CRC Announces ENERGY STAR Certification

The Christian Reformed Church in North America office in Grand Rapids, Mich. recently earned an ENERGY STAR certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CRCNA officials announced at a press conference on Thursday.

With a score of 97 out of 100, the CRC office stands in the 97th percentile of all office buildings nationwide. ENERGY STAR buildings must meet strict standards that certify they use less energy, are less expensive to operate, and cause fewer gas emissions than their peers, according to the EPA.

"We scored high and are extremely grateful," said Colin Watson, Sr., the CRC's director of ministries and administration. "This is a testimony to the seriousness and commitment that the church brings to being a better steward of God's creation and better love its neighbors, both locally and globally."

Along with meeting strict EPA guidelines, the CRC office was also recognized for a variety of environmentally friendly features on its property, including one of the nation’s only certified wildlife habitats on its roof, rain gardens on its lawns, efforts to reforest the area, and efforts done  in conjunction with Calvin College to clean up Plaster Creek that runs behind the building.

John Bolt, the CRC's director of finance and administration who spoke at the press conference, said the CRC began its energy-saving program in 2009.

Since then, it has saved nearly $900,000 in energy costs and kept more than 3,000 tons of greenhouse gases out of the air. This is the equivalent of removing 612 cars from the road or planting 74,552 trees, said Bolt.

Bolt said that the CRC did not start out to achieve the ENERGY STAR certification.

"In fact, it was not even on our radar. Our goal was to upgrade old building systems in such a way that would reflect the best stewardship of the resources with which we had been entrusted in terms of both the dollars the churches had given us and our impact on the environment," he said.

Bolt recalled how local energy provider Consumers Energy sent out a group of trucks after the energy program was underway.

"They wanted to change out our meters," he said. "They couldn't believe how much energy we were saving."

The ENERGY STAR certification falls in line with the CRC's 2012 position on climate change that both acknowledged the urgency of climate change and called its members and institutions to respond, said Kyle Meyaard-Schaap of the CRC's Office of Social Justice.

"What we have done here at this office shows the CRC is putting its faith into action," said Meyaard-Schaap.

To further carry out this call, he said, the denomination is partnering with congregations across the U.S. and Canada that are also committed to addressing climate change and stewardship of resources. "It is hope that as many as four CRC congregations will also achieve ENERGY STAR certification this year with more to follow," he said.