Geothermal for your Church

Greening Sacred Spaces- scroll down for more information free energy audits for your church

Energy Audits for Churches and Faith Buildings

In this video met local REEP energy advisor Dave Klassen, who speaks about REEP's Energy Audit for Faith Buildings.

We like to meet with the people that are involved in operating the church, who know the building, to find out as much as we can about the facility.

At the end of the audit we submit a report containing all of our findings and estimates of savings that could be achieved.

Then the church can decide which upgrades it would like to undertake.

(This is a clip from Creation Care DVD put together by Mennonite Central Committee. Thanks to MCC for posting this clip online.)

Greening Sacred Spaces

Many faith organizations today are looking for ways they can express their values through working to protect our environment. Greening Sacred Spaces is our way of helping you to do just that.

Unless we change the direction we are heading,
we might end up where we are going.”

- Chinese Proverb

About the Program

Greening Sacred Spaces is a joint program of REEP and another non-profit organization, Faith and the Common Good (FCG), an interfaith and non-profit network of religious communities who understand the Earth as a sacred gift. REEP’s role is to provide technological expertise and energy audit tools, while FCG provides outreach and education about how we can live more sustainably on the Earth, both in our worship spaces and in congregations and faith communities.

Our goal is to give faith communities the tools they need in order to make a positive, lasting impact on their relationship with the environment.

Greening Sacred Spaces Tools

To help your faith community reach its environmental goals, Greening Sacred Spaces offers:

Energy audits for faith buildings
Free quarterly networking meetings and training workshops
Free quarterly e-newsletters (including information about upcoming events, new environmental funding programs, environmental projects, updates on other faith community environmental news)
Free, downloadable educational materials
An educational DVD to show to your faith community about how to green your faith community (available to borrow or purchase from the GSS office at 519-747-5139; this DVD can also be borrowed from the Kitchener Public Library)

Energy Audits for Faith Buildings

One of the key services we offer to faith groups is an energy audit of their buildings. Faith organizations often have energy and water requirements different from the residential sector. In many cases, large, older buildings that are often used only at certain times of the week can give rise to high utility bills which divert funds from other organizational activities and goals.

We use computer modeling to calculate the building’s heat loss and the energy used by the heating and cooling systems. Taking two or more days (for a full audit), the assessment includes:

comprehensive electricity and water audits to identify potential savings
utility bill data collection
measurement and inspection of the building envelope
inspection of the heating and cooling systems
an inventory and measurement of the energy use of all electrical appliances and fixtures such as lighting
an inventory and measurement of all water fixtures
a blower door test to measure air leakage

We also have a one day walkthrough audit for faith groups interested in learning about saving energy in their building but are unable to participate in our full audit program.

A final report provides summary recommendations along with a financial analysis of the potential energy savings through retrofits. We believe that the greatest energy savings are achieved through a combination of technological, organizational, and behavioural changes. Our audit reports are designed to be used as a long-term energy management plan for your building.

Book an audit of your religious building

To learn more about how to get an energy and water audit for your faith community building in Waterloo Region, or to receive an information kit about the program, contact Jane Snyder at 519-747-5139 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Additional Funding Available

Faith and the Common Good has suggestions for funding programs available to faith communities who have had energy audits completed, as well as some additional funding programs.

For more information, visit www.faith-commongood.net.

Grants may be available to help pay for energy audits; if your faith community is located in Waterloo Region or its environs, please contact Jane Snyder at 519-747-5139 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to discuss funding possibilities.

Please take a look at our Greening Sacred Spaces Workshops and additional resources to help your faith community become more green.

Mennonite Initiative for Solar Energy (MISE)

Greening Sacred Spaces and the Mennonite Central Committee Ontario (MCC0)'s Creation Care program invite you to think about solar energy.

MISE is a solar bulk-buy program for MCCO constituents and other faith communities. If you are interested in purchasing solar hot water or photovoltaic panels for your faith community, home or workplace, don’t miss this opportunity!

Click here for more information about the Mennonite Initiative for Solar Energy (MISE)

Free water and lighting audits available to faith communities

Please consider having one (or more) of the free audits available to faith communities. The Power Savings Blitz program applies to faith communities across Ontario; the free water audits and water-saving programs are only available within the Region of Waterloo.

If you are located in Waterloo/Wellington of Dufferin Regions please email us This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to let us know if you are having a free water or lighting audit done! We'd like to applaud your efforts!

Free lighting audits (Power Savings Blitz)

Funded by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), the Power Savings Blitz provides free lighting audits and access to funding for free lighting retrofits to businesses (and faith communities fit under that umbrella)
Contact your power authority first, to discuss whether the Power Savings Blitz is the best program for you
Book your free lighting audit online at www.powersavingblitz.ca or call 1-866-932-8283

Free water audits, water-saving programs (Region of Waterloo, Water Efficiency)

Water use review: quick, no charge, no commitment (a water efficiency staff member comes to your faith building, and does a quick and complimentary evaluation of your current water efficiency, and identifies possible opportunities for improvement)
If you require a more in-depth water use audit, your building can receive partial funding to hire an independent, qualified consultant of your choice
Toilet replacement programs are a valuable way to save water & money

To find out more, call 519-575-4757 ext. 3558 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.region.waterloo.on.ca/water

Special Thanks

REEP and Greening Sacred Spaces would like to thank the Trillium Foundation for their help to fund the Greening Sacred Spaces project.


