Faithful Footprints November 2022 Newsletter
The Faithful Footprints Monthly Newsletter is designed to engage and provide on-going inspiration and support for United Church communities across Canada. Our monthly newsletter will be released the last Wednesday of every month.
Program Updates
Every month, the Faithful Footprints program approves several applications and welcomes new United Churches and affiliated properties into the program, as a number of faith-communities complete their projects and receive their final energy reduction results.
Data from October 25 - November 29
New to the program:
Projects Completed:
Camp Fircom, Vancover, BC
Received a grant in support of the installation of 15kW of solar PV panels on its archery shelter.
First United Church, Truro, NS
Received a grant in support of the installation of new piping, two propane furnaces, radiators, and a single and multi-system heat pump.
Fraser Road United Church, Gander, NL
Received a grant in support of the installation of four heat pumps, LED lighting around the entire building, excluding the sanctuary; the replacement of refrigerator, chest freezer, and two hot water tanks with a 40-gallon and 11-gallon tank, with the larger replacing an oil-fired unit.
Grace United Church, Dartmouth, NS
Received a grant in support of the replacement of three oil-fired hot air furnaces with a heat pump system.
Knox United Church, Glace Bay, NS
Received a grant in support of the installation of heat pumps; and the insulation of the entire building.
Knox United Church, Saskatoon, SK
Received a grant in support of the replacement of a 84-year old firetube boiler with two new boilers and venting system, and the replacement of a natural gas water heater with an electric water heater.
Old Barns United Church, Lower Truro, NS
Received a grant in support of the installation of solar panels and heat pumps; and the replacement of 22 baseboard heaters and 154 fluorescent bulbs to LED lighting.
St. Andrew’s United Church, Moose Jaw, NS
Received a grant in support of the replacement of interior and exterior fluorescent lights with LED lights, replacement of a water heater with two tank-less water heaters; and the installation of motion-sensored light switches in all bathrooms in the building.
St. Paul’s United Church, Midland, ON
Received a grant in support of the replacement of a furnace installed around 1955, with three new boilers.
St. Stephen’s United Church, Qualicum Beach, BC
Received a grant in support of the replacement of two water heaters with an electric and gas water heater, replacement of seven single paned/louvered windows in the Sanctuary and two bathrooms with argon-filled double glazed thermal pane windows, replacement of a furnace with a heat pump, replacement of chest freezer; the increased insulation of attic to R40; the installation of LED lighting throughout building; and the weatherstripping of all exit doors and caulking of double pane windows.
Energy Results:
Duncan United Church, Duncan, BC
Received a grant in support of the replacement of fluorescent and incandescent lights with LED lighting, an oil furnace with an air-source heat pump and electric motor, and two fridges, four freezers, and windows. A year following its projects, Duncan United reduced its GHG emissions by 58.7%, natural gas usage by 23.9%, and energy costs by 18.5%.
Oakbank United Church, Oakbank, MB
Received a grant in support of the replacement of a refrigerator, hot water tank, front doors, rooftop top HVAC units; and the downsizing of four furnaces to two. A year following its projects, Oakbank United reduced its electricity usage by 18.9%, and energy costs by 2.7%.
Highlight of the Month
All Faithful Footprints participating faith-communities are required to send in photos of their projects and write a final report about what they had accomplished and reflect on their retrofit experience. Many properties send in before and after photos, congregational members working in action, and very detailed program reviews. Some participating properties go the extra mile and create outstanding videos capturing their Faithful Footprints experience. Watch Knox United’s (Glace Bay, NS) Faithful Footprints video and hear more about their program journey.
Community Excitement
“It has been an exciting time for our church as the work from funding provided by the Faithful Footprints Grant was completed. We are now the proud owners of four heat pumps, two installed in the sanctuary and two in the church hall. – With the initiatives we have taken, we expect to see a sharp decline in the heating and lighting costs this winter and into the future.”
- Fraser Road United Church (Gander, NL)
A Green Audit: Money Well Spent
"The best money we ever spent was on a green audit with Stephen Collette." - Dorren Kot, Parkdale United Church (Calgary, AB)
Curious to know how to make your faith-community building operations as energy and cost-efficient as possible? Consider doing a Green Audit, a comprehensive environmental and energy audit, with Faithful Footprints Delivery Partner Faith & the Common Good. Tour your property with a licensed professional and get a personalized road map for how your community can walk more gently on the planet.
***Includes assessment of energy, air quality, food, water, transport, waste, operations, maintenance, landscaping, etc.
Faithful Footprints and Climate Justice
The Road past COP 27: Spirit and Change webinar hosted by For the Love of Creation took place November 22. Angele Alook, a member of the Bigstone Cree Nation in Alberta and assistant professor at York University discussed her observations at COP 27 and issues related to Indigenous peoples and the power of the resource extraction industry. Michael Poland of the proposed Fossil Fuel Non-proliferation Treaty presented details of it. Watch a recording of the webinar here.
Westworth United’s Mission to Be Environmentally Progressive
Westworth United Church (Winnipeg, MB) wants to be “the hands and feet of Christ within Westworth and beyond”, and prides itself in demonstrating a living faith; one that is expressed not only in ministry, but also in mission, in and with the world. Part of this mission is to live with respect for Creation and to be ecologically and environmentally progressive. Read "Environmentally Progressive: Westworth United Expands its Mission with a Faithful Footprints Grant" and learn about the two program funded projects that helped Westworth United reduce its GHG emissions by 15.9%, and its natural gas usage by 16.0%.
Features: Westworth United Church (Winnipeg, MB)
Faithful Footprints Monthly Blog
The Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre (Beausejour, MB) is an accredited theological college that offers cross-cultural learning and Indigenous ministry training, as well as a peaceful place on the land for retreats, meetings and gatherings. In 2018, after hearing about the Faithful Footprints program through a regional United Church of Canada gathering, Robert Smith, the Keeper of the Centre, who looks after and suggests improvements to the Centre’s buildings and surroundings, took initiative in looking further into the grant. Learn more about the Centre’s experience in “Future Ready: Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre retrofits with Faithful Footprints Grant”.
Features: The Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre (Beausejour, MB)
Faithful Footprints Monthly Blogs are published the 2nd Tuesday of every month.
Explore the Program
Explore Faithful Footprints Grants and Energy Data online interactive maps to learn more about the properties that have participated in the Faithful Footprints program as well as the energy data of finished projects.
Connect with Your Regional Support Centre
Faithful Footprints Regional Support Centres aim to encourage diverse faith based and multi-sectoral allied groups to work together and help create a regional climate collaborative network that will continue beyond the life of this project. Explore specific local and regional resources to assist you to reduce your faith building’s carbon and energy footprint.
