SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PATHWAYS FOR DOUGLAS AVE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Publication Date

4-5-2019

Document Type

Poster

Degree Type

Undergraduate

Department

Technology

Mentor

Jin Jo

Mentor Department

Technology

Abstract

The Douglas Ave United Methodist Church (DAUMC) in Springfield, IL is leading their community by example in the fight against climate change. They have recently installed LED lighting throughout their building, and are currently looking at installing solar arrays atop their roof surfaces. The organization is also considering other energy conservation options such as geothermal heating and window retrofitting. Their end goal is to decrease their overall energy consumption in an economically feasible way. Considering their status as a nonprofit religious organization, the DAUMC will not be eligible for certain grants and incentives. Our group's contact, Dr. Todd Lafrenz, and other board of trustees members have recruited us to help further their efforts and ensure they are on the right track. Our group's goal is to establish a plan that, within the timeframe, reduces the church's overall energy consumption while providing a relatively low payback period. We intend to secure funding for the church's solar arrays through applying for several grants and other incentives. We intend to begin their plan with a solar installation. The energy savings generated from this array will be used to fund future conservation projects. We also aim to create a phase-out plan for their current HVAC and water heating systems for when they need to be replaced with more efficient models. The DAUMC has also expressed interest in forming a "green literacy" program at the church to increase the general awareness of climate change and how to fight it. All of our efforts, as well as the churches, will be documented to ensure transparency and accountability, as well as to potentially serve as a reference for other organizations in the future.

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