Finding the right heating system for Arden United

Upgrading a faith building to a low-carbon heating system is more than just swapping out old equipment. It requires careful planning, informed decision-making, and a willingness to learn how new technology fits a building’s unique layout and patterns of use. In 2023, Arden United Church in Arden, Ontario, began this process by exploring options that balanced upfront costs, heating performance, and the everyday realities of their building. What started as a replacement project became an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions, lower energy costs, and build confidence in operating a modern, sustainable heating system.

Over the past 15–20 years, Arden United had undertaken numerous energy conservation and greening projects, using church members hands-on experience in building renovation, construction, and energy efficiency. For this more technical project, the church was fortunate to have Bill Wong, a volunteer on the Stewards Committee, bring over 25 years of professional experience designing and implementing renewable and low-carbon energy systems in Canada, including heat pumps. Bill became the project lead for the heating system upgrade, overseeing contractors, coordinating the installation, and managing the commissioning of the new system.

Finding a heating system that works best

With strong support by the entire congregation, Bill and the Stewards Committee spent early 2024 carefully evaluating different heat pump configurations. The church weighed performance against cost, recognizing that every choice came with trade-offs. A cold-climate heat pump capable of operating down to –30°C offered the greatest coverage but required a significantly higher upfront investment. A standard system operating to –20°C, supported by electric resistance heating during the rare coldest days, became a more practical and cost-effective option, one that would still meet comfort needs while keeping the project affordable.

As part of this decision-making process, the church also took a closer look at how the building is actually used. The social room frequently hosts meetings and community events when the sanctuary itself does not need heating. Rather than warming the entire building unnecessarily, Arden United decided to include a smaller, wall-mounted heat pump dedicated to the social room. This zoned approach allowed the church to heat only the spaces in use, improving efficiency and making the system better suited to daily activities.

After careful system sizing and cost analysis, Arden United finalized a configuration that reflected their building’s needs: a 5-ton central air source heat pump to replace the aging oil furnace, paired with a 3-ton ductless wall-mounted unit for the social and meeting room. Along the way, the church encountered some challenges, including sourcing the less common 5-ton unit, which required a brand switch to stay within budget, and early communication issues between the outdoor unit and controller. Despite these hurdles, installation was successfully completed in October 2024.

A year following their projects, Arden United was able to reduce its source energy use intensity by 6.1%, total GHG emissions by 88.1%, and energy costs by 7.1%.

Getting to know the new system

Once the system was in place, the learning continued. As the congregation settled into using the new heat pumps, members focused on understanding how to operate the system efficiently and make the most of its features. The Stewards Committee received training to manage both systems, monitor energy use, and experiment with scheduling and comfort setpoints. Comparing utility costs with previous years has become part of an ongoing effort to refine how the system is used and to share insights with the wider congregation.

The church also hosted educational seminars and tours for members and the wider Arden community. These gatherings highlighted both the benefits of heat pump technology and the practical lessons learned through the project. One year after completion, Arden United shared the system’s impact on emissions reduction and operating cost savings with the congregation and other stakeholders.

“While we can’t reverse the climate emergency by our action alone, nor fix the entire problem of global warming, we can at least do our bit to be better stewards of what we can control.” says Bill Wong, Chair of the Stewards Committee and project lead

Although Arden United is a relatively small church, the community sees this project as a journey rather than an endpoint. Looking ahead, they hope to continue their greening efforts through future projects such as replacing old appliances with Energy Star models, upgrading the hot water system to a tankless electric heater, renovating stained-glass windows, and eventually greening the manse, which is still heated by oil.

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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 500 congregations, camps, and buildings across the country. Your participation in the program puts your faith into action and helps the Church reach its target. 

St. John United seizes opportunity to boost efficiency after major pipe leak

Over the years, St. John's United Church of Georgetown and Glen Williams, Ontario have taken thoughtful steps to make its building more efficient and resilient. What began with smaller upgrades like installing LED floodlights above the chancel and in the north parking lot, grew into more significant projects, including a new metal roof on the original church and an upgraded HVAC system for the building’s addition and office areas.

