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Good News! $10 000 ASHRAE LEVEL II Energy Audit Grant. The Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund awarded the Benedictine Sisters of Erie a $10,000 ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Level II energy audit grant to possibly cover 5 of the Benedictine inner city buildings.They are St. Benedict Education Center; St. Benedict Community Center (gym/auditorium); St. Benedict Center (Day Care, Emmaus Ministries and Residence); Neighborhood Art House and The Studio at St. Mary’s: A Space to Create (Gus’ Kids Café and programs).
CARE Story Archive
New Millcreek Giant Eagle Sports Energy Efficiency/Sustainability Features
Giant Eagle has a longstanding tradition of supporting the communities it serves, as well as being a responsible steward of the environment. As such, incorporating innovative sustainability features and offerings into the new Millcreek Marketplace Giant Eagle, which opened on March 23, 2017 was a priority for the company.
Core conservation and sustainability focus areas at the Millcreek Giant Eagle include energy, waste, water, and product.
Energy
Religious Sisters' Erie County/Erie City Election Survey on Climate Change
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, and the Benedictine Sisters of Erie sent out a survey to 42 candidates running for Mayor and City Council in the City of Erie, PA, as well as County Executive and County Council in the County of Erie, PA. The survey focused solely on climate change or global warming. Members of the group did not see or hear where this issue was being addressed, and felt it was very relevant especially with its relationship to the poor, as expressed in Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’.
Environmental Lessons for the World
Environmental Lessons for the World
Salpointe curriculum on pope’s environmental views to be used worldwide
By Johanna Willette Arizona Daily Star Feb 19, 2017
When Salpointe Catholic High School teachers created a curriculum based on Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, they hoped other schools could make use of those lessons. Salpointe is a Carmelite school in Tucson, Arizona.
Responding to the Signs of the Times
“We pledge … to reduce our carbon pollution 50% by 2030 and to become carbon neutral by 2050.” With these words from the 2015 Paris convention – the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) – our long-term commitment to living sustainably on planet Earth took on a new dimension as we embraced a specific, measurable goal for reducing our carbon footprint.
CARE Researches and Recommends
In a world of expanding possibilities for renewable energy, extensive research is key to providing informed recommendations to the Benedictine Community. Because consultants like Guy McUmber, Green Building Alliance; Steve Porter, NWPA Green Economy Task Force; and Sam Miller, Retired Engineer, have shared their knowledge and connections with the committee, time spent on research has been both enjoyable and productive.
Community Education
The change-out to LED lighting at the Mount provided the perfect opportunity for CARE to hold Energy Efficiency Education (E3) sessions for the Sisters, employees and Oblates of the monastery. In fulfillment of SEF grant requirements, five information sessions were provided and about 85 people attended. The main goal was to engage and empower the participants to become part of the ecological solution. We wanted to stress that technology is not the end all in energy conservation and much can be done by changing personal habits.
Energy Efficiency
At present, CARE’s focus has shifted to energy efficiency, not just at the monastery, but in all of the buildings owned by the Benedictine Sisters and Emmaus Ministries. Using Energy Star Portfolio, an on-line tool to measure energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, CARE will be able to benchmark the energy performance of the Benedictine and Emmaus Ministry buildings. Each building will be audited for energy use by entering electric and gas expenditure data into EnergyStar software program and tracking those over time.