FARMINGTON — Members of Trinity United Methodist Church want to spend more money on local missions, less on heat.

When a member anonymously donated funds with the intent to create a more energy-efficient environment for the church, members agreed, said Maurice “Bud” Martin, head of the trustee board.

Upright Frameworks, a Wilton-based builder, is finishing a large energy retrofit project at the church, one that targets heat loss through the attic.

The church hopes to see energy needs decrease by 45 percent, Martin said.

“What is remarkable about this donor’s gift is that it will keep giving, year after year, as the church sees a large reduction in its heating costs,” said Josh Wojcik, of Upright Frameworks. “Money that was once spent on heating the facility will be freed up for better uses in the community.”

“Every $100 not spent on oil, the church expects to spend in the community,” Martin said.

The 12-year-old church building is on the Farmington Falls Road and sits on a knoll in an open site that was formerly pasture land. It’s often windy.

It was built according to normal building standards at that time, but sometimes the sanctuary is cold, and attendees can feel the cold pouring down the walls, Martin said. The church has radiant heat in the floors.

“It’s a stack effect. Hot air rises, pushing down cold, creating drafts,” Wojcik said. “It exists in every building.”

An energy audit revealed the church leaks heat, Martin said. It’s the equivalent of 10 windows, open daily, letting out heated air.

Workers are putting in rigid foam sheets and surrounding them with blown-in insulation, making a sandwich affect in the attic, Wojcik said.

There was nothing at the top of the building to hold the warm air in. With the cap, there’s no upward movement, eliminating the colder drafts, he said.

The congregation has already noticed the difference — people see it and feel it.

The smaller rooms around the sanctuary area are already much warmer, said Jake Pettitt from Upright Frameworks.

After a recent storm, the roof over a finished section was covered in white, and the unfinished section had big spaces where heat was melting snow on the roof, Martin said.

The church is also changing the method of heating water from oil to propane. With the oil system, an estimated 2.5 gallons of oil is needed for the furnace to heat the water. That’s about $10 to turn the hot water on, just to wash your hands, he said.

Church members considered a change of heat source, moving away from oil, but realize the price of other options will rise according to demand for them. They thought making the building more energy efficient was the better investment. 

“The church has been progressive, visionary. It’s exciting to work with a group that’s able to connect the dots,” Wojcik said.

Upright Frameworks is performing the work at cost under a special program it offers to nonprofit organizations. The Titcomb House and the Children’s Task Force have realized a 30 percent reduction in energy costs from similar renovations.

“People see this works and consider it for their own homes,” he said.

Efficiency Maine gives loans for residential homes. The energy savings are often more than the cost of the loan.

The church trustees selected the Wilton company for the project because they’re local and guaranteed that there would be no disruption to the church, Martin said. The community also uses the church, he said.

abryant@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link