One of the church’s most impactful upgrades took place in the fall of 2023. Realizing the inefficiencies of their aging steam boiler system, the church made the decision to convert to high-efficiency hot water boilers with a higher operating pressure. 

“The original steam pipes, which had heated the building for decades, had corroded over time.” says Robin Allison of St. John’s United Church of Georgetown and Glen Williams

However, in April 2024, just months after the conversion, a major pipe leak was discovered in the lower storage room. Instead of delaying action, the church quickly arranged a temporary repair and pressure-tested the entire system to assess the extent of the issue. The test revealed multiple weak spots and additional leaks hidden throughout the piping. Rather than simply patching the problem, St. John saw an opportunity to strengthen the system for the long term. 

Strengthening the system for the long run 

In June 2024, St. John’s United Church applied to the Faithful Footprints program to help offset approximately $60,000 in hot water pipe remediation costs. Anticipating unforeseen issues, the church set aside a $10,000 contingency and planned to reduce costs by completing drywall removal, restoration, and painting in-house.

During the church’s summer shutdown, while worship took place at a neighboring church, a pipe fitter replaced all compromised sections. By July, members had exposed identified leak areas, and by August, pipe repairs were completed, the grant was approved, and drywall restoration followed

“Thanks to the help from a Faithful Footprints grant, St. John’s United was able to complete a major restoration project in our church, and upgrade our hot water pipe system which was necessary. We now have a long-term, low maintenance solution to our heating system concerns that have been ongoing for years. Completing the retrofit will help ensure comfortable conditions in our facility for years to come.” states Allison 

Future projects 

St. John’s United Church’s most recent renovation shows that building upgrades involve more than installing new equipment. Even when a main issue appears resolved, new challenges can emerge, requiring foresight, flexibility, and a willingness to address them head-on. Despite unexpected setbacks, the church remains committed to continuous improvement, using each project as inspiration to do more.

“Additional needs will continue to emerge, and each will be approached with energy efficiency as the top priority. We are a very active community facility and as the number of events and renters increase, we need to upgrade as much as possible to reduce daily operating costs long term. With more and more of the community coming to our building it was incumbent on us to be perceived as “green” and energy efficient.” says Allison 

Next, St. John United plans to install LED lighting throughout the building, add low-speed, high-volume ceiling fans in the sanctuary, insulate the sanctuary attic, refurbish the community hall’s wood floor, and pave the north parking lot.

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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 500 congregations, camps, and buildings across the country. Your participation in the program puts your faith into action and helps the Church reach its target. 

Welcoming more: Trinity United enhances space for tenant and community use

As community needs shift, many churches are finding new life by opening their doors to a wider range of users, from partner congregations to local organizations and event groups. More people in the building mean higher expectations for comfort, rising energy demands, and growing costs, especially in older buildings. At Trinity United Church in Grimsby, Ontario, this reality came to a head in 2023. In response, the church upgraded its building to ensure its space could remain both welcoming and sustainable.

“Like many small-town churches these days, ours is an important community resource. We’re an old congregation in an old building, and we recognize the need to make that space both comfortable and useful,” states Ken Pettigrew, Board Member at Trinity United Church, Grimsby, Ontario

Over the years, Trinity United has made steady improvements to its facilities with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. Upgrades include energy-efficient lighting, windows, and doors, as well as regular caulking and sealing to prevent heat loss. Trees were planted on the property to provide natural shade and reduce cooling needs, and solar panels were installed on three roofs, which feed into the local grid and generate income for the church.

Meeting the needs of members, tenants, and the local community

In late 2023, two significant events occurred at Trinity United that brought attention back to the comfort and energy efficiency of its buildings.

Trinity United’s long-time neighbors and the founders of the congregation, St. John’s Presbyterian, sold their building and joined as tenants, coming full circle by worshipping once again in the space they had built in 1853. Their return raised concerns about the heating, and perhaps more importantly, the cooling of Memory Hall, the original 1889 structure, which would now serve both as their new worship space and as Trinity’s primary community hall.

