Energy Savings At NCC Get The Green Light

By Nancy K. Crevier

Ron Galati of Practical Energy Solutions and Sarah Bollinger of Automated Logic, both in Wallingford, met with Newtown Congregational Church Senior Pastor Matthew Crebbin and members of the board of trustees on Wednesday, April 20, to conclude contract negotiations. Mr Galati is a contractor for CL&P’s Small Business Energy Advantage Program and Ms Bollinger represented Automated Logic, which installed the church’s current computer system that controls the church’s heating and air conditioning.

The two energy experts discussed with board members and Rev Crebbin the details of the plan that will enable the church to upgrade lighting and heating systems to better utilize savings from CL&P and Yankee Gas.

Newtown Congregational Church is looking for energy savings, and to reduce carbon emissions and the church’s carbon footprint, said Building Committee Chairman Paul Arneth.

“The church has been trying to go green for quite awhile,” said trustee Ed Miklazewski. Some of the areas in the church now use occupancy-sensitive lighting that is activated only when someone enters the room, he said. Additional areas will be occupancy sensitive with the upgrades.

“We’ve stopped using plastic and Styrofoam at a lot of church events, and serve Fair Trade coffee at our coffee hour,” Mr Miklazewski added, small efforts that add up to a larger environmental impact.

“The church is using our computer program,” said Ms Bollinger, “and I approached Rev Crebbin and the trustees when I realized that they might also be able to utilize the energy programs available from CL&P and Yankee Gas.”

Newtown Congregational Church agreed that this would be a good way to advance greening the church building, and cut overhead costs. The church applied for and has been approved for a project cost subsidy from the energy companies, “through the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund,” said Mr Galati.

“This means a savings of almost 50 percent of the project cost for upgrades,” added Ms Bollinger.

Church officers hoped to finalize the contract on Wednesday, and begin work on the upgrade project in the near future.