Dear Diocese,
So many parishes carry the burden of high cost of heating parish buildings. But we have a good news story!
In this month’s column, Bruce Moxley, a member of the Parish Vision and Planning Committee of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Lower Sackville, shares the parish’s story about how with some planning, they were able to not only reduce heating costs, but make money from the energy the parish produces. The parish now receives rebates from NSP for power they put on the grid that they do not use – those monies will help pay down the mortgage sooner.
Epiphany blessings,
Rev Marian, coordinator, Diocesan Environment Network
Going Green at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Parish
Sackville, Nova Scotia.
In 2017 the Parish activated a Vision and Planning committee to research and make recommendations on the state of its building, investments and programs. The Church was built in 1829, the separate Hall in 1978.
We researched opportunities to improve the energy loss and insulation efficiency of the buildings and the use of solar energy to replace the use of electricity and oil. Solar energy had to produce more than the power needs to heat, cool and operate both buildings.
Nine different tenders were written for all the projects required. Efficiency NS evaluated the Church and made recommendations. Applications were made for grant funding support.
The mortgage costs, after the application of any grant funding, could not cost more than current energy use.
Over three years work the following projects were completed:
- New Hall flat roof with six inches of insulation.
- Complete Hall siding with moisture barrier, insulation and hurricane weight siding.
- Centrally ducted heat pump on the Hall.
- Hollow Church walls cellulose filled.
- Church exterior shingles removed and insulation, moisture barrier and pressure treated wood siding (Heritage requirement) applied.
- Oil tanks and furnaces removed.
- Separate Church and lower church externally ducted heat pumps added
- A 104 panel, 50,000kwh per annum solar array constructed.
- Reverse metering NSPI power meter installed on Hall and an updated meter on the Church.
The solar array was activated October 19th, 2021 and the Parish’s monthly NSPI electrical costs for the heating, cooling and operations of both buildings became zero in June 2022 – we were now a 100% green energy Parish! Grants subsidized the solar array costs by 21.4%.
Submitted by Bruce Moxley on behalf of the Parish Vision and Planning Committee
For follow-up questions or information you may contact Bruce at: 902-222-5844 or [email protected]
