August 5 (Wichita) and August 6 (Prairie Village) – The Climate + Energy Project and Kansas Interfaith Action co-hosted two informative events designed to guide places of worship and nonprofits through the process of enhancing energy efficiency and integrating renewable energy solutions.

Faith leaders and administrators, facility managers and maintenance staff, environmental and sustainability committees, as well as anyone interested in making their church or nonprofit more sustainable were invited to attend. Both events aimed at increasing the awareness of tax incentives options such as elective pay for nonprofits considering energy efficiency upgrades and installing renewable energy devices in their facilities.

Guest speaker Miguel Yañez-Barnuevo of the Environmental and Energy Study Institute provided a presentation focused on direct pay and other financial strategies to make energy improvements more accessible. CEP Executive Director, Dorothy Barnett, presented steps for identifying and applying for federal funds that nonprofits and places of worship can utilize.

Additionally, Barnett shared information on the Heartland Environmental Justice Center and explored tools that are available to folks living and working in “disadvantaged” communities, as defined by the EPA. CEP and KIFA plan to continue sharing information with faith leaders and nonprofits through webinars that expand on each of these topics later this year.