Article from Christian Today: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/green.energy.strategy.a.moral.imperative.warns.cel.report./5833.htm
Green Energy Strategy a ‘Moral Imperative’, warns CEL Report Christian Ecology Link's latest report on a green energy strategy has said that low consumption and non-nuclear options are a 'moral imperative' to safeguard the environment. by Maria Mackay Posted: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 A new report from Christian Ecology Link has warned that a low consumption, non-nuclear energy strategy is a ‘moral imperative’ to ensure the preservation of God’s creation. Faith and Power, the new report launched at the end of last week, urges politicians to adopt an energy strategy based upon the Christian principles of wise stewardship, peacemaking, justice, love for neighbours and moderation in consumption. The principles “require much greater attention to promoting energy efficiency and restraining consumer demand, a bold switch from using fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy and the phasing out of nuclear reactors in electricity generation,” the report stated. The report has won the backing of a number of high church figures including the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, who said: “Christian Ecology Link's paper Faith and Power comes to conclusions similar to those of the Sustainable Development Commission which I welcome. “What we lack is the commercial leadership to invest in renewable sources of power and the political leadership to reduce our energy consumption. “People of faith and goodwill must work together to educate and inspire the public to use their own power as consumers and citizens to ensure the future health and safety of the planet.” The highly respected Catholic priest, Fr Sean McDonagh, author of a number of books on environmental issues, also expressed his support for the new report. “This document presents a very convincing case,” he said. “The study is grounded in an authentic understanding of Christian discipleship in terms of the contemporary challenge to love God, our neighbour and God's creation, which is now deeply wounded. It calls all of us to a change of heart in the way we view and use energy.“ Tearfund president, Elaine Storkey, backed the need for more moderate energy consumption highlighted by the report. “The report shows we need to be meek to inherit a good earth,” she said. Restraint is one of the key callings for a greener energy strategy in the report, along with efficiency and conservation. Faith and Power also welcomed the emerging decentralised renewable energy supply options. The report follows on from the readiness of the government to work more closely with representatives of faith communities on environmental issues. It stated: “The high consumption, nuclear path may appear easier for government to pursue in the short term, but we believe that there is a moral duty to follow a more challenging and more sustainable option. "We conclude that substantially enhanced Government support for efficient, less profligate energy consumption and investment in renewable sources of energy supply rather than nuclear power is a moral imperative.”

Article from Christian Today:
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/green.energy.strategy.a.moral.imperative.warns.cel.report./5833.htm

Green Energy Strategy a ‘Moral Imperative’, warns CEL Report

Christian Ecology Link's latest report on a green energy strategy has

said that low consumption and non-nuclear options are a

'moral imperative' to safeguard the environment.

by Maria Mackay

Posted: Wednesday, March 29, 2006

A new report from Christian Ecology Link has warned that a low consumption, non-nuclear energy strategy is a ‘moral imperative’

to ensure the preservation of God’s creation.

Faith and Power, the new report launched at the end of last week, urges politicians to adopt an energy strategy based upon the

Christian principles of wise stewardship, peacemaking, justice, love for neighbours and moderation in consumption.

The principles “require much greater attention to promoting energy efficiency and restraining consumer demand, a bold switch

from using fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy and the phasing out of nuclear reactors in electricity generation,” the report stated.

The report has won the backing of a number of high church figures including the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, who said:

“Christian Ecology Link's paper Faith and Power comes to conclusions similar to those of the Sustainable Development Commission which

I welcome.

“What we lack is the commercial leadership to invest in renewable sources of power and the political leadership to reduce our energy consumption.

“People of faith and goodwill must work together to educate and inspire the public to use their own power as consumers and citizens to

ensure the future health and safety of the planet.”

The highly respected Catholic priest, Fr Sean McDonagh, author of a number of books on environmental issues, also expressed his support

for the new report.

“This document presents a very convincing case,” he said. “The study is grounded in an authentic understanding of Christian discipleship

in terms of the contemporary challenge to love God, our neighbour and God's creation, which is now deeply wounded. It calls all of us to

a change of heart in the way we view and use energy.“

Tearfund president, Elaine Storkey, backed the need for more moderate energy consumption highlighted by the report. “The report shows

we need to be meek to inherit a good earth,” she said.

Restraint is one of the key callings for a greener energy strategy in the report, along with efficiency and conservation. Faith and Power

also welcomed the emerging decentralised renewable energy supply options.

The report follows on from the readiness of the government to work more closely with representatives of faith communities on environmental issues.

It stated: “The high consumption, nuclear path may appear easier for government to pursue in the short term, but we believe that there

is a moral duty to follow a more challenging and more sustainable option.

"We conclude that substantially enhanced Government support for efficient, less profligate energy consumption and investment in renewable

sources of energy supply rather than nuclear power is a moral imperative.”