Sharing Learnings to Change Furnaces
The climate crisis is all about excess greenhouse gases (GHG). Churches want to play their part in responding to the crisis. The biggest source of GHG pollution from churches is the furnaces they use. Let’s help them change to a non-polluting heat source…and save money and get low-cost air conditioning at the same time!
That is the simple logic that led to the creation of Zero Emission Churches in early 2022. The goal of this loose network of volunteers is to share what has been learned so that the managers of every religious building in Canada know how to take their buildings’ GHG pollution down to zero, when is the best time, and how soon they will start saving money. (This last one varies from province to province).
Currently 10 Canadian Anglican dioceses are involved, 1 American Episcopal diocese, 1 Lutheran Synod, 1 French Roman Catholic diocese, several individual Christian congregations and two synagogues. All are getting free assistance, and each is teaching the rest how to accelerate the energy transition.
A Simple Example
A simple example comes from the little parish of All Saints in Deux Montagnes, near Montréal. Their diocesan volunteer helped them measure their current pollution levels (17-20 tonnes per year). They knew that their furnace was due to be replaced. The diocesan Synod had passed a motion from the Stewardship of the Environment Committee that every building would be zero emission by 2030 (taking advantage of the provincial grants that had just become available), so the congregation knew this was important. The committee had identified a reliable contractor, helped review the bids received, and reassured them that in their situation, a geothermal installation would be cheaper from the start.
Now, while we have -27C weather, their church is warm and quite affordable for renting to groups in their town. Once summer comes, it will be cool and comfortable even on the hottest days. And they will be able to post in their lobby a certificate declaring that this is a “Gold Level Zero Emission Building”. Every visitor will know that this congregation cares for God’s Creation. Each visitor and each member can consider changing their own furnace.
What are the key elements in this story?
Appoint a diocesan volunteer coordinator. (This is a very part-time role).
Do a simple inventory of the furnaces, their age and the fuel being used across the diocese. (Start with the old ones that need replacing anyway).
Set a diocesan policy, even if it only says “we want a 5% reduction in GHG each year”. (Then your coordinator has backup for doing the inventory).
Know what grants are available, share advice on good installers, and learn what pit-falls to avoid. (For example, gas-electric combination furnaces don’t reduce GHG pollution very much, at least not in Montréal).
And those certificates? The Gold ones (completely fossil fuel free buildings, including stoves and hot water heaters) show up with a green bubble on the map of the Fossil Free Zones web site (fossilfreezones.org) for the whole world to see. They are also listed on our web page.
Zero Emission Churches is happy to support and train diocesan or regional coordinators for any denomination or religious group in any country. What you learn in your context will strengthen our efforts across the world. Together we can honour the Creator of All. Contact us at coordinator@zeroemissionchurches.ca.
First published in the Anglican Communion Environmental Network newsletter. To subscribe, use this link.
