Finding Funding: Middlewood United works to remain of service to its community

Across regions, many faith communities are unable to meet annual fees and maintenance costs and are struggling to keep up with the operational needs of their buildings. As a solution, a number of United Church properties are retrofitting their buildings with the goal of reducing their energy bills. They are creating rental opportunities by renovating old and unused spaces within their buildings. 

But all this involves upfront costs; community donations and ministry savings are not always enough to single-handedly pay for building renovations. Accessing funding is one of the key determinants as to whether faith communities have the ability to carry out their projects or not; often it’s the sole reason why properties don’t end up following through with their retrofit plans. Grants, rebates, and other financial incentives can help support congregations to complete these otherwise non-attainable renovations. 

Seeking Funding: Middlewood United’s Retrofit Project

“It is our hope that by doing this project, we can reduce costs and lessen the financial burden on our members.” 

- Philip Pulsifer, Treasurer of Middlewood United Church

As a small rural congregation trying to maintain its long-standing place within the community, Middlewood United Church, located in Middlewood, Nova Scotia, was one of the many faith communities in need of financial support to complete a building renovation and alleviate the economic burden on congregational members. 

The church first began thinking about retrofitting its building in December 2019, when Rev. Vivan Moories, their minister at the time, brought the Faithful Footprints program to the attention of the congregation. Members at Middlewood United work very hard to offer fellowship and fundraise each year to help keep the ministry afloat and donate to the church’s building fund. Upon hearing about the 2-1 funding option the program offered, enthusiasm began to build among the church members, with particular support from the Trustee Chair. 

An energy audit was done and the Trustee Chair gathered quotes from several contractors for insulating the congregation’s schoolhouse, replacing windows, installing a heat pump, and upgrading the electrical system. 

Unfortunately, when the project proposal was shared with the congregation for approval, it was denied; the building’s roof (in need of replacing) was the priority concern, and funding for the overall costs of the potential projects was still to be obtained. Discouraged, the retrofit plans came to a halt. 

Property Treasurer, Philip Pulsifer, refused to give up on the retrofit project, knowing that it would lead to long-lasting environmental and economical benefits for the church. He began brainstorming potential solutions that would bring his congregation aboard, investigating and seeking out financial support for the proposed projects and scraped up funds to replace the roof. A significant donation was made by a congregational member towards the roof, and funding for the retrofit project was secured from Lunenburg Municipal District in Lunenburg County, The United Church of Canada Innovation Fund, and Hunter United Church Building Fund, as matching funds in support of a Faithful Footprints grant. 

With Philip’s determination, Middlewood United was able to redo their roof as well as proceed with the retrofit plan to insulate the schoolhouse and replace windows. 

Searching For Funding: We’re Here to Help 

Finding available grants, incentives, rebates, and programs is a time-consuming task, as Middlewood United Church can attest, but we are here to help! The Faithful Footprints program aims to make it easier for your faith community to learn more about potential regional opportunities to assist with your retrofit project. Our Regional Support Pages are categorized by Western Canada, Prairies Canada, and Atlantic Canada. Explore your region and discover eligible provincial and municipal incentive programs, and find matching funds to support your Faithful Footprints application. 

Connect with Faithful Footprints Regional Support Centre Coordinators to determine which government incentives might be applicable to your project, and for assistance selecting suitable energy auditors, energy professionals, and contractor recommendations for your retrofit. 

Faithful Footprints Program

The United Church of Canada (UCCan) Faithful Footprints program offers inspiration, tools, and grants to help its faith communities reduce their carbon footprint. With the Church’s commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80% by 2030, this one-of-a-kind program offers up to $30,000 in grants towards energy conservation and renewable energy projects (conditions apply).

Faith & the Common Good is the delivery partner for the UCCans Faithful Footprints program.  To date, we have engaged over 300 congregations, camps, and buildings across the country. Your participation in the program puts your faith into action and helps the Church reach its target.

Aleyxa Gates Julien is the PR/Communications Coordinator for Faithful Footprints and can be reached at agatesjulien@faithcommongood.org

Our Neighbours, Ourselves, and all of Creation

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In 2011, Saint Andrew’s United Church in Halifax, NS, celebrated a ‘Greening Sunday’ and covenanted with God and each other to be a Green Church. The Green Covenant asks them “to care for our neighbours, ourselves and all of Creation by: integrating the love of Creation in our worship and spiritual lives, increasing environmental awareness and education, practicing stewardship by conservation of natural resources, and working with others for environmental justice. As a congregation and as individuals, we will make every effort possible to reduce our carbon and ecological footprint. We will lead by example and ask those who use our building to partner in this covenant.”

