St. Mary Receives Gold Award from CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Saint Mary Church in Newington is the only religious organization to be recognized, and one of only three non-profits, to receive a 2013 Gold Award from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for its leadership and commitment to reducing energy usage and air pollution. During the critical summer months in 2012, the parish reduced its electrical usage by 54 kilowatts, which amounted to a 20% reduction in electricity consumption, and reduced its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by ten tons. It achieved these outstanding results by replacing its outdated lighting systems and refurbishing its air condition system, which according to the the Rev. Joseph Keough, pastor of Saint Mary, has saved the parish money. Keough said the parish was able to make the necessary refurbishments through grants they received. He and Tim Luddy, a parish trustee, attended a ceremony at the State Capital this past April where they received the Gold Award from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on behalf of Saint Mary. The Gold Award is on display in the parish baptistery. “I am very proud of Saint Mary. It is an extraordinary parish that cares about the environment and how it affects its inhabitants. We are working toward reducing our carbon footprint in order to be good stewards of the world God has given us. I hope that we have encouraged others to follow in our footsteps in order to protect the environment for ourselves and future generations,” said Keough.