St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

The Challenge

In 2007, leaks in its steam heat distribution system had cost St. Andrew's over $60,000 over a two-year period. Energy costs were also rising every year. St. Andrew's formed a Property Task Force and retained MassIPL to provide an Environmental Stewardship Assessment. MassIPL recommended that the inefficient oil-fired steam heating system be replaced. Single-pane window systems and lack of zone controls also added to huge energy costs. St. Andrew's accepted MassIPL's advice. With the assistance of a MassIPL project manager, the church retained an engineering firm, initiated design, and selected contractors. The work was paid for from funds obtained through a capital campaign and was completed over a two-year period. All projects were completed on time and under budget.

The Results

CO2 Savings — Carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by 60%, or by about 188,000 lbs. This is the equivalent of taking 15.3 cars that get 20 mpg off the road every year, or saving 13,152 New England trees, or about 18.8 acres.

Cost Savings — Energy costs were lowered by $21,764. Total 2009–10 heating season fuel cost was $11,145 compared to $32,910 in 2007–2008, before the heating system and High E windows were installed — a 67% reduction!

How They Did It

• New High E window systems were installed in the parish wing for an immediate reduction in heating fuel costs of $6,252 from the previous heating season.
• The old steam system was replaced with three 92% efficient gas-fired condensing mode hydronic boilers, as well as piping and radiation for the new hot water system.
• Heating zones were increased from 3 to 22.
• An electronic management (EMS) zone control system was incorporated for precise heating delivery. This computer-based system allows staff to adjust heat delivery from remote locations.
• Domestic hot water generation was converted to an in-direct fired storage tank using the high efficiency boilers.
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Savings Summary

Heating fuel cost savings

• $6,252 in fuel cost savings for the 2008–09 heating season from window replacement in the Parish Building in summer '08.
• $21,764 in savings (67%) from the 2007–08 heating season (the last before any energy improvements) to 2009–10, when all energy upgrades were in place.

Carbon dioxide savings

• 2007–08: 12,808.8 gallons of oil — 286,917 lbs. CO2
• 2009–10: 8,249.0 therms of gas — 99,029 lbs. CO2
• St. Andrew's saved 187,888 lbs. CO2 — the equivalent of taking 15.3 cars that get 20 mpg off the road (12,000 miles/year) all year, or about 13,152 New England trees (about 18.8 acres).

August 2010. Updated January 2022.