More than Swapping Out Boilers: Fifth Avenue Memorial's Heating System Upgrade

Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church in Medicine Hat, Alberta has consistently demonstrated a willingness to step up and support important building projects in times of necessity. Historically, congregants have banded together to gather tens of thousands of dollars in a relatively short timespan. This collective effort has helped address projects such as the replacement of the church’s original roof, the repair and tuning of its pipe organ, and the restoration of its stained glass windows.

In 2019, the 1923-built church faced another critical project when its heating system unexpectedly failed.

Fifth Avenue Memorial United’s custodian’s dismay as she examines the damage to their failed steam boiler.

It all had to go

When the damage of their steam boiler system was assessed, it became evident that obtaining replacement parts would take between 8 to 10 months, and they would come at a steep price. It was revealed that even after repairs, ongoing maintenance would be necessary annually or biannually for the foreseeable future. Fifth Avenue Memorial United faced a daunting reality. The scope of the replacement became larger than just simply swapping out its boiler. 

“It all had to go – The only realistic option was a total replacement. The old steam pipes were developing more pinhole leaks, the pipes were getting clogged up with corrosion and deposits, and the steam traps were, as often as not, corroded open, corroded shut, or corroded partially open.” explained Geoff Coley, Board Chair, Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church.

As a complete overhaul, Fifth Avenue Memorial United decided to replace its old, failed single steam boiler with a new hydronic heating system, with a set of three new and smaller, high-efficiency hot water boilers. This project would also involve all of the existing steam piping, steam traps, valves, and fittings being removed and replaced as needed along with removing the radiators in its basement.

“While the bigger than expected project came at an increased cost, the result is a system which is far more energy efficient than a simple boiler swap. Having three smaller boilers instead of just one gives us a safety net. If one boiler completely and suddenly fails, we will not be left without heat in the dead of winter while repairs are done.” noted Coley.

Delay in acquiring equipment & prolonged building shutdown

Upon receiving project funding approval of $30,000 from Faithful Footprints to help offset the total cost of nearly $200,000, Fifth Avenue Memorial United began their project immediately —  amidst the challenging time of COVID-19.

The global supply chain disruptions led to delays in acquiring equipment, leaving parts of the building unheated throughout the winter months.

“We had a good part of one winter where we had exactly zero gas heat in the building - the old boiler had gaping holes in it and the replacement boilers had not yet arrived.”

Innovative solutions were implemented, including the relocation of activities to warmer spaces and the use of winter coats and electric heaters. 

“The unfortunate timing of the heating system failure during the COVID-19 pandemic forced prolonged building shutdowns. This resulted in us having to work very hard to re-engage people to return to full attendance, full participation, and full giving. Fortunately we have a core of very faithful and dedicated people of all ages who are fully committed to seeing us rebuild and continue our mission.” shared Coley.

A Transformation in Heating Efficiency

Following renovations, the sanctuary retained its familiar appearance while a significant upgrade to a new, highly efficient hydronic heating system silently improved the comfort and sustainability of Fifth Avenue Memorial United.

With a thermal efficiency rating of 94.5%, significantly higher than the old steam boiler's 79.9%, energy consumption has markedly decreased. The installation of brand-new, smooth bore pipes ensures optimal fluid conveyance, minimizing leaks and maximizing efficiency. Notably, the exhaust vents have undergone a drastic reduction in size, with each of the three new water boilers having a 4-inch vent compared to the previous 20-inch diameter vent. The switch results in a total vent area that is less than 15% of the size of the old exhaust, significantly reducing heat loss.

One year post-renovation, Fifth Avenue Memorial United achieved impressive environmental gains, including a 50.9% reduction in natural gas usage, a 46.3% decrease in total greenhouse gas emissions, and a 21.4% reduction in electricity consumption.

However, Fifth Avenue Memorial United’s heating system upgrade goes further than just environmental and climate impact reductions.

“Instead of using the money to pay utility bills; the savings from our new heating system will allow us to continue our support to the downtown community, social justice, and other areas of ministry and outreach. For example, being able to continue to offer space year-round for community events such as choir concerts, one of which has already been booked after a long drought caused by COVID-19 and a broken boiler. ” shared Coley

“Events such as these will give us the opportunity to showcase, not a new furnace, but a renovation that is reducing our carbon footprint. Each of these events will effectively be celebrations, and opportunities to share our story — that we not only have a warm sanctuary, but we have it in a way that is environmentally friendly and is going to cost us less in utility bills. It will shine a light on the various community and social programs that we can continue to support as a vital, involved, downtown church.”