At the same time, Trinity’s Board had been struggling with the already rising energy costs. Despite past upgrades, including energy-efficient windows and doors, maintaining comfort and controlling costs remained an ongoing challenge.

“Our experience of heating a virtually empty building during the COVID-19 years brought the matter to a head. An energy audit not only confirmed how much our costs were rising, but also revealed the full extent of our growing carbon footprint – Our heating issue had become not simply a financial burden but also and perhaps more importantly, an ecological  and theological one.” shares Pettigrew

A solution for increased building usage 

As Trinity United Church explored various options, heat pumps began to make sense—their heating and cooling capacity, combined with their efficiency and their potential to reduce reliance on natural gas, made them a great alternative. While not eliminating the need for natural gas, the heat pumps offered the opportunity to drastically reduce gas consumption in the church’s two largest spaces: its Memory Hall, the original sanctuary now serving as the main meeting place, and the newer 1958 sanctuary.

“We had several significant tenants who were asking for air conditioning, and we had always resisted due to cost and impact. Heat pumps offered us a way to reduce our carbon usage while improving the comfort of our facilities,” states Pettigrew

The project was made possible by a generous donation from the church’s new neighbors, St. John’s Presbyterian, who donated a significant sum toward the project. Combined with a major grant from the Faithful Footprints program, this support allowed the Trustees to cover the remaining costs and proceed with the installation of 16 mini-split heat pumps in the two key spaces.

“The impact was immediate—even with our natural gas boilers turned down to ‘barely on,’ the comfort levels in our rooms noticeably improved, and folks would actively comment on it. We fully expect that the installation of these heat pumps will not only enhance the usefulness of our facilities to the community but also serve as a model of energy efficiency and carbon reduction for the town. We are hoping that they will also increase the attractiveness of our facilities for community activities and potential rentals, which will in turn allow us to continue as a faith community and a community asset.” reflects Pettigrew

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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 500 congregations, camps, and buildings across the country. Your participation in the program puts your faith into action and helps the Church reach its target. 

Envisioning the future: Camp Kee-Mo-Kee’s seeks guidance towards sustainability

Nestled within an environmentally protected Carolinian Forest and bordered by Komoka Creek, Camp Kee-Mo-Kee in Komoka, Ontario, has integrated environmental stewardship as a core value. Guided by its tradition of holding nature sacred, the camp fosters a deep respect for the environment among campers and visitors. In recent years, this commitment has extended beyond programming to facility management, guiding efforts to enhance sustainability, upgrade infrastructure, and reduce the camp’s environmental footprint.

Camp Kee-Mo-Kee spans over 2,100 square meters across 13 buildings, including 8 cabins, a craft lodge, a dining hall, and an outdoor chapel. Within the past decade, the camp has integrated environmental stewardship into its facility management practices. From 2018 to 2021, Camp Kee-Mo-Kee's Board of Directors led the Revitalize Kee-Mo-Kee Campaign, funding key capital improvements. Upgrades included new windows, lighting, and automatic doors in the Craft Lodge and Dining Hall, a new utility building with showers and water treatment, and improved ventilation across all buildings.

Making sustainability a priority in how they operate

Responding to growing concerns about global warming, Camp Kee-Mo-Kee has made sustainability a strategic priority and has set out ambitious goals as part of its vision for the future. The camp’s Strategic Plan prioritizes becoming both a Sustainable and a Four-Season Organization. Over the next decade, the camp aspires to operate year-round by upgrading infrastructure and implementing environmentally controlled buildings. As part of this plan, the camp aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% within five years. Currently, the camp relies on propane as its primary operational energy source for water heating and cooking. The transition plans include implementing a solar thermal hot water preheat system for domestic use that will also provide supplemental space heating during the winter.

