By David Barrett
With thanks to God, and to the Diocesan Synod of Fredericton for a grant, St. Luke's Church was able to replace 72 old fluorescent light fixtures with new LED fixtures.
This was a project months in the making. Estimates for the work were received with a detailed analysis of projected savings in both energy consumption and energy costs. The extensive work was completed in only three days, and old fixtures were able to be recycled.
The new lighting will reduce the parish's energy consumption by 6,249 kilowatts per year, helping to green our building and reduce our carbon footprint. It is a fitting example of #5 of the Five Marks of Mission, "To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth."
The estimated savings to the parish are in excess of $5,800 per year in energy costs. As well, we will no longer need to replace ballasts or fluorescent tubes.
We were able to identify areas where we could use less lights overall, which allowed us to purchase some LED bulbs to put in the sanctuary. These were originally not in the scope, but we were able to get them and brighten up the church as well, within the budget.
Parishioners are amazed at the difference this new lighting has made in our building. It is so much brighter, and one person commented that now you can see every speck of dust!
Preparing meals for our outreach program (Loaves and Fishes) is much more pleasant with the improved lighting, and the Marco Polo Quilters Guild cannot believe the difference.
Again, many thanks to the Synod for making this work possible through a generous grant, and thanks be to God!
With files from Andrew Winn, parish property chair. The Rev. Canon David Barrett is interim priest-in-charge in the Parish of Portland.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
1. A Sunday school room at St. Lukes, Parish of Portland, while the lighting upgrade was in progress.
2. AFTER: The Sunday school room with the upgrade complete.
3 & 4. The hall at St. Lukes, before and after the lighting upgrade. The work is estimated to save the parish in excess of $5,800 a year in energy costs.
Submitted photos