Our Clean Energy Task Force
Our Clean Energy Task Force, a small group of volunteers working to lower the church’s carbon footprint by reducing our use of fossil fuels, is making great progress. Last year we replaced all of the lighting with energy efficient bulbs and fixtures, taking advantage of a large Eversouce rebate to do so. Just recently we installed a heat pump with mini-split air handlers in 5 upstairs rooms of the office wing of the chapel, to provide heat and air conditioning, again with a substantial rebate. Soon there will be a large fan installed in the vaulted ceiling of the chapel space to move hot air down from the ceiling in the cool seasons and help provide air circulation in the warmer times. Ultimately, we hope to install solar panels and replace the very old boiler in the chapel with a much more efficient device.
Each of the chapel rooms with a mini-split installed is individually controlled. Further when the temperature falls well below freezing the oil burner kicks in automatically. Below is a picture of the mini-split in Pastor Erick’s office. On the morning this picutre was taken the outside temperature was below freezing. On his way across the green, Pastor Erick used his cell phone to turn on the heat in his office, which was already toasty warm when he arrived.
Previous: Bonfire, Music, Stories, Pizza and S’Mores in the Chapel