United Church geothermal project nears completion

St. Vital

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This article was published 16/10/2024 (344 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Things continue to get a little greener at the United Church in Meadowood.

Replacement of the church’s aging heating system is nearly complete. Work began this summer after a hugely successful fundraising campaign by the congregation of the church, which is located at 1111 Dakota St.

The goal of the successful Greening of UCIM campaign has been to install a geothermal, ground-source heat pump system, which will utilize green technology to provide a geothermal heating and cooling system that will enable the church to continue to host the many activities that take place within its 35-year walls.

“The loops are in the ground and the heat pumps are installed,” UCIM minister Caryn Douglas said recently, noting organizers are still awaiting the installation of the system’s controls and for the building’s Hydro service to be upgraded.

With a project of this scale, there are lots of moving parts. At press time, the funds raised totalled approximately $495,000.

Of this amount, $242,000 came from donations by individuals and groups in the congregation (including promised pledges in the coming months); $226,000 came from grants and rebates; and $26,000 came from fundraising efforts.

Douglas explained the cost of the project is also around the $495,000 mark, although there could still be some unexpected costs to come, as there are still some details to be finalized.

“Expenses are still being finalized, but it looks like we raised the money needed,” she said.

To celebrate the project’s progress, a celebration in worship will be held on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 10:30 a.m., followed by a party at 11:30 a.m. featuring food, games, speakers and music. All members of the community are welcome.

Congregation member Peter Kidd, a member of the volunteer construction task group, said the church’s old gas furnaces have been replaced with multiple heat pumps, which receive heat from a ground-source heat exchanger.

Kidd said the system will improve air quality and “provide net positive energy.”

He hopes, ultimately, that members of the St. Vital-based church will be seen as green leaders.

“If we can offer inspiration to others, that would be wonderful,” Kidd said, noting leadership and stewardship have been an important part of the process. “We have to start dealing with climate change.”

“If we can offer inspiration to others, that would be wonderful…

The church has been working with Efficiency Manitoba, which is “funding a study looking at what we’ve discovered during this process,” Kidd said, “which looks at any of the things we’ve learned along the way.”

The fact the church is located on two acres of land has been helpful, as there was plenty of space to put the ground exchanger in place.

“This has been quite the experience for many people here,” Kidd said. “By and large, people have been have been very supportive, and the fundraising went very well.”

Kidd is grateful for the work of the different committees at UCIM that have worked collaboratively, including their lobbying efforts. The project has received funding from the municipal and provincial governments, and the support of numerous foundations.

Kidd said the project is 95 per cent complete: “We’re currently working on getting the electrical connections ready to go.”

Go online at www.ucim.org or call 204-256-7002 for more information.