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First Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head Island, S.C., has achieved a 46% reduction in energy usage after installing computer-controlled programmable thermostats with the help of In2 Networks Inc. of Murray, Utah.
Photo courtesy of FPC Hilton Head. |
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Staff at First Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head Island, S.C., reports that the house of worship is under-budget on its electrical power line item for the first time in five years. Facilities Engineer Tom Buchanan reports that the 50-year-old church was built in pieces throughout the years—leading to the need for 31 thermostats to help control the temperature throughout the facility's various rooms.
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| In2 Networks Inc. developed an Energy Internet Connection Module (ICM) that's helping FPC Hilton Head save both money and programming time. Photo courtesy of In2 Networks. |
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When Buchanan began his role with the church in August 2006, he sought out previous energy usage data, available in the church's energy bills dating back to 2005. In reviewing this information, Buchanan discovered erratic energy consumption at FPC. "Hilton Head doesn't have that dramatic of a change in the weather," he says, admitting he was perplexed. So he began to identify the areas of FPC's 46,962-square-foot facility that were consuming the most energy.
As a first step, Buchanan made sure that all HVAC systems were inspected, repaired, brought up and running and that all were properly maintained. In 2007, he worked with Hilton Head heating and air supplier Superior Air to install programmable thermostats throughout the facility.
Next, on a tip from Superior Air, Buchanan began working with Daren Orth, president of Murray, Utah's In2 Networks Inc. "We installed nine programmable [computerized] thermostats in the large sanctuary, where we use theatrical lighting and serve as the venue for the island's arts program, as well as three in our fellowship hall and one in our kitchen," Buchanan reports.
As a result, Buchanan says that the facility quickly began to realize savings. "The reduction of energy use in 2008 was 33% over 2007, and a remarkable 46% over the previous years," he notes.
According to Orth, the programmable heating-cooling management system responsible for helping FPC Hilton Head achieve its money- and energy-saving results is based on the In2-developed Energy ICM (Internet Connection Module). And he reports that this programmable system is ideal for churches because "multiple thermostats can quickly and efficiently be programmed and managed from any Internet connection. The system is constantly measuring usage and monitoring the equipment to help ensure peak performance."
Another perk of FPC's new programmable thermostats is the convenience they've afforded Buchanan. "Right now I program on the computer and [physically] in front of the thermostats," he says, "and I can monitor big programs happening in our sanctuary on my laptop."
Another benefit that impacts the church's energy budget is the thermostats' ability to remember or recall previous event settings. "If we have an event starting at 7:00 p.m., the system may begin heating (or cooling) at 3:00 p.m. to slowly achieve our goal of 70 degrees on the choir risers, for example," Buchanan says. "So it doesn't try to come on and get there all at once, which is a shock to the system and an energy drain."
In an effort to realize even greater efficiency, staff at FPC Hilton Head is continuing to refine its programmable system with the help of In2 Networks.
www.fpchhi.org | www.in2networks.com
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FINANCE QUESTIONS?
Here's the chance to get answers to your most pressing finance-related questions, in Worship Facilities Magazine. Email your questions to Editor Carol Padgett at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) by Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009. A panel of experts will answer your questions in the May/June 2009 issue of Worship Facilities Magazine.
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The newly built Presbyterian Church of Shin Kwang, Seoul, South Korea, provides community gathering space in a part of Seoul where this type of amenity is scarce. The facility, designed by The Beck Group of Dallas, is reported to be architecturally distinctive for Koreans and features state-of-the-art audiovisual systems designed by Dallas's Acoustic Dimensions.
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Photo courtesy of Acoustic Dimensions, Dallas. |
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Worship Facilities Magazine, Church Production Magazine, and WFX -- Worship Facilities Conference & Expo are divisions of Production Media Inc., 2610 Wycliff Road, Suite 405, Raleigh, NC 27607.
Visit www.pmipub.com for more information.
Copyright (c) 2009 Production Media, Inc. |
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| Domus Studio Architects of San Diego breaks ground this month on a new building project for St. Rose of Lima in Chula Vista, Calif. Rendering courtesy of Domus Studio Architects. |
Catholic Church Construction Boom Reported in Southern California
David Pfeifer, AIA and principal of San Diego's Domus Studio Architects, reports that while residential and commercial developments are waning in Southern California, church construction is not—particularly among Catholic parishes in the region.
"It's symbolic of the ongoing importance of churches in the community—in both stable and struggling economic times," says Pfeifer, whose firm specializes in liturgical and religious structures.
Economic downturns do make religious organizations more conscientious about how they invest their resources, Pfeifer says, but the continued growth of congregations and the need to upgrade aging urban sites are among the reasons for the current church construction boom.
In total, Domus Studio Architects has 40 church clients of various denominations in different stages of design and construction. Among those, the company is designing new and expanded facilities for six parishes in San Diego and nearby Orange County.
One such project is St. Rose of Lima in Chula Vista, Calif., which will break ground this month on a new 24,000-square-foot school building. The groundbreaking kicks off a 10-year redevelopment project that includes rebuilding of the church and parish hall.
