Grace Lutheran Church
Greening of Grace
Although I am no longer Properties Director I have remained involved on a number of projects over the summer. Two of the biggies were the replacement of our furnaces and re-roofing/PV.
The furnaces were replaced in August/September. All told 10 furnaces were replaced, 5 in the Education wing, 4 in the Sanctuary and 1 in the parsonage. At the same time we replaced both of the water heaters. The new furnaces are 95% efficient, much higher than the old furnaces, which were around 60% efficient. Same with the water heaters these are also more efficient than the old ones. (If you look up you will notice that the two chimneys have been reduced in height thanks to the new furnaces.) This heating season we should see savings in our gas bill. (And also in the cost to repair. The old furnaces were breaking down regularly. Each time was upwards of a $1000 to repair.) At the same time the ductwork was cleaned so we should be breathing a little easier as well.
The sloped roofs on the Church and parsonage were replaced. This work took longer than expected but is finally complete. The original intention was to also proceed with the installation of PV (photo-voltaic array sometimes referred to as solar cells) onto the large south-facing roof of the Church. Keen observers will note that this has not happened (yet). In late June we were advised by Energy Efficiency Alberta via email that our grant of $14,945 would not receive approval. (Due to the cancellation of the carbon tax which was funding this program.) As this increased the cost of the installation Council put the PV install on hold. Depending on the outcome of the federal election funding for PV may be flowing from the federal government. Amount and timing is unknown at this time. Also dependent on fund raising (remember those pledge forms in the spring?) monies may be raised to allow the PV to proceed next spring.
In the interim I intend to monitor our energy savings (from the new efficient furnaces and the LED lighting upgrade done last winter) and report back to the congregation on an on-going basis. I would expect that my first report would be sometime next spring.
Enjoy our greener energy-efficient Grace Lutheran!
Respectively submitted,
David Kraatz
Summer 2019
At the end of May we had our annual Spring Cleaning bee. Turnout was not quite as good as past years, but we still had about a dozen out. The kitchen got a once-over, the interior windows cleaned (basement and main), and pews were cleaned plus other assorted tasks. Prior to the 25th the exterior gardens were weeded, raked and planted. Thanks to Jim and Dolores Terry, David Dyck and Sherley Hearty, Sandra and David Kraatz, Charles and Trudy Engelen, Eric Decorby, Robert Tiedemann, Elsie Schaeffer and the Boehms for coming out to help. Also thanks to David Tiedemann, Martha Feculak and Linda Brownlee for the work in the gardens. (If I missed anyone, I apologize.) Without your help Grace would not look as good.
The re-roofing for the sanctuary and parsonage has been awarded. A bit more than we had hoped, but work should be well underway by the time you read this. The installation of the PV (solar cells) will start later in the summer.
The replacement of our furnaces is also underway this summer.
As always there are other tasks and projects that come up. If you notice anything that needs work let me and/or Eric know.
With a new council coming in and the format changing, this will probably be my last Properties report. It has been a pleasure and an honour to serve Grace over the last 9 to 10 years. I hope I have left the Church buildings in better shape than when I found them.
Enjoy your summer!
Respectively submitted,
David Kraatz
Director, Church Properties