• Saint Andrew’s has already been practicing this covenant for the past several years by:

• Including climate change and other ecological concerns in worship and celebrating ‘The Season of Creation’ in worship and education for all ages,

• Partnering with Shambhala to co-sponsor ‘Sacred Earth Awake’ film series,

• Having a professional energy audit on our building,

• Converting from oil heat to natural gas, and

• Changing the lighting to CFC or LED lights,

• Using and promoting Fair Trade coffee and other products,

• Organizing climate justice events and supporting First Nations communities as they raise awareness about the effects of the Alberta oil sands on their lives.

They are continuing to invite members, groups – especially youth, staff and neighbours to share suggestions and to act together to more fully integrate our care of Creation in all that we do. Including:

• Make every effort to save heat and paper,

• Include ‘Green Tips’ in the weekly bulletin,

• Increase the number of recycle bins,

• Use environmentally friendly cleaning products,

• Designate ‘idle free’ areas,

• Install bike racks,

• Collect/recycle ink cartridges,

• Search for a biodegradable alternative to Styrofoam (for the Sunday Supper for the homeless),

• Explore the possibilities of a community garden and/or fruit tree planting on church property, and

• Advocate to stop the destructive impacts of the Alberta tar sands and work for a provincial moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing.

Check out more from St. Andrew's United Church on their website: www.standrewshfx.ca

A Hub for Community Growth - Beacon United Church Energy Efficiency Journey

Story from the Ecology Action Centre website.

Beacon United Church's Energy Efficiency Story (2016)

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At 22,000 square feet, Beacon United Church and its attached community space is not easy to heat. Especially so in a cold, humid climate like Yarmouth, a small town of just under 6,800 on the southern-most tip of Nova Scotia. Like many places of worship around Canada, just six years ago it was struggling to make ends meet in a rural town, with a declining population and a declining congregation. The church was up for sale – the congregation had agreed that it could no longer pay for upkeep and operations. However, this church has taken a leap into the future by becoming a hub for community growth and environmental justice amongst its congregation and the local population.

“I received some comments of concern but once they saw how good a space this was for some activities that even the congregation enjoys, the concern dispersed. ”

— Stephen Sollows

One of the more notable projects is the former chapel, which has been turned into a multi-purpose room to accommodate for just about any user-group. It’s mostly used by a group of local seniors who enjoy the space three times a week. Stephen Sollows, the green enthusiast at Beacon United Church, recalls some resistance that he encountered when he initially proposed that the space be turned from a small chapel into a multi-purpose space. “I received some comments of concern but once they saw how good a space this was for some activities that even the congregation enjoys, the concern dispersed,” he recalls with a laugh. Of course, this was part of a larger plan to make sure the building remained used and had income to help offset the costs of operation. Sollows also recalls another initially controversial move to use the auditorium space for a heavy metal festival, which ended up being a great fit, as “the music was amazing and the festival attendees very respectful!”

The multi-purpose room also received some energy-efficiency-influenced changes. Since the enormous building is heated by the same oil-fired heating system, they had a heat pump installed so that the room could be heated without turning up the heat in the entire building. Finding the appropriate lighting was a challenge, as certain colour spectrums make reading difficult for aging eyes. Beacon found that by using LED lights on the blue (cold) spectrum, reading was easier. Furthermore, the quiet LEDs replaced old fluorescent tubes that made some high-pitched buzzing noises. This retrofit did not put a large dent in the pocket of the church: it was covered by a New Horizons grant.

Another initiative of the church to reach out has been its enormous community garden, started 4 years ago. This garden has 130 plots. Two-thirds of the plots are owned by members of the community, one-third of the plots belong to the church. The space is used by many of the user groups of the church, even the youth-oriented groups, to learn about gardening. It also includes a labyrinth, where anyone is welcome to walk and meditate.

The garden had issues with storm-water management, as there was a slope from the large parking lot towards the garden. The church planted a storm water garden with native plant species that has successfully mitigated this problem.

Next steps for Beacon United are big: they have had a solar assessment done and are in the process of having an ASHRAE level energy assessment from a local energy consultant who is generously giving the assessment at a very discounted price. They are looking forward to implementing the money and greenhouse gas savings measures as soon as they can.