Although one of the largest congregations in the San Diego Diocese with 6,000 parishioners, St. Rose of Lima operates on one of the oldest and smallest sites of approximately three acres, Pfeifer reports.
According to Pfeifer, the rebuilding project, which entails demolishing the old buildings and rebuilding in phases, is essential, in part because the existing facilities are badly worn and don't meet earthquake or disabled-access standards. The parish has lined up $5.3 million in contributions and financing, about one-third of its funding goal for the entire project and enough to move forward with the first phase.
www.domusstudio.com | www.strosecv.com
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Wireless mic manufacturer AKG is giving customers a $100 instant rebate when they trade in a 700-MHz wireless system against the purchase of AKG's WMS 450. Manufacturers Shure, Lectrosonics and Sennheiser are offering programs to help churches trade in FCC-ruling affected wireless products as well. |
Wireless Mic Manufacturers Offer Rebates and Support Following New FCC Ruling
Wireless microphone users, including the staff of many churches across the country, will find that the 700 MHz frequency band has been allocated to new services following the DTV transition on February 18, 2009. Under recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules, wireless mics and in-ear monitor systems may operate within 470-698 MHz (UHF TV channels 14-51), except for active TV channels.
Fortunately for churches, many wireless mic manufacturers anticipated this aspect of the ruling and are offering rebates for the trade-in of wireless gear to churches whose systems operate in the 700 MHz frequency band (698-806 MHz).
Shure Inc. of Niles, Ill., for example, is offering a rebate program of up to $1,000 for the trade-in of Shure 700 MHz frequency band wireless systems and related components purchased before Feb. 1, 2007, as well as for competing manufacturers' qualifying 700 MHz wireless systems and components. Church customers can submit their rebate forms with the purchase of a number of replacement products. For information about rebates or trade-ins, Shure may be contacted at (800) 257-4873 and more information is available at www.shure.com.
Lectrosonics is another manufacturer offering aid to wireless mic users with products operating in the 700 MHz range. A plan by Lectrosonics allows owners of current generation products to have the frequency block changed to a lower range for a nominal fee. Church customers may call (800) 821-1121 or visit www.lectrosonics.com for more information.
Manufacturer AKG has announced a trade-in program for customers of any brand of wireless system that operates in the over-698 MHz range on its WMS 450 system. This rebate program gives customers a $100 instant rebate when they trade-in their "700-MHz" wireless system against the purchase of a WMS 450 from a participating contractor or retail dealer. For more information on the AKG wireless rebate and to download the PDF mail-in rebate form, visit www.akg.com/us or contact a participating AKG dealer.
Another well-known manufacturer, Sennheiser, offers detailed spectrum reallocation information on its website at www.sennheiser.com, as well a trade-in rebate offer. The company also offers RF Sound Academy seminars, detailed on the Sennheiser website.
www.shure.com | www.lectrosonics.com | www.akg.com | www.sennheiserusa.com
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ModSpace offers an online Economic Resource Paper for those interested in modular buildings to meet temporary or permanent space needs, at http://www.ModSpace.com/economy. |
ModSpace Responds to Economic Conditions with Online Resource Center
ModSpace of Berwyn, Pa., a provider of modular building, storage and services for temporary and permanent space needs, announces the launch of its online Economic Resource Center. Designed to help businesses and churches cost-effectively meet their expansion needs in today's unstable economic conditions, www.ModSpace.com/economy offers visitors easy access to the company's podcast and white paper on modular building leasing options designed to support growth or consolidation plans. The white paper, entitled "How Businesses Can Meet Expansion Needs in Today's Economy," features economic data contributions from McGraw-Hill Construction.
"Companies across the country—from those still recovering from Hurricane Ike along the Gulf Coast to alternative energy companies looking to grow in the Midwest—have found a way to keep their expansion plans thriving in a downward economy," says Craig Burns, CFO of ModSpace. Burns reports that ModSpace offers a full line of mobile offices and modular buildings customizable to nearly any size or configuration.
www.ModSpace.com | www.construction.com
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Pastors and non-tech people can easily record sermons and church events on their own with the Zoom H2 Handy Recorder from Samson Technologies. |
Palm-Sized Recorder Allows Pastors to Capture Sermons and Other Audio
The Zoom H2 Handy Recorder from Samson Technologies is about the size of a blackberry and can record sermons, the praise and worship team or choir, and a number of church productions.The all-in-one device features 360-degree recording, multiple playback capabilities and professional quality on-board recording, according to Samson.
The H2 also allows for easy transfer to a PC or Mac for archiving and editing via a USB 2.0 interface. The H2 can also be used as a USB Mic for recording directly to a computer.
The product records on Secure Digital (SD) media, and can accommodate up to a 16GB SD card, allowing up to 24 hours of total recording time using the 16-bit/44.1kHz WAV format.
