PORTLAND – Dismayed by the country’s escalating energy crisis, a group of Maine churches is doing its part to conserve energy.

The Maine Council of Churches has launched a program called “Let There Be Light” in an effort to teach people about energy conservation and efficiency. The project will culminate with a celebration in December during Advent and Hanukkah, the Christian and Jewish seasons of light.

“Everybody needs to play a role in reducing our emissions,” said Anne Burt, the council’s project director. “It needs to be each person and every person … We’ll make a difference if you have that number of people making that kind of a choice.”

Parishioners also are encouraged to take steps to conserve energy in their homes by taking such steps as replacing their 100-watt incandescent light bulbs with 23-watt fluorescent light bulbs, which are 25 percent more energy efficient.