Managing Church Heating Costs

Strategic Solutions for Extreme Cold

We are in the thick of winter here in the mid-Atlantic with cold weather we haven't seen in 30 years, so cold that even parts of the Chesapeake Bay are frozen. Not only do I feel the cold outdoors, but I feel it even more deeply when I make my utility payments. While I know costs will be high for my own home, I know it could far exceed in this one month what many congregations may have budgeted for multiple months. Coupled with many churches forgoing ongoing maintenance and aged equipment, utility costs will likely be a talking point of many finance committees this year.

While we know that rates for energy will continue to balloon over the coming years with our increased needs nationwide, there are important considerations that congregations can take to help ease the proportion of their budget going to heating and cooling—from simple tasks that can be done in one afternoon to projects taking months or years of planning.

If You're Going to Heat It, Use It

Before I give some suggestions to help save on heating costs, I want you to think about how often your heated church building may be open for use during extreme cold. If you are going to be paying to heat large areas of the church for most of the week, consider how you can keep those spaces in use and active during winter months.

Winter can be a lonely time for folks, and having a warm place to visit and gather could be a win for both community building and justifying the expense to heat the church. A warming center for the community is a great way to build community connections. Spaces for seniors or after-school programming are especially good uses of our church buildings in winter. A hot cup of coffee inside a warm and inviting room could be just what a neighbor needs in mid February.

This idea is about aligning your facility costs with your mission creates a different perspective that moves an expense from burden only to ministry opportunity.

How to Heat Safely and Efficiently

In good effort to conserve energy use and costs, some churches may turn the heat off or very low to save money when not in use. However, in extreme cold this could create risks for damage that would outweigh any savings. It is critical to set minimum temperatures to prevent catastrophic damage.

Never let any area of your building drop below 55°F, even in unused spaces. Burst pipes can cause $50,000+ in damage, far more than you'll ever save on heating costs. If you have a pipe organ, consult your organ technician about temperature stability requirements. Extreme temperature swings can cause thousands in damage to mechanisms and pipes. Many organs need to stay within a specific temperature range year-round.

Ask someone to walk the building regularly (especially during weather extremes) and have them check every area for:

• Windows and doors fully closed and sealed

• Curtains and blinds closed when rooms are unoccupied to cut down on drafts and cold transfer

• Signs of water infiltration on ceilings and walls

• Gutters and downspouts flowing properly for snow and ice melt

• After a fresh snow, take notes on where snow melts fastest on the roof—indicating heat loss from inside

These short-term efforts will get you through this winter and may help avoid an unknown problem from growing, but congregations should also look at longer-term investments in driving down energy consumption and costs. Here are a few things to consider:

1. Conduct an Energy Audit

Contact your local energy providers for an energy audit. Many will provide this at no cost, and the benefits and suggestions could be a roadmap for long- and short-term investment and savings.

2. Engage with Preventative Maintenance

Find a good HVAC company that will not only show up for emergencies but also help guide you toward greater efficiency and maintenance. Industry research shows preventative maintenance typically returns $3-4 for every dollar invested through energy savings, extended equipment life, and avoided emergency repairs. For churches with aging systems, the payback can be even faster.

3. Budget Now for Upgrades Later

If your heat pumps, air conditioning units, or rooftop systems are 15-20 years old, you're at or past their expected lifespan. Boilers can last longer (20-30 years or more) but even they need eventual replacement and repairs can be costly.

You should always maintain an HVAC replacement and repair fund. Even when you install a brand-new system, start setting aside money immediately for the next one. A $75,000 system replacement is manageable when you've been saving $5,000/year for 15 years. However, it can be nearly impossible when you're scrambling to find the full amount in one budget year.

These frigid temperatures are temporary. But the underlying questions about your building's efficiency, sustainability, and alignment with your mission aren't. Every congregation I’ve worked with has faced the same realization: facilities decisions can't be made in crisis mode anymore.

Churches that thrive are the ones that approach their physical plant strategically understanding their systems, planning for lifecycle costs, and ensuring their buildings serve their mission rather than drain it.

What's one step your church could take this month to reduce long-term facility costs?

At Pinnacle Services we are experienced in helping congregations assess their energy use and systems to help guide them in working toward long term sustainability. We want to maximize dollars toward ministry over dollars for utilities.