More than 200,000 houses in the United States use solar energy for everything from heating water to powering televisions.

Power and Light

What kinds of people do you think are working to combat global climate change? Policymakers, scientists, inventors, engineers—those aren’t so surprising. But what about an Episcopalian priest?

The Reverend Sally Bingham, a priest at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, is the cofounder of a unique effort called Episcopal Power and Light. Known in the industry as an aggregate, Episcopal Power and Light buys environmentally friendly power for its churches and congregations. Rev. Bingham believes that supporting this program is a way of protecting life. “We invite people of all faiths to join with us in cutting greenhouse gas emissions by investing in energy efficiency and by buying renewable energy resources generated from God’s gifts—the wind and sun,” she says.

Although Episcopal Power and Light suffered some setbacks during California’s 2001 energy crisis, Rev. Bingham remains committed to her efforts. “We, concerned people of faith, know that global warming is a serious issue, an issue that needs to be addressed wholeheartedly by the faith community.”