The DIY energy audit team at St. George’s United, Courtenay
The United Church of Canada’s Faithful Footprints program provides grants towards energy conservation and renewable energy projects to help UCC communities of faith lower their energy bills, reduce their environmental footprints, and live out the UCC’s climate commitments.
Newo serves as Regional Support Centre for Western Canada (AB, BC & Yukon), helping churches navigate the grant and determine what solutions would best engage their congregations in the work of reducing emissions and addressing climate change.
In this blog we’d like to celebration the success stories of some Pacific Mountain Region (BC) communities of faith.
Photos are courtesy of the churches.
Trail United
Before LEDs and after; less is more!
Trail United is a beautiful church nestled in the Rocky Mountains just South of the Washington border in BC. At over 100 years old, it was time for some sustainable upgrades. In 2024 the congregation reached out to the Faithful Footprints program, and, in conjunction with funding from FortisBC, were able to replace: the old natural gas furnaces with high-efficiency models, the drafty entrance door to the Annex, and all the old fluorescent lighting with LEDs.
“The difference in lighting and energy consumption is phenomenal. In the hall, we are running a third of the lights to get the same Illumination.”
Total carbon emissions reduction:
10.4 metric tonnes (24%) or ~ 9 vehicles driven for a year
Duncan United
LEDs and new windows
Duncan United Church is a bustling downtown church that prides itself in providing and supporting programs that respond to community needs. From food security to Film Nights, they do it all. The Faithful Footprints grant allowed them to replace their last oil furnace with an air-to-air heat exchanger, upgrade their oldest, leakiest windows with insulated models, and replace their four freezers with two larger, more efficient models.
“On top of the benefit of the program and the reduced footprint, we’ve made our space more
welcoming, and had the benefit of volunteer labourers who might not otherwise have been able to help out, especially during the Covid 19 restrictions.
“Our deepest and most sincere thanks to all who have made this possible!”
Total carbon emissions reduction:
10.8 metric tonnes (59%)
St. Stephen’s United
St. Stephen’s, in the lovely town of Qualicum, on Vancouver Island, undertook a huge project which included:
- Replacing two water heaters with EnergyStar models
- Swapping their 1970s vintage chest freezer with an EnergyStar model
- Replacing nine single pane louvered windows with argon-filled double-glazed thermal pane windows
- Converting all lighting to LEDs
- Replacing their gas furnace with a high-efficiency heat-pump
- Bringing their ceiling insulation up to R40 standard
- Weatherstripping windows and doors
The folks at St. Stephen’s have some great advice for other congregations embarking on their Faithful Footprints journey:
“Make good use of mechanical and energy advisors, especially Stephen Collette at Faithful Footprints. He is accessible and speaks from experience and knowledge. Thank you, Stephen, for all your help.”
Total carbon emissions reduction:
0.4 metric tonnes (29%) or ~ 165 gallons of gasoline
Camp Fircom
Camp Fircom, founded in 1923 as a ministry of the United Church, is only accessible by boat and completely off-grid, running almost solely on diesel fuel for electricity. Completely committed to all things sustainable, the organizers’ goal was to install solar on the roof of the archery shelter, a task made challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. The camp persevered and intend to use the money they save every year on fuel to invest in more energy efficient appliances, upgrading the building envelope, as well additional renewable energy projects, such as micro hydro.
Total carbon emissions reduction:
60.3 metric tonnes (53%) or ~ 52 gas powered vehicles driven for a year
St. George’s United, Courtenay
DIY energy audit team and heat pump installation
St. George’s United Church in Courtenay, BC, was constructed in 1913. Before taking part in the Faithful Footprints program, members estimated 75% of energy use was consumed by the HVAC system, comprised of four old oil furnaces. They formed a DIY Energy Audit team, and with funding from Faithful Footprints, they were able to install a four zone split heat pump for their meeting room and office areas, and four new energy-efficient gas furnaces. The heat pump allows them to have heating and cooling, something they very much appreciate in the hot summers.
“The grant has given us a great opportunity as our first step to becoming not only more efficient but more educated,” they report. “Our treasurer commented that now the office, which was always either too cold or hot, is now ‘a lovely constant temperature’ (and quiet). Are we excited by the prospect of new cost-s efficient furnaces and the luxury of air conditioning? YES!”
Total carbon emissions reduction:
3.8 metric tonnes (27.7%) or 1,568 gallons of gasoline
Trinity United, Creston
Before and after
Built in 1961, Trinity is not just a faith building, but also includes a busy thrift store, which sported a highly inefficient 60-year-old glass wall that required replacing. They were losing so much heat through this wall in the winter, they had to shut down operations during the cold months. Their immediate and pressing goal was to maintain operations revenue year-round and ensure that the community had a place to donate items so they didn’t end up in the landfill. They also needed a new furnace.
By accessing the Faithful Footprints grant, as well as securing donations from Columbia Basin Trust and their United Church Workers group, they were able to complete both of these projects. The front all glass wall was replaced by five energy-efficient windows, and they installed a new energy-efficient model furnace.
“We have managed to maintain the beauty of the front wall while making it energy efficient. It has also reduced our concerns for safety as the wood holding these original windows in place was rotting”
Total carbon emissions reduction:
10.4 metric tonnes (24%) or ~ 9 vehicles driven for a year
Nelson United
Heat pumps in sanctuary and lower level
Built in 1967 and committed to reducing its carbon footprint, Nelson United reached out to the Faithful Footprints program, and was able to replace 10 circa 1968 windows with energy-efficient ones. The congregation used the remaining funding to help pay for heat pump replacements for the sanctuary and downstairs.
Thanks to a generous doner, they were also able to make significant electrical upgrades, including LED lighting.
Total carbon emissions reduction:
4.8 metric tonnes (32.3%) or ~ 27.6 vehicles driven for a year
Comox United
Comox United Church was built in 1968, and in 2018, an internal environmental group SAGE (Sustainable Action Group for the Environment) was formed and became one of the most active groups in the church. After completing a year-long visioning process, with the will of an engaged and committed congregation and the full support of the board, they embarked on their Faithful Footprints journey. The funding they received from the program helped them to replace two natural gas furnaces with split zone heat pumps for the sanctuary, lounge, meeting room, and three offices.
“Our goal here was not necessarily just energy reduction, but, more importantly, a shift in energy use to result in significant reductions in our greenhouse gas output.”
Was Newo involved in each one of these projects?