Reedwood Church, located in Southeast Portland, has been a community gathering place since it was built in 1970. In addition to worship services, the church also hosts preschool classes, AA meetings, yoga sessions, folk music groups and Red Cross blood drives – serving as a hub for local events, support groups and cultural programs. With activity nearly around the clock, the building faces constantly shifting heating and cooling needs.
Over time, it became more difficult to keep the building comfortable for everyone who used it. The church relied on an aging, natural gas boiler that frequently failed, leaving worshipers and community members either bundling up or sweating it out.
“The old system was finnicky,” says Bob Smith, volunteer clerk of the building and grounds committee. “It would shut down unannounced. And we had no way of knowing until somebody complained. It was always keeping you on the edge of your seat, wondering when it was not going to be functioning. Even the maintenance service technicians that would work on it cursed under their breath having to deal with it.”
When it became clear the boiler was both inefficient and unreliable, the church turned to its long-time maintenance provider, Northwest Control Company (N.C.C.), for help. As an Energy Trust of Oregon Trade Ally contractor, N.C.C. recommended replacing the old boiler with a high-efficiency condensing boiler using Energy Trust incentives to help cover the cost.
With N.C.C.’s support, the church installed a new, more energy-efficient boiler. To ensure the new system runs smoothly for years to come, the team also made re-piping adjustments and added new sensors for better temperature control.
Energy Trust provided $8,100 in cash incentives, which helped make the upgrade more affordable. Like many nonprofits, Reedwood Church doesn’t have access to extra funds for larger projects like this, so the incentive helped turn a much needed but daunting investment into a feasible project.
Since installing the new boiler, the church has experienced consistent, reliable heating without unexpected breakdowns. Groups using the building no longer worry about the heat going out, while the preschool kids can leave the extra layers at home.
Beyond comfort, the church’s boiler upgrade will also result in long-term energy savings. The church is now saving an estimated $1,200 on energy costs annually.
“Even though we have some resources, churches aren’t flush with money, so we must be good stewards and not spend money we don’t need to spend but also get something that aligns with our values in terms of energy consciousness and not just to save money. It’s the ethical thing to do to be as efficient as you can with your utilities,” Smith says.
Upgrading to more energy-efficient HVAC equipment is just one of many ways building owners and property managers can improve energy use, save money and enhance comfort. To learn more, visit our cash incentives page or email us existingbuildings@energytrust.org.