Navigating barriers to sustainability

Due to its environmental designation and remote location, Camp Kee-Mo-Kee encounters unique challenges when it comes to becoming a year-round-facility and implementing green building upgrades. As an environmentally protected area, any facility changes must comply with strict guidelines, which limit expansion and significant structural modifications. Additionally, its remote location—over 500 meters from municipal infrastructure in a wooded area — adds additional barriers to implementing upgrades. With a six-month operational season, the camp also remains closed and unheated during its off-season, experiencing extreme temperature fluctuations –  requiring durable equipment capable of withstanding long periods of inactivity and extreme weather conditions. Recognizing the challenges, the board remained committed to making impactful changes to help achieve its strategic goal.

“This plan obliges us to continue to grow the organization in a responsible manner - fiscally, environmentally, socially and with accountability. The board was certain a significant difference could be achieved by converting decommissioned equipment to more energy efficient appliances and phasing out the use of propane fuel.”

Seeking guidance and support

Given its unique situation, Camp Kee-Mo-Kee sought guidance from local subject-matter experts and community organizations to identify opportunities for minimizing the environmental footprint of its facilities and making informed, eco-conscious purchasing decisions. 

In 2022, the camp conducted a comprehensive energy audit using the Faith & the Common Good’s DIY Guide, consulted industry professionals on energy use and optimization, and hired an engineer to assess and review a proposal to convert their propane water heating to electric as well as provide recommendations for electrical upgrades to support future infrastructure improvements. 

The review provided a general assessment of the Camp’s propane-fired domestic hot water services throughout the property. The assessment provided potential revisions to the domestic hot water system to reduce carbon emissions and provided a general assessment of the Camp’s electrical service and its expected capacity as it relates to future projects.

In March 2023, leveraging budgeted capital, funds from the Revitalize Kee-Mo-Kee Campaign, and support from the Faithful Footprints grant program, Camp Kee-Mo-Kee proceeded with recommendations and implemented key infrastructure upgrades. The camp replaced its aging commercial refrigerator and freezer with ENERGY STAR-rated appliances and transitioned from propane-fueled water heating in the Craft Lodge and two other buildings to smaller, ENERGY STAR-rated hybrid heat-pump electric water heaters.

ENERGYSTAR rated hybrid heat-pump electric water heaters installed in the Health Hut and Staff Cabin

New electrical supply service installed to support new water heaters

New electrical supply service installed to support new water heaters

ENERGYSTAR rated refrigerator and freezer replaced decommissioned appliances.

Carbon Reduction Review completed which provides a framework for converting propane-fueled hot water heating to electrical systems.

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Author: Aleyxa Gates - Julien

Staying on Course: Stamford Lane United Prioritizes Sustainability with Boiler Replacement Project

Stamford Lane United Church (Niagara Falls) understands the importance of sustainability within its walls, recognizing that its building is much more than just a physical space. As a central hub for worship, learning, fellowship, and community outreach, the church has made it a priority to ensure its longevity and sustainability. 

Congregants at Stamford Lane United are committed to maintaining its building for the future. The church has built up a talented Property Committee with experienced leadership skills, as well as a Trustee Committee that oversees and guides their planning and asset management to ensure the long term health and sustainability of the church and community of faith.

Committed to creating a more eco-friendly and welcoming environment, the church has taken several steps to improve and maintain the integrity and condition of its building, focusing on operational cost-effectiveness and energy conservation. Efforts include upgrading to ENERGY STAR-rated windows, commercial freezer, and dishwasher, installing LED lighting, weatherproofing doors, and replacing the roof and stone masonry, among other improvements.

“The planned sustainability of our building is a continuing high priority for our faith community as the church is a center and a hub for our worship experience, learning and delivery, fellowship, mission and outreach and serving as a space for many and various groups and services in the City – It is of the utmost importance that we remain on course to ensure the building has a long term integrity as it serves so many purposes our congregation and community depends upon.” shares Alastair Davis, Chair Boiler Fundraising Committee, Stamford Lane United Church, Niagara Falls, ON

An impeding boiler 

Requiring extensive maintenance each year, Stamford Lane United’s 32-year-old boiler had reached the point where it was impeding on the larger sustainability goals of the church. With a sound and functioning heating system otherwise, the aging boiler caused a significance drain on finances, and was a major contributor to the church’s carbon emissions. When staff at Stamford Lane United were informed that the boiler was nearing the end of its lifespan, the time had come for a more sustainable solution.

