Workshop Provides Hands-On Approach to Maximizing Energy Efficiency of Religious Institutions, ‘Greening’ Sacred Sites
by Guest Writer on October 26th, 2009Written by the New York Landmarks Conservancy.
Last week, owners, managers, and users of New York’s historic religious properties filed into the pews of the Church of St. Matthew and St. Timothy on West 84th Street for an all-day seminar on energy efficiency and “greening” in sacred sites. “Green Theology: Energy Efficiency and Historic Sacred Sites,” which the New York Landmarks Conservancy co-hosted along with the Episcopal Diocese of New York, Landmark West!, and New York Interfaith Power & Light, was a true meeting of the minds, bringing together expert practitioners and property managers alike to share and gain from one another’s experiences.
The seminar provided a hands-on approach to maximize the energy efficiency of religious institutions by guiding participants through a complete, basement to roof, energy analysis of religious institutions, including how to prioritize spending and plan for the future.
Andrew Rudin, an independent energy auditor with Philadelphia’s Interfaith Coalition on Energy, spoke about the specific energy challenges that religious congregations face with their properties. Using the location of St. Matthew and St. Timothy as a case study, Rudin’s often humorous presentation stressed the unique, and sometimes misunderstood, process of heating and cooling a large, multi-zone space which only has intermittent use, as opposed to homes which require different energy configurations due to their continuous use. Rather than necessarily investing in “green” technologies, such as those encouraged in LEED certification or with Energy Star certification, he suggested a multi-tiered approach to maximize the energy efficiency of a building and minimizing cost, and replacing mechanical systems with their cleaner newer parts only as needed.
The Rev. Lezlie Austin-Kennedy, pastor of Cadman Memorial Congregational Church in Clinton Heights, Brooklyn, explained her congregation’s plight in her own lecture. “I understand buying in bulk, but sometimes you don’t have the bulk money… It’s a step-by-step process,” she said.
Cadman Memorial has been taking steps toward sustainability and sought Conservancy aid for a roof consultant. The church, which six years ago had only 12 members, had already dug into their coffers for $12,000 to repair the roof once, only to discover that they had been deceived by their contractor: the roof was improperly repaired and needed to be fixed again.
Page Ayres Cowley, founder of Page Ayres Cowley Architects, LLC, focused her presentation on understanding buildings as interrelated components and the reality of making the most of a congregation’s sometimes limited resources.
Nicola Coddington, Executive Director of New York Interfaith Power & Light, stressed the nonprofit’s mission to support congregations of all faiths in their actions to curb global warming and protect the sacredness of the Earth by taking careful steps to “green” their buildings and daily living.
Sister Catherine Grace, of the Community of the Holy Spirit talked about her unique story as a founding member of Bluestone Farm and Living Arts Center in Brewster, N.Y. where she works with fellow sisters growing most of their own food, tapping their own sugar bush and processing the sap into maple syrup.
This project has been funded in part by a grant from the Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
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November 19th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Wow. These are such innovative ways to spread the green ideas. Thanks for sharing.