Imagine saving more than $3,000 in your utility budget for the year. That's the saving Wyatt Park Baptist Church, St. Joseph, has experienced since installing a new heating ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
"This system allows me to control the heat and air conditioning individually in each room or space," Jim Stuck, minister of evangelism and outreach, said. "I do this by having computer control of the thermostats.
"This allows me to change temperature set points in any room I need to – which means if a Bible study group or a committee is meeting in just one small room, that's the only area I need to heat or cool."
Better yet, Stuck said, "I can turn the system on and off by setting a timer with the computer. I want the worship center to start cooling in time for a nine o'clock worship service so I'll set the system to come on at 6 a.m. in order to reach the desired temperature setting."
The system also has safeguards in place for when the building is in off- or unoccupied-mode. If the outside climate causes an unsafe temperature for the equipment in the building, the system will automatically provide necessary cooling or heating.
One of the best features is the system's remote access capabilities. Stuck can control the system from his desk at work or through the Internet from his home or elsewhere.
"If I am off work and someone calls or has a problem with the temperature setting, I can go into the system and make changes and adjustments from home," Stuck explained.
"I took a vacation to the beach and while I was there, the church had a problem with the system. I went on the Internet and fixed the system from Galveston, Texas."
Along with the HVAC system, Wyatt Park has installed a new fire suppression program. If the system goes off, a voice comes on in the building and tells people what to do.
The system also provides building security. People who need to access the buildings in off hours receive security codes that will only let them access the area they need.
"For instance, if someone needs in the building for music, they can use their code to disarm the security system and go to the music area," Stuck explained. "They can't go to the gym or fellowship hall or any other area. This entire system ties into a central alarm company that monitors our buildings 24/7/365.
"I can monitor the HVAC system. I can also call the company that put the system in, and they can go to the Internet and pull up my system and work with me on problems while we both look at the problem together.
I don't have to write a report and send it to them and wait for a technician. Most of the time, if the problem is one of automated controls, we can fix it over the phone."
Wyatt Park has been so pleased with the HVAC system that they're now seeking a capital improvement loan to put the system in all other buildings.
For more information about the use of technology in your church, see the Sept. 22 issue of Word&Way. (09-22-05)
