Many buildings in Canada are heated with natural gas or fuel oil, which of course create GHGs. Electrifying the heating not only removes lots of those GHGs, while being more efficient as a source of fuel, but it also permits buildings to be cooled in the summer. While most provinces still use fossil fuels to create some of their electricity, this will change over time.

This reduces the heating (and cooling) loads, allowing you to have smaller and cheaper equipment, and to lower your operating costs.

Our planet simply can’t afford it, and in some provinces, it is not permitted anyway! Do you have a particularly thorny situation? We’d love to ask our experts for their solutions!

In theory, no building was built until a big enough community existed, having big enough needs, to justify the high capital cost of construction. Our church communities have often shrunk since then, but the population around our urban churches has swollen. Who else could benefit from sharing the use of your building? Become a “community hub” by partnering with other groups to respond to the needs around you, and share the costs of modifications and operation. You’ll also get to know your community better, and they will get to know you and your loving God better….

Maybe you have a great roof for solar energy. Maybe you have a large lot that could host a large geothermal well for your whole block. You might have an unexpected resource to share with your neighbours, and you might be able to demonstrate to them God’s love of new things!

These machines compress a gas to move heat in or out of an area (heating or cooling it, explained here (British, 10 min) or here (Canadian, 2 min)), and can be centralized via forced air or localized with wall units (“mini splits”). They use the same proven technology as fridges and window air conditioners…made better. Now there are cold climate models which work efficiently down to -27C (including Mitsubishi, LG, Fujitsu, Midea, and Daikin). A CBC report suggests that residential ASHPs are cheaper than any fossil fuel solution and gives a province-by-province comparison. In the section below on Financing, any province with information on how much you can save or with grant programs has an entry; see the detailed calculator and grants for Ontario, for example. Here is an article debunking the many myths about ASHPs. NOTE: After 2024, ask about the latest R32 refrigerant, even if it costs a bit more, because this refrigerant does less damage to the environment if it escapes.

Has greater efficiencies because it transfers heat to and from the ground, which is stable all year long at about 15C, and the solid ground dissipates heat and cold well. The wells that must be drilled are currently costly, but very durable (100 years?), and will eventually pay for themselves with their greater efficiencies. (This is an excellent direction to take if you have motivated donors or, as in Québec, if there are grants to make this feasible!)

Every piece of equipment either reaches the end of its designed life, or is replaced ahead of time by a more efficient technology that saves enough in operating costs to make it worth replacing early. Our building audits identify when your equipment was last replaced so that you can plan now for more climate-friendly equipment. (We’ll tell you the expected end of life date).

Heat pumps can produce temperature in the range of 40C, but hot water heating requires 60C+, and steam heat is over 100C. Could different radiators allow you to switch to a heat pump? Can it be done cost effectively? What is the cost of removing your radiators and replacing them with mini-split heaters? (We need case studies in 2-3 provinces).

What is a good solution if your sanctuary or hall has too many windows on the south side and rapidly overheats? Some have put awnings, some have installed films to darken the windows, and some have planted trees. Is there a best approach?

Stained glass only presents one layer of glass…with low insulation value. What can be done? We are starting to gather insights and advice from various experts, and are learning that there is not one simple answer to this question.

Some critics suggest that geothermal heating has problems: that the wells which have to be drilled are not reliably done, that there is no way to check that my wells were well done, that wells can freeze up over time (unless there is equal amounts of heat added as extracted), and that they don’t work with all kinds of soil or underground conditions? Is any of this true? How do we reduce the risks?

Is it possible to “sell” the carbon reductions to others who need reductions but can’t do so yet? Would we be able to aggregate or “group together” the GHG reductions from multiple congregations, have these certified, and sell these in a way that would subsidize or compensate these congregational initiatives?

Some research has shown that when systems are installed that are bigger than needed (i.e. “over-sized”), they run less efficiently, use more energy and may not last as long. The solution to this is, in part, adequate system commissioning at the time of installation, and review after one year of operation. We recommend reviewing this issue with your installers and system designers to ensure that future insulation and air tightness work will allow you to save further energy and money.

Put a motion before your Diocesan Synod (or equivalent) or invite your Bishop to declare her/his support for ACTION on the climate emergency. Set ambitious targets and invest energy in the processes we have outlined here. (These are things that your neighbours value also, but don’t expect from churches. Let’s change their opinions!)

The first questions whenever a plan is being drawn up (for a Family Day, a new furnace or a new addition to the church): how will this reduce our GHG emissions? How much more would it cost to get to zero emissions? How much will that save us over the next 20 years?

No congregational project seeking approval from the diocese should move ahead without this kind of justification.

Sometimes it is called Creative Financing: instead of investing in bonds to have a steady income, how about financing congregations when they change their mechanical systems, if this will save them money? They could repay a loan with their savings.

Provide the resources (such as this process) and encourage every congregation to determine what they would need to do to become a Zero Emission Church. (Creativity can only begin after Awareness exists…).

Our project will help you know who to turn to when you have a non-standard situation. Some of the experts you identify will be useful to others across the country!

Many other organizations in your community are committed to responding to the Climate Emergency: other churches, your municipality, local environmentalists, nearby community colleges and universities…and the Net Zero Project! Working together we can do a much better job, and can lead the way forward for the rest of society!

We regularly hear of churches who have just replaced their furnace…with another gas one! Or who have bought another air condition without thinking about a heat pump that can both heat and cool efficiently. Let’s not just do things the way we always have; let’s take a bit of time to review our options and find better, more reliable ways that make the world more livable!