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Community Corner

Manchester Congregation First in Connecticut to Receive U.S. EPA Certification

The Unitarian Universalist Society: East scored a 97 out of 100 Energy Efficiency Rating.

The Unitarian Universalist Society: East has been awarded Energy Star certification by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, making the Manchester congregation the first house of worship in Connecticut to receive such recognition.

The certification follows a recent remodeling and expansion of the approximately 300-member Society's building at 153 West Vernon St., which was completed in March of 2010. The renovations included substantial efforts to incorporate green practices. 

The church has a history of striving toward green practices. With guidance from its Sustainble Living Committee, the congregation both recycles and purchases recycled products whenever possible, composts, and maintains an organic vegetable garden. In 2006, the congregation was honored by the Unitarian Universalist Association for meeting stringent requirements for its Green Sanctuary designation.  

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"For Unitarian Universalists and certainly for this congregation, we take very seriously the idea of doing all we can to protect the environment and live in harmony with the environment," said Rev. Josh Pawelek, pastor of The Unitarian Universalist Society: East. "Rebuilding our building in a way that reduced our carbon footprint as dramatically as it has teaches us how to live in more sustainable ways and is spiritual activism."

The $2 million building expansion incorporated such energy-saving and green measures as installing Energy Star appliances, energy efficient lighting, windows, and fans, low flow toilets, extra insulation, as well as rain gardens to utilize water runoff. However, the pièce de résistance was the installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system.

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Geothermal heating and cooling systems utilize underground temperatures which remain constant year round to heat and cool buildings above ground. Such systems require the drilling of deep underground wells in which a fluid is circulated. While the systems, if properly installed, can generate significant cost savings, the initial upfront expense for installation is typically greater than a conventional heating/cooling system.

"Energy conservation has been a priority for this congregation and their commitment to reducing our carbon fooprint unyeilding," said Society President Jo Anne Gillespie.

Gillespie said the main impetus for them to raise $1.6 million toward the expansion was the commitment that construction include the geothermal system, which would supply both heat and air conditioning, totally removing the church's dependence on fuel oil.

The project from initial discussions and planning through its completion was, however, not without a few bumps in the road, particularly with a decision to abandon an original design when the congregation's leadership and Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Team realized it was cost prohibitive. The congregation eventually hired a new architect who came up with a more modest design. 

"I got involved the second time around when we were really keeping a closer eye on our limited budget," said Jim Adams, who chaired the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Team. "We knew what we needed to do, but there was a time when it wasn't entirely clear if we would have enough money for the geothermal installation."

Adams had some fairly good experience with sustainable practices himself. He heats and cools his own home with a geothermal system and also has grid-tied solar electric panels.

"I pushed pretty strongly for the geothermal system," Adams said. "We were doing a lot of things like putting in extra insulation and reusing wood, but the geothermal was really the biggest part. We were looking at the possibility of a 30 to 40 percent reduction in energy use, which would be huge. The decision went right down to congregational meetings where we learned the congregation was willing to stick their neck out for it."

Adams said they worked on estimates for the system, determining they needed 10 wells drilled at about $10,000 each. The wells are under the paved parking lot.

"We monitored the budget very closely," said Adams. "I was a little anxious to see how it would work out."

After a full twelve months with the new system, the congregation applied for an evaluation by the EPA for Energy Star certification. According to the EPA website, houses of worship must score at least 75 on a performance scale out of a possible 100 points to be granted certification. The Unitarian Universalist Society: East scored a 97.

"We want this news to get out there," said Adams. "A lot of churches are tall, steepled legacy buildings, and there isn't always a lot that they can do with heating and cooling. But sometimes it can be done, and hopefully this will spur others to call on us to find out what can be done."

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