“Replacing our boiler would positively impact our community of faith, demonstrating that we are keeping our commitment, and provide security in knowing a major operational challenge has been met and resolved” stated Davis

To carry out the replacement, Stamford Land United created a Boiler Fundraising Committee which was responsible for raising supporting funds to replace the boiler. This committee discovered The United Church of Canada’s Faithful Footprints program and immediately prepared a grant application with the enthusiastic support of their council, trustees, committees and congregation. 

“We announced the Boiler fundraising plan and the approved $20,000 grant from Faithful Footprints. Everyone was surprised and motivated to learn about the major grant. They responded quickly and generously as the funding goal was achieved.” reflects Davis

Stamford Lane United allocated all funds toward the project. The church was able to upgrade its boiler with a IBC 500,000 BTU high efficiency commercial condensing boiler and a potable water boiler; integrate existing controls to new boilers with zones, and set up 7-day programmable energy management systems to both its sanctuary and gymnasium.

A year after the replacement of their boiler, Stamford Lane United reduced its weather normalized source by 30%, total GHG emissions by 42%, total GHG emission intensity by 42.4%, electricity usage by 23.5%, natural gas usage by 42.8%, and energy costs by 6.5%.

The boiler replacement not only supported Stamford Land United’s operational sustainability but also secured its continued role as a hub for connection, support, and service for members and the surrounding community.

“The Faithful Footprints grant enabled us to rapidly replace an inefficient and expensive to operate boiler – We are secure knowing we will continue a space for worship and pastoral care gatherings, kids' events, humanitarian aid initiatives, bargain boutique, alcoholics anonymous meetings, UNIFOR events, transitions programs, mission and service projects, yoga sessions, adult and junior choirs, dance lessons, and many other community activities” shares Davis.

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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 500 congregations, camps, and buildings across the country. Your participation in the program puts your faith into action and helps the Church reach its target. 

Move to Action: Siloam United’s Commitment to Reducing Carbon Emissions by 30%

Siloam United Church in London, Ontario, is stepping up as a local leader, with a goal to cut its operational carbon emissions by 15% annually over the next two years, for a total reduction of 30% by 2026. Aligned with The United Church of Canada’s ‘Deepen Integrity: Living Climate Commitment’, Siloam has set this target only after a few years of dedicated environmental and climate efforts within their church community.

Their journey began in early 2020 when a church member with expertise in environmental issues co-led a book study with the minister on You Can Save the Earth: A Handbook for Environmental Awareness, Conservation, Sustainability. This initiative inspired a series of seventeen “Greener Home” articles published by the church between June and September that year. Later, in the fall, the congregation took part in a tour of a church member’s LEED-certified home.

These activities raised awareness and enthusiasm within the congregation, and laid a strong foundation for Siloam United’s next phase. In August 2023, the minister announced that the church was ready to take action, with plans to replace an outdated refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR model, install three new energy-efficient doors, and replace 350 fluorescent tube lights with LEDs throughout the building.

“We had already laid the groundwork and created momentum and commitment both through our book study and sermon series. Our community is deeply committed to reducing our carbon footprint. We were ready and motivated to take tangible action” says Dave Dunham

These planned projects would build on the church’s previous efficiency improvements, of upgrading the central heating and air conditioning system to a staged air compressor system and converting half of the HVAC units to heat pumps. These additional upgrades would support the church’s goal of cutting its operational carbon emissions by 15% for the upcoming calendar year. 

The Reduce Our Carbon Footprint Campaign (RCFC)

Siloam Unite, driven by its ambitious carbon reduction target, was ready to take action with significant building upgrades. The church council had already passed a motion to allow the trustees to match funds from the Faithful Footprints grant, unanimously approving a $14,000 contribution toward the project. However, even with combined funds, there were still concerns about whether they would have enough resources to complete all the planned upgrades.

To cover remaining costs, Siloam United ran the Reduce Our Carbon Footprint Campaign (RCFC) to fund their greening projects. This five-week campaign, leading up to Earth Day 2024, invited community members to financially support the church in achieving its carbon reduction goal for the year. 

