with little expertise or money. There are many reliable, low-risk actions that you can take, most of which are relatively simple. Below are some basic low- or no-cost actions (Sure Energy Savers) to consider for your temple.

Lighting: o

Turn off lights (and other equipment) when not in use. High utility costs often include paying for energy that is completely wasted for no benefit.

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Install “occupancy sensors” to automatically turn off lighting when no one is present, and back on as people return.

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Replace incandescent bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and/or light emitting diodes (LEDs). CFLs cost about 75 percent less to operate, and last about 10 times longer; LEDs last about 20 times longer and are becoming price competitive.

Heating, Ventilation, and Air-conditioning (HVAC): o

Keep exterior doors closed while running your HVAC: It’s common sense (but not always done) and will help to avoid wasteful loss of heated or cooled air.

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Change HVAC filters (or clean if reusable) every month during peak cooling or heating season. Dirty filters waste energy, overwork the equipment, and cause poor indoor air quality. New filters are cheap and effective.

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Install a quality programmable thermostat to optimize the operation of your HVAC system on a “24/7” basis for savings, comfort, and convenience.

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Use fans. Comfort is a function of temperature, humidity, and air movement. Fans can help delay or reduce the need for air conditioning by making a higher temperature feel more comfortable.

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Plug leaks with weather-stripping and caulking for controlled ventilation to stop outside air infiltration. Many air leaks and drafts are easy to find because they are easy to feel—like those around windows and doors—but holes hidden in HVAC ducts, attics, basements, and crawlspaces can be bigger problems.

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Contract for a yearly HVAC system “tune-up” before heating and cooling seasons to protect performance and extend the life of the equipment.

Water: hot and cold: o

Fix leaks. Small leaks add up to many gallons and dollars wasted—especially for hot water. Also, wastewater costs are usually based on metered water costs.

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Buy an ENERGY STAR qualified water heater when a new one is needed. Consider a tankless water heater to reduce standby storage costs and waste.

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Set water temperature at about 110 – 120 degrees to prevent scalds and save energy.

Office Equipment: o

Always buy ENERGY STAR qualified equipment for your business and home when possible. The ENERGY STAR label indicates the most efficient computers, printers, copiers, televisions, windows, ceiling fans, and commercial food service and other equipment.