Some Christians in the U.S. are marking the time of Lent with a different sort of sacrifice.

They're cutting back on their energy consumption as a sort of carbon fast.

One North Carolina family is raising chickens and collecting rain water for their garden.

Others at their church are taking showers instead of baths or cutting back on flights for business.

Many say it's part of a trend by churches to serve God by helping the planet.

"Lent is a traditional time when we talk about reducing," said Pastor Richard Edens of United Church of Chapel Hill. "We talk about reducing things in our life, so we might experience the moreness of life."

Claudia Sheppard agrees.

"I feel like I'm making a bigger difference, not just for me, but also for the world," she said.

Some participants have already cut their energy bill by 25 percent.

Source: ABC News