The advice we have received suggests it will take 3 heat pumps at a cost of $4100 each to efficiently  heat the space. These heat pumps have an equivalent heat output of 11kw max each (9kw is average).  This is an increase in heating of 15.5 kw with the added bonus that they blow the heat around. To achieve this output they have a max input of 2.6kw each giving a total of 7.8kw. It was estimated that it would take about an hour at full output to warm the room up – at which point the units could go to a quieter mode drawing less power. 7.8kw for approx 2 hours at 12.287 cents/kwh equals $1.9. Running at about half power for a further 2 hours is approx another $1.

Per hour use:

Current heating $2.15. Heat pumps (at max usage) 95cents.

It would take about 9100 hours (or 1820 morning services, or about 35) to recap the cost.  Economics isn’t the sole consideration, but there is another disadvantage with heat pumps – expectation as to an acceptable level of warmth changes. The ability to crank the thermostat means we can all come to church in winter in singles and sandals. After all, the primary goal is to be warmer than we currently are… no wait… is it?

Installing ceiling fans to keep the heat down would increase the efficiency of whatever heating we have, this is a likely first step.

Could use some help here. Has anyone tried or can you think of any other way to heat an old wooden Anglican Church? I am looking at pellet burners, they seem to be able to put out about 10kw equivalent so we would need at least 2, has anyone tried these?

This is still only recycling the paper. Not using it in the first place would be better.

With that in mind a proposal has been put to vestry to for the halving of the size of the weekly pew sheet, and printing only enough for those that refer back to them during the week. The following is the proposal:

1: That the events for the order of service and readers be projected or spoken.

a. That the collect and sentence be projected in a large font as some people have trouble reading the screen.

2. That only the events for the week and notices that people need to refer to during the week be included in the notices.

3. That only those who actually refer back to the sheet during the week be encouraged to take them home, allowing for a reduced number to be printed.

a. That the weekly events be included on the website

b. That specific notices continue to be read during the service.

c. That a notice board or white board be placed in a prominent position – such as by the door so people can refer to it again during morning tea.

4. That the pew news be emailed to those who request it. This could be set up and done easily as it is all written on the computer anyway.

5. That a few cards with contact details be made available at the end of each pew for new people who would like to contact someone, or leave contact details (this is because the pew sheet currently has all the contact details for visitors).

6. That the notice sheets that are printed are placed on the table next to where the minister shakes peoples hands after the service and some by the cup of tea window allowing people to take them if they would like to.

Although the pew sheet is not a huge waste on a world scale, it is part of the bigger picture of the church attempting to reduce waste and consumption before encouraging the congregation do examine their own lives.

We would like to trial the new format for a couple of weeks and see if it works.

A couple of interesting results, I found an unwrapped hot water cylinder in an un-insulated storage room, next to an outside wall, under slat windows that don’t seal, on a concrete floor, running hot water taps in a bathrooms used probably a couple of times a month.

Looking more closely than usual is a good idea.

Ordered fair trade coffee to replace our usual for Sunday after the services. This is where the spade strikes the soil. It doubled the price. Questions are being asked - raising bigger issues… Although it is easier just to make changes yourself, the idea of being a church means that we need to be moving together. Doesn’t it?

In this case the hot water cylinder should offset the coffee, but it won’t always work like that. We want to be sustainable – but at what cost?

The Helm group met for the first time and decided that the focus should be wider than becoming carbon neutral. That was thought to be one aspect of the bigger picture of sustainability. Decided to conduct an audit of the church buildings and practice first, then attempt to encourage a small group to look at their lifestyles before attempting to role out the ideas to the wider congregation.

Sideline - discussed how our understanding of environmental sustainability might affect our church and faith practice, not just how our faith affects our environmental understanding. Arguably, consumer mentality and a particular model of economic growth has seen many churches take marketing techniques and a consumer driven service into church practice. For the sake of convenience and pragmatism individual congregations tend to be relatively homogenous, similar types of people having their needs met in churches that fit them. It is easier, and there is large growth - obviously good? In terms of environmental practice however, though easier and practical, a monoculture plantation is seldom a good idea. How would understanding of permeculture and environmental sustainability challenge our faith and church practice. No answer as yet.

Feel free to offer advice or comments.