08/11/2011

First English Columbus Goes Green and Gets New Furnace with Help of MIF and Columbia Gas

In 2010, First English Lutheran formed its first Green Team with the understanding that being good stewards of all God’s gifts, including the Earth, is essential for all people of faith. They had a sanctuary that was built in 1912 and an office/classroom addition built in the 1950s. There would be much to improve on, but what should they tackle first?

Where to start?

Going Green isn’t that difficult once a congregation or household gets started. It’s the getting started that can be daunting. First English began their quest to be a green congregation with a full energy audit. An energy audit looks at the energy use of a building, as well as the structure of the building and identifies areas for increased efficiency and often cost savings.

In the case of First English, their converted coal-burning furnace that heated the sanctuary accounted for half of their annual energy costs. First English only used the sanctuary once or twice a week and had the heat turned down to 45 degrees to save costs, but even doing that, they were seeing a bill of $10,000 a year.  It became clear to the Green Team that the furnace would need to be replaced. However, a new furnace isn’t cheap, so the team had to find a way to pay for the new furnace so the congregation could reap the benefit of good financial and environmental stewardship.

The answer came through programs from Columbia Gas. Columbia Gas offers grants and incentives to businesses to reduce their energy use. Additionally, First English turned to the Mission Investment Fund (MIF) for help through a matching grant that would offset the cost not covered by Columbia Gas. The grant from MIF was awarded in the amount of $25,000.

First English is still waiting to see if they will get the grant from Columbia Gas to move forward with their new furnace before winter sets in, but is confident that the money will come through.

If your congregation would like to move forward with an energy audit to determine where to start “going green,” you can contact Columbia Gas, American Electric Power (AEP) or your local energy supplier to see what programs they have for businesses or households.  You can also check out Interfaith Power and Light’s Cool Congregations website for energy usage calculators, tips, success stories and other resources. The ELCA Mission Investment Fund does offer grants that have an environmental stewardship focus. Only one such grant per synod is given each year, so if you think you might qualify, go to the MIF website and prepare your request for 2012.

Additional resources for congregations wishing to create a Green Team or improve their stewardship of God’s natural resources can be found on the Earthkeeping Task Force page on the synod website. Go to www.southernohiosynod.org and click on Ministries, then Task Forces, then Earthkeeping Task Force.

If you have additional questions about how First English put together their Green Team and what other green steps they have taken since 2010, please contact Sara Ward at sara.ward54@gmail.com. Sara is also the chair of the Southern Ohio Synod’s Earthkeeping Task Force.