Alternative energy sources – the sun and the wind – will help provide energy for four parishes in the Diocese of New Westminster, thanks to a $50,000 “Green Building Grant” from the Real Estate Foundation of BC and the VanCity Credit Union.
Paige Dampier, a member of the Diocesan Environmental Unit, which applied for the grant, said “This is really positive news for the diocese.”
For two years the unit has been urging parishes to look to their energy consumption with an eye to reducing it, and as environmental stewards contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases – as well as save money. So far 26 p arishes have participated in an energy audit program.
The unit’s plan is to use the money for four projects:
“When the Environmental Unit talked about putting a wind generator on one of our church buildings, some folks thought the group was joking,” said David Dranchuk, diocesan coordinator for societal ministry.
However, Dampier said that putting the wind generator actually on a church building might be “pretty iffy.” It would more likely be a separate structure, firmly anchored to the ground.
“And we’re not going to replace a church’s cross with a turbine,” she said, contrary to some light-hearted suggestions. “That’s not our intent,” she said, noting that the theology of doing that would be highly questionable.
| Environmental Action: Extolling the virtues of recycling at St. Bartholomew’s, Gibsons, is Grace Gilchrist of the Anglican Church Women’s group, to Rob Currie, Loretta Macklam and Stephen Beckmyer. (David Dranchuk photo.) |
Dampier said that the Environmental Unit now has to choose the parishes to receive the installations. “We will be finding out who is interested, and who has a commitment to making sure it will work.”
She said it is likely the wind generator will be installed on a property in a fairly open area so it can catch the wind, which probably rules out parishes in built up urban areas.
According to the plan submitted, the actual installation of the devices probably won’t take place until 2007. In the meantime the Environmental Unit promised the grant providers that the diocese will continue its educational efforts to let people know that along with motor vehicles, buildings are an important source of greenhouse gases that create the conditions for global warming.
“Buildings contribute 30 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions,” stated the grant applications. “Everyone passing a church, attending church services or using a church as a community facility (non-profits holding meetings in church halls, parents and children coming to daycares, neighbours relaxing in churchyards) has the opportunity to learn about green building practices from the church, and may be able to apply them in and around their own homes.”
The Environmental Unit committed to presenting eight one-day workshops on environmental issues during the next two years.
Some 20 community organizations applied for the grant, and only two were selected. The Real Estate Foundation and VanCity established the grant in 2004. So far money has gone to a rainwater collection system on Salt Spring Island, a 3,000 square-foot cob and straw-bale “green” building on Vancouver Island, and photovoltaic panels at the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC) in Vancouver.
Dranchuk said that currently the Environmental Unit is urging each parish in the diocese to appoint an “environmental steward” at their February Vestry meeting. This steward would serve as a link between the parish and the Diocesan Environmental Unit and work to make their parish green.
For further information on the environmental steward program, phone 604 684-6306, Ext. 221; email: ddranchuk@vancouver.anglican.ca