Capital Campaign Project FAQ’s
SUSTAINABILITY
Are heat pumps a “new” technology? No. Heat pumps have been on the market for 30+ years. Cold-climate heat pumps are about ten years old. The technology does continue to evolve, and incremental improvements are being made.
Do we need to rely on “back up heat” when it gets very cold (e.g.-15 degrees)? No. Cold-climate heat pumps deliver full power down to -13 degrees F.
Will the church need more solar panels? The electricity needed by our heat pumps will initially be supplied by the utility, National Grid.
How do we get green electricity for the heat pumps? There are a number of options for getting more green electricity, but they are not part of this capital campaign. Options include: (i) choosing 100% green supply through Andover Community Power (ii) purchasing solar electricity from a Community Solar farm, (iii) adding to our existing solar panels, etc. Our Facilities Team is responsible for managing Utilities and can make adjustments as they think best.
How noisy are the outdoor units which run the heat pumps? They make some noise, but not a lot. New units are considerably quieter than previous designs. Because of their outdoor location the noise should not be objectionable indoors.
Do we need to remove radiators? No.
Are heat pumps effective in such a large space as the Sanctuary? Yes.
What are the on-going costs of running heat pumps? Heat pumps run on electricity. The annual energy cost may be more or less than the gas it replaces, depending on prices. With current prices it could be up to 80 percent more per therm replaced. But over the life of the equipment it will undoubtedly vary.
Do we still need to use the steam boiler after we get heat pumps for Fellowship Hall? Not to heat Fellowship Hall. But we will still need to use the steam system for zones which have not yet been converted to heat pumps, e.g. the sanctuary and the 1956 building. And we may choose to keep the steam system functional in the sanctuary, for emergency backup.
Describe age and condition of current boiler; it will still be needed. The current steam boiler is new. Other parts of the steam heat system have been recently refurbished. The distribution pipes and radiators are 65+ years old and at the end of their life. Professional engineering advice is that the system will likely need more repairs, and it is time to consider what our new HVAC system will be.
What is the cost of Project 1A included in this Capital Campaign (heat pumps for Parsonage, Fellowship Hall, Parlor, office, etc.)? About $265,000 net, after MassSave rebate of about $70,000.
What is the cost of Project 1B (heat pumps for Sanctuary etc.) About $400,000 net, after MassSave rebate of about $220,000 but this phase is not part of this Campaign.
What is the timeline for Return on Investment? Very hard to say. Operating cost differential depends on the relative cost of gas and electricity, which is hard to predict. Repair costs for the steam heat system over the next decade may be substantial but it is hard to predict when they will occur.
Is it more efficient to do projects 1A and 1B (Parsonage, Fellowship Hall, parlor, office, Sanctuary etc.) at the same time? There would be greater Sustainability benefits but;
- We do not expect to have the funds for both phases in this campaign
- Doing it in 2 phases allows us to fully understand both the application of heat pumps and the budget impact of increased electricity use.
- It is likely that the design of project 1B, heat pumps in the Sanctuary, will be better if we have experience from project 1A to draw on.
SANCTUARY
Will chandeliers remain? Yes!
Will the existing choir loft be renovated? No, existing choir loft up in the balcony is not accessible and will no longer be used. The renovated Chancel platform will accommodate all musicians in a safe, accessible, space.
Is choir kneewall moveable? Yes, all elements on the renovated platform will be moveable for maximum flexibility.
Will baptismal font always be front and center? An important part of our sacraments, the Communion Table and Baptismal Font will stay on the new Chancel platform but are moveable.
Can the new layout support musicals? Yes! As well as many other church or community events like concerts and lectures.
How long will construction take? Est. 9 months. A team is studying alternative worship sites.
Will there be handicap accessible seating in the sanctuary? Yes, there will be an increase to 6 wheelchair spots located throughout the Sanctuary instead of grouped all together up in the left corner as they are now.
STEEPLE
Is the bell area meant to be weather tight? Not completely – rain can enter through louvers during windy storms but the rubber floor is designed to handle this and direct the runoff out of the belfrey.
Do the louvers near the bell open and close? No.
When can we start ringing the bell again? We look forward to ringing the bell again when the repairs are complete!
BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS
Would we consider recarpeting fellowship hall? No, we replaced the old carpeting with vinyl plank because it is easily cleaned, as well as withstand water damage in the event of flooding. The hard surface flooring does make it loud in the hall, and we will address this by adding “sound cloud” acoustic panels to the ceiling.
What kind of sprinkler system will be installed in the steeple, attic and Sanctuary? A ‘dry’ system where the pipes are empty and water is only pumped through them in the event of a fire. We have adequate water pressure to support this type of system and the Andover Fire Dept. approves of the plan.
What’s included in the proposed IT upgrade? New hardware, optical fiber in a hub and spoke configuration and an IT equipment closet.
How many accessible bathrooms will we need to meet code? We won’t know until the state board (MAAB) review is complete. As experienced experts, our architects will represent us before the board.
