At the 2020 Diocesan Convention, the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont passed a resolution to end the use fossil fuels in each of [its] parishes and properties…in Vermont.” This resolution was reinforced last June when General Convention voted to phase out fossil fuels by 2034 and called on each diocese to create a plan to do so by September 2026.
To that end, all congregations are encouraged to complete the Parish Heating Survey. Church buildings can emit significant levels of greenhouse gases, and reducing those emissions can reduce the damage they cause. The Task Force will use the data to advise congregations on their options.
“We’re looking at how we can best help individual congregations and get the word out about the urgency of choosing green HVAC options,” said acting facilitator Gaen Murphree. “We’ve all seen the floods and the fires and the hurricanes, so we’re looking at how we can further the transition to renewable energy, in a hands-on, mutually supportive way.”
Complete the Parish Heating Survey online or download the Parish Heating Survey as a PDF.
To learn more about the Diocese of Vermont and the Episcopal Church’s goals to eliminate the use of fossil fuels in our churches, visit:
- Creation Care Goals & Guidance From The Episcopal Church
- Climate Change Backgrounder: 2024 & 2030, Hope & Urgency
Contact the task force at DOVTZeroEmissionsTaskForce@gmail.com for more information.
