A National Catholic Reporter feature describes the progress toward energy efficiency being made at St. Mary of the Angels Church in the Bucktown section of the north side of Chicago.

The piece features Fr. John Waiss, who also is an engineer. He told the site that he took advantage of available programs, such as getting free insight into efficiency improvements and free LEDs. The extra rationale the church has – in addition to saving money – is to follow Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si, On Caring for Our Common Home.”

The story says that the Chicago Sustainability Interfaith Partnership is hosting a symposium on conservation on July 21.

In January, Midwest Energy News reported that the Archdiocese of Chicago was “among the star performers in Chicago’s energy benchmarking program” by virtual of efficiency measures taken in 2,700 buildings in the city and Cook and Lake counties.