'Energy and Power Reduction Incentive Plan' loan helps one Memphis Conference church

2/13/2013

By Casey Northcutt

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One Memphis Conference church has taken advantage of a Energy and Power Reduction Incentive Plan loan from the Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation for the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences.

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Rev. James Luvene says his church, Ross UMC in Dyersburg, Tenn., signed up for the energy loan program while renovating their building.

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The foundation authorizes the loans to spur churches to conserve energy and reduce utility costs.

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Before receiving the advance, Ross UMC had to have an energy audit conducted on the building to evaluate the efficiency of the church?s energy use. After the audit, Ross received a four-year loan with an adjustable loan rate 2 percent above the rate paid on program investments.

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Without such assistance, Luvene said his church?s renovation would have suffered severe delays.

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?Had we not gotten that assistance, we probably would have had to cut some things out of the budget,? he said.

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Luvene?s church is one of only two congregations in the Memphis Conference that have participated in the loan program since it was launched. Only a few more have taken applications.

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Rev. Dr. Vin Walkup, President of the Foundation, believes the required energy audit might have something to do churches' reluctance to apply.

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?It?s sort of a daunting task for volunteers to undertake,? he said, ?but it?s something that probably all of our churches ought to do, whether they ultimately do what (the audit) recommends or not.?

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To receive a loan, a congregation must develop a plan to reduce energy consumption and complete an application.

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Even though some might consider these requirements bothersome, Walkup said reducing energy costs could free up more church money for other projects, like ministries and outreach.

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He also said, once a church has made changes based on its audit, the money it saves on utilities should cover the cost of a loan within four years.

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Source: http://memphissite.brickriver.com/news/detail/1890

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