Monthly Highlight
Looking for a way for your community to celebrate Earth Week 2024? There is still time to sign up to host a Faithful Footprints Retrofit Tour
Has your faith community participated in The United Church of Canada’s Faithful Footprints program? Consider hosting a Faithful Footprints Retrofit Tour of your building as part of the 60+ United Church of Canada’s events in Together For the Love of Creation Earth Week 2024 (April 21 - 28). This is an opportunity to celebrate the building upgrades your faith community has achieved and a chance for others to get a closer look at the renovations and upgrades. Inspire others by sharing your experience, lessons learned, as well as the carbon, energy, operational costs, and community impact that your community has experienced.
Work Completed
Carmen United Church (Sydney Mines, NS)
Received a grant to install heat pumps to offload dependence on its furnace.
Harmony - St. Mark's United Church (Richards Landing, ON)
Received a grant to install 2 heat pumps in its hall and sanctuary to offload dependence on its 2 energy efficient propane furnaces that were installed in 2021; install a low-speed high-volume fan in its sanctuary; replace emergency exit lights; and replace all lighting in building with LED bulbs as well as refurbish fluorescent fixtures to adapt to LED tubes.
Harmony - St. Mark's United Church (Richards Landing, ON)
Received a grant to install 2 heat pumps in its hall and sanctuary to offload dependence on its 2 energy efficient propane furnaces that were installed in 2021; install a low-speed high-volume fan in its sanctuary; replace emergency exit lights; and replace all lighting in building with LED bulbs as well as refurbish fluorescent fixtures to adapt to LED tubes.
O'Leary United Church (O'Leary, PE)
Received a grant to replace 2 oil furnaces with 8 heat pumps.
Energy Results
St. James Centennial United Church (Parry Sound, ON)
Received a grant to replace a refrigerator, dishwasher, and several small freezers with one larger one; replace a gas boiler; install LED bulbs and plastic heat shrink window coverings; caulk windows; and insulate the roof and a wall. A year following their projects, St. James Centennial United reduced its weather-normalized source EUI by 20.9%, total GHG emissions by 31.3%, total GHG emissions intensity by 29.7%, electricity usage by 36.7%, and natural gas usage by 31.3%.
Metropolitan United Church (Toronto, ON)
Received a grant to replace all compact fluorescent lights on the entire lower level of its facility with LEDs; replace backlighting of enclosed stained glass with LED fixtures; and replace halogen stage lights with theatre-quality LED fixtures. A year following their projects, Metropolitan United reduced its weather-normalized source EUI by 10.9%, total GHG emissions by 30.9%, and district stream usage by 33.4%.
Inspiration
In the Nick of Time: Glenwood United's Timely Rescue by Faithful Footprints
In 2023, several United Churches encountered challenges when their boilers broke down, resulting in an urgent need to replace them. Glenwood United Church (Windsor, ON) sourced out Faithful Footprints funding to replace its boilers rapidly approaching the end of their 25-year lifespan.
Carman United's Journey to a Sustainable Future
Amidst discussion on their physical building and the transition to worshiping in a local fire hall, Carmen United Church (Sydney Mines, NS) encountered a pressing challenge of sustainability. Faced with the unfeasibility of selling or leaving their building vacant, the church explored alternatives. Discover how Carmen United leveraged the Faithful Footprints grant, enabling them to invest in heat pumps and reduce reliance on oil.
This is a featured blog of In Our Power, a series of stories produced by Faithful Footprints Atlantic Regional Support Centre, Ecology Action Centre. The series highlights the work of ordinary people and diverse communities in Atlantic Canada working to create a just transition to a green economy.
Empowering faith-building owners and operators
Last week, Better Buildings Ottawa and Greening Sacred Spaces Ottawa hosted a workshop at Trinity Anglican Church for faith-building owners and operators to learn how they can make their faith-building more energy-efficient. Attendees spent a whole day learning about energy efficiency, what it means, how it can apply to faith buildings, and what can be done to improve buildings’ efficiency. Energy auditors Stephen Dixon, Michel Parent and Faithful Footprints Building Grant Manager Stephen Collette also lead an energy treasure hunt through the building, demonstrating different ways to make Trinity Anglican Church more sustainable.
