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It’s Hot Outside; How’s Your Electric Bill?

Aug 25th, 2010 by Todd

This has been a record setting year. For those of us in the northeast region of the country, the snowiest winter on record is being followed by what may be the hottest summer on record. Globally, this has been the warmest January to June period since they started keeping track in the nineteenth century. Electric rates are increasing, and we expect them to go even higher as the Public Utility Commission cap on electric rates expires at the end of the year.  We are hearing from many of you that your budgets are stressed in the weak economy. I am sure you are looking at how utility increases will impact your ministries and programs. Continue Reading »

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Posted in Classroom, Environment, Newsletters, Office, Playground, Stewardship, Summer 2010 | 2 Comments »

Q & A on PV Systems (Solar Electric) with Steve Domyan

Aug 25th, 2010 by Todd


Q. Are PV systems practical for churches?

SD: The economics for PV systems can be very complicated. That is because the cost of a system is greatly affected by state and federal incentives. Many states have rebate programs and grants. All of them are different. The federal incentives are all tax credits or tax deductions. Since non-profit organizations don’t pay taxes, these federal incentives are not available to churches.

Q. What is the pay-back period for a PV system?

SD: This varies by state. Continue Reading »

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Posted in Environment, Newsletters, Office, Playground, Stewardship, Summer 2010 | No Comments »

Church Energy Savings Workshop

Aug 25th, 2010 by Todd

Join us Thursday, October 14, 2010 for a half-day workshop at Bethel… The Church @ Franklin Mills in Philadelphia, PA.

Topics to be covered include:

  • Understanding the changing land­scape of energy use and costs today
  • The unique challenges churches face in managing energy
  • Maximizing your return on invest­ment when upgrading and improving
  • Energy cost implications of deferred maintenance
  • Energy audits and modeling
  • Solar heating and solar electric
  • Paying for improvements and upgrades
  • Developing a culture of steward­ship in your church

This workshop is geared to church administrators, executive pastors, facility managers and trustees.

Speakers include:

For more information or to register, call or visit our web site: www.ChurchArchitects.com/energy

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Posted in Classroom, Environment, Newsletters, Playground, Stewardship, Summer 2010 | No Comments »

“Christian” Gardens?

Jul 6th, 2010 by Todd

'Wings of the Dawn' in Brookgreen Gardens

A thought provoking question was posed to me recently: “what is a distinctly “Christian” garden?” I thought I’d try to answer it in this blog to conclude the subject of gardens over the past month. It is easier to answer “what is a “Buddhist” garden?” than “what is a Christian garden”, since the garden style developed in their monasteries (integral to their meditation practices) is very distinct. The style that is easy to recognize in the raked gravel patterns and surrounding pruned forms of pines, junipers, maples and azaleas. A typical Christian building for worship (what most people refer to as “a church”) is easy to recognize, characterized by steeples with crosses, stained glass, pews, etc. It is the universal recognition of these elements that result in the pronouncement as a Christian church. Though we (Architects for Ministry) use the aforementioned elements infrequently in our designs, and use the term “church” to apply to the congregation rather than the building, it would still be the use of distinctive elements that would create a “Christian” garden or landscape.

Acknowledging that pews, steeples and stained glass are not appropriate to use in a garden, the reasonable question at this point is: “what are appropriate garden design elements to convey a Christian message?”  To this I would respond literal, literary, interpretive and symbolic elements. And for all of these elements to make a garden or park-like landscape, there needs to be a theme (design style) that unites them. Continue Reading »

Posted in Classroom, Environment, Inspirations, Playground, Random Thoughts, Site Planning | No Comments »

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