PNW Commission on Environmental Stewardship launches Energy Audit Fund with pilot in June

The PNW Commission on Environmental Stewardship (CES) announces the launch of the Energy Audit Fund to help churches schedule and pay for energy audits. The Fund is now accepting applications for audits to be performed in June 2026.

Energy audits are the first step a church takes before making a building efficiency improvement plan. These audits are conducted by a trained professional who maps the current energy use conditions and makes recommendations for improvements. These audits and subsequent actions will help us track progress against the 2023 legislative goal of “…pledge to increase the energy efficiency of their church buildings and parsonages by 50% by 2030.”

The Energy Audit Fund will provide grants to churches to fund all or part of an energy audit performed by a qualified professional. The Fund will pay 100% of the costs for churches where paying for the audit is a major obstacle, and 50% otherwise. The cost of audits for small to medium-sized congregations ranges from $1,500 to $2,500, and for large congregations from $2,500 to $5,000. The Fund will prioritize congregations in “frontline communities” — meaning those serving vulnerable populations and/or highly environmentally impacted geographies.

There is currently funding for 3–5 audits in this first round. If funding is an obstacle, please sign up. If affordability is less of an issue, please sign up anyway — the more audits we request, the lower the price per audit.

The Fund has partnered with Energy for Purpose to perform audits. Their lead energy auditor will be in the PNW during mid-June and is ready to schedule appointments. Energy for Purpose has already conducted several audits in our conference and focuses on faith-based organizations. They will also hold a lunch & learn webinar on energy audits in May, which will be announced in a later newsletter.

This first phase is a pilot project to test demand, sort out administrative details, and fund 3–5 local congregations. Once additional funding is secured, additional funding rounds will be announced.

To sign up for funding and/or an audit, please email Eric Walker, Energy Audit Fund Coordinator, at egwalker72@gmail.com.