Together for the Love of Creation: Earth Week 2024
For Earth Week, April 21-28, Moderator Carmen Lansdowne reminds us that change takes all of us. Each action brings hope. Let’s make hope visible across the country. During Earth Week, let’s show up For the Love of Creation! Let's pray, learn, and act for Creation. Communities of faith, networks, and regions are invited to initiate and participate in climate justice events during the week of April 21‒28 to pray, learn, and act for the love of Creation.
This is a tremendous opportunity for the church to lift and strengthen the ways that we are putting our house in order by reducing our carbon footprint; raising our spirited voices through advocacy efforts; connecting with the earth; responding to climate impacts; and challenging ourselves to be deep, bold, and daring.
Opportunities
April 4, 2024 | 12:00 PM EST
Applications are due April 15th.
The United Church of Canada's Foundation’s Seeds of Hope granting program supports innovative, unique, and much-needed projects which enable us to live out the New Creed’s call to seek justice, live with respect in creation and love and serve others. The program's Environmental Endowment Fund supports environmental justice initiatives that enable and encourage the church to live with respect in creation. Attend the step-by-step grant application webinar to support your application.
Near Net Zero by 2030?: Heat Pumps and Geothermal Loops
April 13, 2024 | 1:00 PM EST
The Ecological and Social Justice Commission of the UCC Shining Waters Council has been conducting virtual webinars over the past year to encourage congregations to reduce their carbon footprints. These sessions discuss realistic and practical steps, driven by expertise, that will help enable the national church to meet its ambitious target of carbon reduction 80% by 2030. Attend their next webinar, exploring current options for reducing emissions while heating homes and faith-community buildings.
The People's Parade for Life on Earth
April 20, 2024 | 2:00 PM | Sackville Landing
The People’s Parade for Life on Earth is a grassroots community parade - a joyful celebration for all to come together in respect and love for Mother Earth, the Water and all our relations. The parade is an opportunity to build the community that nourishes and strengthens us as we face the many crises of our time and continue our resistance for a better future. It is a gathering where everyone is welcome as members of one family, to celebrate together and uplift our spirits!
Divesting for the Love of Creation
April 22, 2024 | 7:00 PM CDT
Prairie to Pine Regional Council will be encouraging communities of faith in its region to start a conversation with their bank or credit union about where their money is invested. The region wants to support communities to take action, to express their concerns, and and to explore what divesting might mean for them. The region will be offering a monthly Zoom forum starting April 22nd at 7:00PM CDT, and continuing on the 22nd of each month over the coming year.
Earth Day Prayer Circle - Online
April 22, 2024 | 5:00 PM MST
In conjunction with For the Love of Creation, join Chinook Winds Region’s Indigenous Minister Rev. Tony Snow and others for a time of prayer on United Nations International Mother Earth Day. The event invites voices from our United Church communities, For The Love Of Creation campaign and interfaith community members into our circle to share in this time of reflection and acknowledgement of the climate crisis.
Climate Change, Eco-anxiety and Habits of Hope
April 25, 2024 | 1:00-2:30 PM EDT
Forest fires, floods, droughts, severe storms, deforestation, pollution. Across Canada, people face the terrible impacts of ecological destruction and climate crises. No matter how different people are impacted by environmental destruction or the climate crisis, these experiences can cause high levels of anxiety for everyone. What are faithful responses to eco-anxiety? Join the Rev. Dr. Pamela McCarroll as we consider how we can intentionally cultivate habits of hope while facing the climate crisis.
The Presbyterian Church in Canada and in support of the work of the faith-based climate-justice coalition For the Love of Creation.
Free energy audits for faith buildings in Nova Scotia
March 1 – July 31, 2024
Faith groups have identified a need for energy audits of their buildings as an important the first step in retrofitting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Faithful Footprints Atlantic Regional Support Centre, Ecology Action Centre is offering 30+ free energy audits for faith buildings across Nova Scotia. Get a detailed energy report with recommendations & customized advice qualifying you to apply for Efficiency Nova Scotia rebates. Energy audits are on a first-come, first served basis, but will do their best to accommodate a diversity of faiths and geographic locations within the program's capacity.
Be a powerful actor for the environment, create a more comfortable space for faith members and the community, and reduce overhead costs and greenhouse gas emissions.