“We believed that engaging our congregation in this campaign would engage and excite our members and show how we could take action on environmental issues right here in our own building” shares Dave Dunham

The campaign received support from across the community. Members created promotional materials, including a video, posters, and social media posts, to increase awareness and engagement. The campaign was able to raise an additional 5,000 dollars for the project. 

“Every dollar raised was invested into helping us complete the energy-efficiency renovations and upgrades – the campaign’s success is largely because the work was supported by The Faithful Footprints program which raised enthusiasm.” says Catherine Clover 

To their surprise, Siloam United was able to complete their three initial projects under budget, allowing them to allocate the extra funds toward replacing three windows that had lost their energy seals. This additional upgrade brings them even closer to reaching their carbon reduction target. 

Future Building Upgrades 

Siloam United’s 30-year-old building is on a continued path towards achieving a 30% reduction in carbon emissions by 2026. Committed to operating as sustainably and efficiently as possible, the church has set plans to upgrade its infrastructure and implement additional energy conservation projects. 

“Our Faithful Footprints-funded projects created awareness that our community of faith could have a positive impact in the reduction of our carbon footprint.” says Catherine Glover

Future plans include:

• Installing louvered blinds on the skylights to reduce heat and sun entering the sanctuary,

• Replacing six windows and installing light-reflective film on west and south-facing windows,

• Replacing the remaining six individual heating units with heat exchange systems,

• Integrating a Nest thermostat system for digital monitoring and control,

• Replacing five additional windows,

• Installing wiring and converting switches in interior bathrooms and hallways to motion-sensor switches.

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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 500 congregations, camps, and buildings across the country. Your participation in the program puts your faith into action and helps the Church reach its target. 

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. 

Coming Together to Combat Climate Change: The Unified Mission of Deer Park United and Calvin Presbyterian

Ecumenical ministries are collaborative initiatives that aim to foster greater unity and cooperation among different Christian denominations. Bringing together church communities, ecumenical ministries helps combine resources, knowledge, and efforts to address common challenges  — promoting a sense of solidarity and shared purpose among Christian believers. 

By uniting their efforts, these ecumenical partnerships hold the potential to be formidable allies in the ongoing battle against climate change — raising awareness, advocating for sustainable policies, and inspiring eco-friendly practices within their congregations.

Uniting Congregations for a Common Cause: Green Team Formation

With a shared ecumenical ministry spanning 13 years, Deer Park United Church and Calvin Presbyterian Church in Toronto, Ontario, serve as a compelling example of the impact that a united mission can have in the realm of climate action.

Inspired by an enlightening Lenten environmental education series and Earth Day event, the ecumenical ministry established its Green Team in 2019, comprising dedicated members from both Deer Park United and Calvin Presbyterian congregations. With support from the ministry, the Green Team has planned Earth Day celebrations that combine festivity with climate education and has hosted impactful webinars on a range of environmental topics through the North Toronto Cluster of Churches group and Faithful Green Actions Team. Beyond this, they have delved into comprehensive environmental research, examining the consequences of climate change and global mitigation efforts aimed at combatting the anticipated rise in global temperatures. Their commitment extends to the regular publication of their findings in informative articles in their church bulletin and longer, in-depth pieces for their quarterly newsletter — covering a wide spectrum of themes, from practical eco-friendly tips for individuals to inspiring narratives of environmental efforts across the globe.

“We feel that it is urgent for us to do what we can to ameliorate the effects of climate change – The purpose of the articles is to let Deer Park and Calvin Presbyterian congregants know that their efforts are magnified by the efforts of others.” shares Martha Charney, Board Chair of Deer Park United Church. 

Beyond their climate change research, the Green team embarked on an exploration of strategies to minimize energy consumption and enhance sustainability within their shared church space. Their examination of the building's infrastructure and potential upgrades served a dual purpose – not only to inspire environmental stewardship among their congregation but also to set an environmentally responsible and energy-efficient precedent for their place of worship.

