A Helpful and Timely Resource on the Farm Bill
The deadline for reauthorizing the Farm Bill comes at the end of September and though the deadline wil[...]
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The deadline for reauthorizing the Farm Bill comes at the end of September and though the deadline wil[...]
Visits to our companion parishes have a common script – the singing and dancing of the welcome, the [...]
We are not the first generation to be concerned about the future of the church. Five centuries ago, du[...]
Date posted: Friday 25 February 2022
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer is very interested in reducing our expenses while promoting environmental efficiency. We had already changed standard light bulbs to LED, but we did not have the resources to do a full-scale conversion of all our 4’ ceiling ballast fluorescent tube lights and outside lighting.
Also, we have two heating systems – one for our 100+ year historic sanctuary and another for our 50-year-old Learning Center. Our heating costs were astronomical. We learned about EnerChange through the Saint Paul Area Synod. Karen Malkowski from EnerChange met with us, toured the building, and then brought in the necessary professionals to help us assess our energy needs. With Karen serving as liaison, we were able to replace over 400 ceiling lights and upgrade our outdoor lighting, saving us over $4000 in annual costs.
Additionally, we learned we were being charged premium heating surcharges due to our lack of adjustable heat controls. Karen connected us with a proactive heating service who installed adjustable controls and repaired and serviced our boilers. With rebates and financing available through CEE, we were able to afford all of these upgrades without any increases to our budget.
The lighting improvements will pay for themselves within two years and the heating within five. Our heat is better regulated, and our lighting makes the whole church brighter and more welcoming. The outside lighting has also increased safety for our guests and our building. Plus, we can now light up our tower in festive colors! We highly recommend EnerChange!
Tamra Davis Cownie
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, St. Paul
EnerChange offers its services at no charge to its clients. It is funded through the Conservation Improvement Program with contributions from Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy, administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce/Division of Energy Resources. Learn more at https://enerchange.org/.
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