Work Ahead

The larger boiler replacement project at Fifth Avenue Memorial United remains ongoing. Approximately $14,000 is yet to be covered for remaining tasks and unanticipated expenses encountered along the way. In the near future, the church plans to install a new forced air system on the basement level, hot water tanks that use heat from the boiler system, and programmable thermostats.

The new system will also provide improved zone-by-zone temperature control with programmable temperature setbacks. The newly installed system will eliminate the single-point-of-failure boiler with a modular system with backup capacity in case of a boiler failure. The new equipment is computer-controlled and can automatically troubleshoot any sudden issues remotely. This reduces the number of onsite service calls.

Looking ahead, the church is committed to further modernizing various systems through its building. This includes continuing its transition to energy-efficient light bulbs and electrical fixtures and exploring the possibility of solar panels on a section of its roof to help reduce its carbon footprint.

Faithful Footprints Program

The United Church of Canada’s 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 gasses (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 Faithful Footprints program. To date, we have engaged over 400 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.

In the Nick of time: Glenwood United's Timely Rescue by Faithful Footprints

Boilers play a vital role in churches by providing essential heating during services, gatherings, and events, ensuring the comfort and well-being of worshippers, especially in colder climates or during winter months. In 2023, several United Churches encountered boilers that broke down unexpectedly. During times of urgent building repairs, grants like Faithful Footprints make a significant difference by alleviating anxiety about funding necessary upgrades and renovations, ensuring that churches can continue to serve their communities effectively.

Nearing the end

Despite having undergone repairs to their existing boilers in 2022, Glenwood United Church in Windsor, ON, faced the harsh reality when they were informed that their units were rapidly approaching the end of their 25-year lifespan, with spare parts becoming increasingly scarce. Operating at a mere 68%-72% efficiency, the two boilers servicing the sanctuary demanded attention. Despite ongoing fundraising efforts over the past three years and a current special appeal for the boilers, the sudden urgency to replace the boilers created a sense of urgency. In response, the church sought to secure sufficient funds to cover the project's cost post-installation. 

Recognizing the need for repair, Rev. Catherine Collins Barker introduced the Faithful Footprints program to the property committee, which voted to pursue funding for the boiler replacement. This financial support would help fund the installation of high-mid efficiency (91%) gas-powered hot water boilers with a life expectancy of 20-30 years, ensuring continued comfort and functionality for the congregation while also reducing environmental impact.

“By replacing the boiler  in the summer, we would minimize the impact of a possible failure during the critical heating months for the congregants.” Rev. Dr. Catherine Collins-Barker.

Quick Turnaround

With the clock ticking, the community at Glenwood United sprang into action to prepare for the boiler replacement. While the application was sent off, the community at Glenwood United made every effort to prepare for the replacement.

Congregants working on the project obtained multiple quotes from reputable contractors and diligently reviewed equipment bids to ensure that fair pricing was received for products that would have a long operating life. Despite challenges, including unexpected costs and revised timelines, the community remained resilient.

“We contacted three plumbing companies for quotes, and because of lower costs and prior experience, we opted for RFG plumbing. On July 5th, 2023, RFG replaced our gas water heater with an electric one; which was one of the items in the grant application. At about that time, RFG estimated that delivery of the boilers would take 6 to 10 weeks. Shortly after, they came back with a revised estimate of 2 weeks” Bob Pickle, Property Chair at Glenwood United, “We told them that we would not have the money that soon. They advised that if we could pay another $7000, they would install one boiler and we could have the second one installed whenever we had the money. This was paid and one boiler was installed in July. It was hoped that the balance required for the second boiler could be raised before the fall heating season began.”

A Timely Rescue

In the nick of time, just in time before the fall, Glenwood United received the much-needed Faithful Footprints grant. The church had the contractor immediately install the second boiler, securing the church's heating system for the upcoming seasons.

Faithful Footprints Program

The United Church of Canada’s 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 gasses (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 Faithful Footprints program. To date, we have engaged over 400 congregations, camps, and buildings across the country. Your participation in the program puts your faith into action and helps the Church reach its target.