Following thorough research, which considered potential target areas like lighting, insulation, and appliances, the Green team determined that replacing the aging boiler system was the most impactful and immediate solution for reducing the building's environmental footprint. The building's existing heating system, comprising steam radiators and two unreliable boilers, had posed challenges for several years. Embracing a more energy-efficient and eco-friendly heating system, would help cut carbon emissions and lower their building energy consumption.

This project would expand on the previous greening efforts around their building, including posting signs in communal areas reminding occupants to turn off lights when not in use, upgrading lighting in their sanctuary to LEDs, installing programmable thermostats in the sanctuary and administrative areas, and replacing broken window panes. 

A Joint Effort: Enhancing Sustainability within Their Shared Space

The retrofit project, focused on the replacement of their boiler, was overseen by the Property Committee and supported by the Green Team. Though the 1926 Greco-Roman style building is owned by Calvin Presbyterian, the responsibility for its maintenance is jointly shared by both congregations.

In anticipation of the financial requirements for their portion of the renovation expenses, Deer Park United took the proactive step of establishing a Building Fund in 2021. Recognized as eligible for Faithful Footprints funding, Deer Park United also submitted a Faithful Footprints grant application in 2023 to aid in supporting the project.

The church had also  initiated appeals to its congregants and adherents for special donations towards replacing their boiler. Before the project had officially begun, Deer Park's congregants and adherents demonstrated their commitment to the cause by generously donating over $13,000 to the church's Building Fund, with additional contributions flowing in after a dedicated appeal during their annual meeting.

“Our newly installed boiler should be much more reliable and efficient — it will produce more steady heat, make less noise, and reduce costs on our Enbridge bills.” explains Martha Charney “These positive effects will not only impact our congregations and staff, but also the other people who use our building, such as AA, and the Toronto Children’s Chorus, who rent space from Calvin.”

Both, Deer Park United and Calvin Presbyterian have future plans to continue enhancing the operational sustainability of their shared space. The next steps include the installation of LED lights in their office and meeting areas, an upgrade to the HVAC system in the windowless and poorly ventilated lower hall, and potential insulation and replacement of windows in areas of around the building.  

Are you part of an ecumenical ministry with a United Church of Canada community of faith? You might be eligible to apply for Faithful Footprints funding to support energy conservation and decarbonization building retrofits projects. 

Learn more here  

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.

Ready for More: Runnymede United Retrofits for Greater Energy Savings

Deciding the scale and size of your building renovation projects can be complicated. Even with a handful of experiences with minor fixes and small repairs around your building, larger renovation projects can extend beyond the comfort zone of your community of faith.

With minor energy conservation projects, communities of faith focus on low-hanging fruit. These types of building modifications are low-cost, easy to implement, and offer good value for the money and effort invested. Examples include sealing with caulking or spray foam and upgrading lighting. Though these projects can improve energy conservation, larger-scale projects have the ability to provide a greater return on investment and result in greater energy-saving and carbon-reduction outcomes.

By building up confidence, knowledge, and project management skills – many communities of faith start off small and gradually make their way to larger-scale energy-efficiency and decarbonization building renovation projects.

Building up the Momentum

For Runnymede United Church, in Toronto, Ontario, building greening efforts date back over a decade. Since completing a Green Audit by Faith & the Common Good, in 2011, Runnymede United has engaged in a variety of energy conservation projects.

In 2012, they replaced old T12 4-foot fluorescent bulbs with more efficient T8 bulbs and ballasts, and later with LED T8 bulbs throughout the church. They also replaced outside flood lights with LED flood lights and halogen PAR 38 flood light bulbs and incandescent bulbs with LEDs in their sanctuary.

In 2016, they replaced their atmospheric-fired gas domestic hot water heater with an insulated, power-vented, high-efficiency, gas hot water heater.

From 2016 to 2017, they replaced three simple mechanical thermostats with three programmable Ecobee thermostats. The new thermostats conducted temperature setbacks at night and when the rooms were not in use.

And in 2017, they installed diverters on the wall outlets of their gym heating system, improving air circulation throughout the space – improving comfort, and reducing the accumulation of hot air at the ceiling level. Later that year, the church also added two inches of foam insulation to the gym roof.

