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Region 3

Congregation Mishkan Shalom

Congregation Mishkan ShalomMishkan Shalom, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a 27,000 square-foot, 140-year-old felt mill building that was renovated into a congregational facility with a sanctuary, faith-based school, and social hall. As part of the facility’s rehabilitation, all windows were replaced with double-paned, low-emissivity (low-E) windows, and 4 inches of insulation was installed between the decking and the new roof. In addition, all of the facility’s hot water pipes were insulated. The heating system was completely revamped with the installation of a high-efficiency boiler controlled by a programmable thermostat. Ceiling fans were installed in the sanctuary to draw rising warm air from the ceiling in the winter, and provide air movement to increase occupant comfort in the summer. The lighting system was improved by installing 36 recessed can lighting fixtures, each with its own ballast and replaceable compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), in place of incandescent lamp fixtures. Motion sensors, occupancy sensors that detect when congregation members or staff are in an area and respond by turning the lighting system on or off, were installed in the bathrooms, chapel, library and sanctuary atrium. Mishkan Shalom also purchased ENERGY STAR qualified office equipment including ten computers with monitors, and printers. In addition, Mishkan Shalom installed a Ner Tamid, or eternal light, powered by its own solar photovoltaic array. All together these upgrades are saving Mishkan Shalom 15,400 kWh of electricity, 1,900 Therms of natural gas, and $5,700 dollars a year while preventing 47,500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

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Region 5

Madison Christian Community

Madison Christian Community is a 17,370 square-foot congregation located in Madison, Wisconsin. Energy use was a concern to the congregation so they sought assistance from Madison Gas and Electric (their local utility), and Focus on Energy . The facility received an energy audit revealing many opportunities for energy-efficiency improvements. According to the auditors, the existing heating system was already efficient.

Madison Christian CommunityThe facility’s lighting was upgraded by replacing its T12 fluorescent lamp and magnetic ballast system with a T8 fluorescent lamp and electronic ballast lighting system. Furthermore, the system was divided into multiple circuits, allowing banks of lighting fixtures to be operated independently. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) replaced incandescent lamps throughout the facility.

Madison Christian Community also had a real-time energy monitoring system installed that allows the congregation to track energy use. By understanding its energy use, the congregation is able to further reduce it, and avoid expensive peak billing periods. Its efforts are saving a total of 5,300 kWh of electricity, 590 Therms of natural gas and $1,200 a year.

In addition to the energy-efficiency measures, Madison Christian Community installed a photovoltaic array. This photovoltaic system is generating 4,200 kWh of clean electricity and saving $500 dollars annually. Collectively, Madison Christian Community’s efforts are saving $1,700 while preventing 22,400 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

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St. Therese Catholic Church

St. Therese Catholic Church is a 39,000 square-foot congregation that occupies a square block near downtown Appleton, Wisconsin. Dating back to the 1920’s, St. Therese has been a cornerstone of Appleton, providing services to the community and educational space for its tenant, Appleton Christian Schools.

Between April and November of 2003, the congregation sought assistance from Focus on Energy Exit ENERGY STAR, and Rapid Improvement Associates, LLC. It also participated in the Wisconsin Energy Stewardship Collaborative sponsored by the Wisconsin Interfaith Climate and Energy Coalition and the Wisconsin Green Building Alliance Exit ENERGY STAR.

As part of the facility’s improvements, a new roof was installed on the both the church and parish office, including two inches of poly insulation where there had previously been no insulation at all. The facility’s heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system was improved with the installation of a new, more efficient boiler. Steam traps were cleaned and repaired/replaced as necessary to ensure that the heat from the boiler was distributed efficiently throughout the facility. The congregation made lighting improvements by installing T8 fluorescent lamps with electronic ballasts in some fixtures, and motion-detecting occupancy sensors in restrooms. Another addition was the installation of a simple low-cost, real-time energy monitoring system that allows the congregation to monitor its energy use. By understanding its energy use, the congregation is able to respond with behavioral changes to reduce energy costs, and avoid peak billing periods. These efforts are collectively saving the congregation 57,900 kWh of electricity, 5,900 Therms of gas, and $5,100 annually, while preventing the emission of 163,600 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

St. Therese Catholic Church

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Region 9

Desert Christian School

Desert Christian SchoolDesert Christian School, a 55,000 square-foot faith-based school located in Lancaster, California, improved its sustainability and is saving money through energy efficiency. Working with its local utility, Southern California Edison, the facility’s lighting system was upgraded. The lighting upgrade included replacing a T12 fluorescent lamp and magnetic ballast lighting system with an efficient T8 fluorescent lamp and electronic ballast system. Incandescent flood lamps were replaced with ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). In addition, light-emitting diode (LED) exit signs were installed throughout the facility, improving not only its energy efficiency but also its safety in the case of an emergency. Due to the upgrades, the Desert Christian School is saving 58,100 kWh a year and preventing 92,900 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually. This translates to $8,300 in savings that can certainly be used for other school programs.