The H2 comes with earbuds, 1/8-inch stereo to RCA cable, a mic clip adapter, a tripod stand, a USB cable, an AC adapter and a 512MB SD card. It weighs four ounces, fits in your pocket, and can be operated for four hours on two standard alkaline AA batteries.
www.samsontech.com
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| Relatively small The Life Church in Kansas City, Mo., credits Capital Stewardship Services with helping raise $1.7 million for a relocation project. |
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A Kansas City Church Realizes Exponential Fundraising Growth
Senior Pastor Stan Gleason of 420-member The Life Church in Kansas City, Mo., knows a thing or two about raising capital. The Life Church, a Pentecostal house of worship founded in 1955, is currently in the midst of its ninth capital stewardship campaign.
"After doing two one-year campaigns by ourselves, it was apparent that we needed professional help in raising more dollars more rapidly," Gleason says. The church now owns its third location since opening its doors some 54 years ago.
As Gleason reports, "We currently enjoy our new 41,000-square-foot facility on 43 acres with high visibility and easy accessibility from I-470." To get to this point, the church underwent a seven-year relocation journey that began in May of 1999.
Yet, Gleason says it wasn't until beginning a relationship with O'Fallon, Mo.'s Capital Stewardship Services (CSS) that the church's fundraising efforts began to take off. "CSS and [leader] Mark Mensendiek took us to a whole new level. With Mark's expertise we were able to go from raising $200,000 in two years to $500,000 in three years. Altogether we have raised $1.7 million using the template that Mark provided for us in the beginning."
CSS worked with The Life Church's leaders, helped formulate the timeline for the unfolding of the campaign, followed up with contributors, and consulted on the tone and message of printed materials.
For his part, Mensendiek describes the approach he took in working with The Life Church: "My approach was to provide an ‘always available' atmosphere to Pastor Gleason, his staff and campaign leadership team while providing customized resources [and] extensive training, as well as including the resources, plan and monthly monitoring of the giving season to maximize receipts of capital funds."
In the current economy, Gleason reports that raising debt retirement dollars remains a challenge. "We no longer conduct three-year campaigns, as individual financial circumstances can change considerably in a 36-month window," he says. "We now conduct 12-month campaigns."
Gleason also reports that CSS created a customized template for The Life Church that he believes is critical to the church's ongoing fundraising success.
www.capitalstewardshipservices.com | www.thelifechurchkc.org
New Tough and Long Lasting Scrubbers from Tornado
Cleaning professionals need equipment that is durable—and they get it with Tornado's new family of auto scrubbers.
These scrubbers are constructed of super tough, rotomold polyethylene bodies. They have a wide-open hood design for easy access to tanks, batteries, hoses and the vacuum motors for fast and easy servicing.
Vacuum motors are protected by an automatic float shutoff system, and all machines come with a lifetime warranty.
www.tornadovac.com
Hitachi Enters Rental and Staging Market with Professional Series Projector
Hitachi Home Electronics (America) Inc. Business Group introduces the CP-X10000 3LCD Professional Series projector. The CP-X10000 is the first model in Hitachi's new 3LCD Professional Series, featuring inorganic optics for longer projector life. The CP-X10000 also offers a 10,000-hour filter, reportedly making maintenance easier than before.
The ultra-wide-range lens shift and 10-bit full digital video processing add a new level of dynamic presentation, while networking connectivity enables remote maintenance and management.
In designing the CP-X10000, Hitachi placed strong emphasis on security. The projector features Hitachi's proprietary My Image Campus Notification System, and anti-theft features include a security bar and transition detector.
www.hitachi.com
Jonti-Craft Introduces New Picnic/Activity Table for Kids
Jonti-Craft Inc. introduces the new Picnic Table to its lineup of early learning furniture. The Picnic Table is ideal for small group activities in an indoor setting. Both the bench and the table top are adjustable in two-inch increments, so it can span different sizes of children. Dimensions are 47 ½-inches wide x 42 inches long by 18-inches to 22-inches high.
The product is constructed with Jonti-Craft's exclusive features: KYDZSafe edges, KYDZTuff finish and KYDZStrong construction and carries a lifetime warranty.
www.jonti-craft.com
Elation's New Antari DNG-200 Low-Lying Fogger Suited for Church Productions
Elation Professional introduces a conveniently portable and energy-efficient low-lying fog effect machine that doesn't require dry ice or any connections to external units. The company's new Antari DNG-200 Low Fog Generator is an easy-to-use, self-contained unit that produces a continuous output of low-lying fog while running on X-Fog Ice fog fluid.
The DNG-200 creates low-lying fog straight from its nozzle, just like a regular fog machine, and is operator-friendly, reportedly making it an ideal ground fog effect solution for theatrical and production applications.
Producing continuous, non-stop fog at a rate of 40,000 cubic feet per minute with a large-capacity 10-liter tank, the DNG-200 will keep the fog flowing during performances and productions without interruption for refills. Operators can select from three variable outputs, ranging from a wispy cloud to thick "pea soup" fog.
www.elationlighting.com
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