Some renovation projects are talked about long before they happen. They might not be fully planned out, but there's a shared understanding among the church community and staff that these building updates are needed and will eventually get done. When the time finally comes and resources are available to address these projects, it’s an exciting time for the church.
Salisbury United Church located in Sherwood Park, Alberta experienced this feeling when they executed a long-anticipated upgrade of over 100 lights throughout its entire building.
Bringing the Project to Light
Caring for their building and ensuring its functionality is a commitment of Salisbury United. They describe their building as a key ministry tool for the congregation, serving the Salisbury United community as well as several other community groups and a growing Filipino church.
The idea to completely replace the lighting inside the building’s 1950s and 1980s sections had been on the church’s radar for a while. The project included replacing over 100 fluorescent and incandescent lights in its Sanctuary, office, program and daycare areas with LEDs and replacing two parking lot street lamps.
“We share our church with a Filipino congregation, house numerous community groups, offer a home to a Daycare with almost 100 children attending and provide cost-effective support to those community groups which have returned to use our facility, including Brownies and Karate, both of which support children, youth and families – This project was an investment in the continued life of those groups as well as in our ability to house the congregation of Salisbury United Church,” says Brian McCarthy, Property Chair, Salisbury United
When the time came around, Salisbury United faced little hesitation in finally undertaking this project, given the age of their fixtures and the need to enhance the building's sustainability. The Board was onboard and at a congregational meeting to approve their 2023 budget, the congregation was informed of the project's necessity and expressed their support.
Prepared and Ready
Knowing that new ministry and building updates like this would eventually be needed, Salisbury United set up the Cornerstone Fund years ago. This fund, built from memorials and other donations, was put aside specifically for new ministry work and property projects. Because of this planning, the Cornerstone Fund had just enough money to cover the remaining costs of the project after receiving support from the Faithful Footprints program and Government of Alberta equipment rebates. As a result, the church didn’t need to do any additional fundraising. This preparedness was helpful as the church had seen a drop-off in financial participation by supporters who were occasional or annual attenders as well as losing renters after the pandemic.
Before starting the project, Salisbury United anticipated a few challenges. They knew they could not handle any physical or technical aspects, so they wanted a turnkey solution from a contractor. With several renovations over the years, they were aware that their electrical drawings were outdated and connected with a contractor experienced in working with older church buildings.
The church also had to consider its Daycare program, which operates five days a week from 6 AM to 5 PM in the basement, and the after-school care program on the main floor. They needed a contractor who could work around these schedules, including off-hours if necessary.
One unexpected issue was that the main contractor couldn't replace the yard lights due to not having a picker truck. With the lights out and parents needing to navigate a dark and busy parking lot for pick-up and drop-off, Salisbury United brought on another contractor to handle the repair and include it in the overall lighting upgrade project.
A Brighter Space and Reduced Electricity Use
Salisbury United Church successfully completed the LED lighting upgrade turning their sanctuary into a brighter, more welcoming space. The new lights are significantly brighter and offer adjustable intensity and wavelength for various activities and events. Areas that were previously in shadow, such as the chancel, communion table, and pulpit, are now well-lit and easily visible from all angles.
"Before the upgrades, users of these spaces never realized just how dull the old lights were," says McCarthy.
In addition to aesthetics, the upgrade is three times more efficient than the previous lighting system, saving the church 26,685 kWh of electricity annually—equivalent to a cost savings of approximately $5,500 per year. This improved efficiency reduces the demand for energy generation and significantly cuts down on maintenance costs. Church staff no longer have to replace failed tubes and ballasts monthly, eliminating waste streams containing harmful substances like mercury and PCBs.
Additionally, the installation of new yard lights has improved the illumination of the parking lot, improving safety and security, especially during Alberta's long, dark winters.
A year after the project was completed, Salisbury United Church achieved a remarkable 40.1% reduction in electricity usage.
Future Plans
Looking ahead, there are other projects that Salisbury United will be considering which include insulating the sanctuary roof or upgrading the two double-door entrances, which are currently single-pane glass. These updates have been on the church’s radar, and once the timing and resources align, the community will work towards making these improvements to their building.
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.