Ready for More

Runnymede United was well-equipped. They have an active Property Committee that has engaged in various small-scale energy conservation projects for many years and support from their congregation – including PropCom, a group of property volunteers that meet weekly to work on repair, maintenance, and improvement projects. The church was ready to see greater energy saving.

The church started off with a list of four potential projects and realized they couldn't do all of them. After discussing the potential projects with contractors, experts, their PropCom group, and the finance and property committee, they narrowed their scope to two projects likely to have the most significant impact. These two projects were projected to have the greatest cost-benefit ratio – in terms of cost per dollar saved in operational cost, and per tonne of GHG reduced.

Ceiling Fans

The first project replaced four ineffective and noisy ceiling fans in the sanctuary with four 8-foot modern energy-efficiency fans. The new fans will contribute to reduced energy loss in the church’s large 40-foot high ceiling and 7,000 sq ft space, throughout the entire year. In the colder months, the fans will enable the church to reduce the accumulation of warm air on the ceiling level, significantly reducing heat loss from the uninsulated ceiling. In the warmer months, the fans will improve air circulation at the floor level, improving congregational comfort, with only a small fraction of the energy usage that would otherwise be required for air conditioning.

Heat pumps

The second project replaced the church’s gas-fired steam heating system with heat pumps in the Memorial Hall in their sanctuary. The church installed two 36,000 BTU Mitsubishi split units.

“Compared to our previous gas-fired steam heating system, we hope the efficiency of the heat pumps will reduce our overall energy consumption and our GHG emissions,” states Don Dewees, Chair of Finance and Property Committees at Runnymede United Church. 

In addition to providing heat in the winter and cooling in the summer, as well as decarbonizing part of the church’s building operations, the newly installed heat pumps also improved the building’s heating and cooling control.

The previous system that was servicing the Memorial Hall was on the same steam valve as other parts of the building. Through the project, Runnymede United decoupled temperature control in the Hall from the radiators – allowing the church to control heating and cooling ventilation in different parts of the building separately and more precisely.

“We have one boiler that heats all of our space: the sanctuary, Memorial Hall, gym, offices, Sunday School rooms, meeting rooms – everything. Now that the heat pumps are installed, the radiators in Memorial Hall are turned off. The only heat in that room will come from the heat pumps. This will displace whatever steam heat that room has been using.” shares Dewees.

One project at a time

Runnymede United is an example of a community faith that has continued to green their building, one project at a time.

Dewees advises “If your planned projects are not time-constrained or dependent on one another, it's helpful to spread them apart and not do them at the same time”.

“Take a hard look at your building, do some research, and try to identify practical projects to take on and when you can afford to do them. Look for past experiences from communities of faith. Faithful Footprints is a great source to start.” shares Dewees. “Our practical experience from our previous projects helped us understand the magnitude of energy savings that potential projects might have. Our earlier interest and experience in energy conservation were really helpful in providing a good database. We have records of our hydro and gas meters going back 20-25 years. The reports provide a solid base for comparison. We can look at our consumption before the projects and afterward. Because we know more about our previous year's energy consumption, it’s easier to assess the magnitude of the savings that we should expect”. 

“The heat pump project is a test force – we have air conditioning with heat pumps and several other heat pumps in other areas in the building. This is the first time we have installed them with the expressed goal of displacing gas in the winter. This coming winter we will find out if the heat pumps provide sufficient heat during the colder months. If the Memorial Hall heat pumps perform well, we will consider additional heat pump installations and further reductions in our greenhouse gas emissions.” adds Dewees.

Are you interested in taking your greening to the next level?

The more you can learn about your building, the more you can save energy, minimize maintenance costs, and maximize the usage of your building. Build up your confidence, knowledge, and project management skills to support your energy conservation and decarbonization retrofit projects. Book a Green Audit and explore the following Faith & the Common Good downloadable resources to learn what more you can do.

Energy Star® Action Workbook for Congregations

DIY Walkthrough Audit

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.