Pratt Center

Last week the Pratt Center honored Bedford-Stuyvesant’s Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, led by Rev. Johnny Ray Youngblood, as a “Beacon of Sustainability” for its leadership in promoting energy efficiency. Over the past year, Mt. Pisgah has turned itself into a shining example for the entire community. Working with Pratt Center lead architect Michael Bogdanffy-Kriegh under our Sustainable Houses of Worship program, Mt. Pisgah underwent an energy audit of its 39,000-square-foot facility and proceeded to implement every measure recommended by the auditor, including lighting upgrades,the creation of separate heating zones for each building in the complex, and insulation of water pipes.

The church will see a net financial gain because the improvements are projected to lower its energy consumption costs by $13,000 a year. It also saw some immediate cost savings through Con Edison incentives, and resourceful problem-solving by the boiler mechanic referred by the Pratt Center lowered the projected cost of a boiler upgrade to $1,600 from $8,000.

“This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine,” Rev. Youngblood said to more than 200 cheering congregants gathered for Sunday worship as he accepted a plaque from the Pratt Center. He proceeded to explain to his flock why the sanctuary is now brighter than it once was. “It’s lighter than it was because of Pratt. They did it for both buildings, every floor. Know this: The bulbs don’t burn as much energy, so even with the new lights the bills will be down.”

The pilot phase of Sustainable Houses of Worship, made possible through the generous support of State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, has also assisted two other Bedford-Stuyvesant churches, Siloam Presybterian Church and Friendship Baptist Church. Like many religious facilities, they are housed in aging buildings and must heat, cool, power and light large and poorly insulated spaces. They also operate on limited budgets, in which the cost of fuel is significant.

Following the Mt. Pisgah service, 13 congregants signed up to learn about how they can make their own homes more energy efficient. These homeowners will receive assistance in accessing low-cost energy assessments and retrofit incentives. Homeowners will be assisted through Retrofit Bedford-Stuyvesant, a project of the Pratt Center and Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, and NYSERDA's Energy $mart Communities Program, for which the Pratt Center conducts outreach in Brooklyn and Queens.

“Promoting sustainability and energy efficiency – these are among the biggest challenges we all face, and we all must make changes in how we live,” said Pratt Center Director Adam Friedman in presenting the award to Rev. Youngblood. “The Reverend’s efforts here at Mt. Pisgah show his influence as an agent of change and the role houses of worship can play.”