Colby May, Energy for Purpose founder and energy efficiency expert, flew into the Humboldt County Airport  on Monday mor

ning, July 10 and assessed two Semper Virens churches.  He began at St Alban’s, Arcata, and finished his day at St Paul’s Crescent City.

Daniel Moyer, St Alban’s Green Team leader, welcomed Colby to the Diocese and led him on a tour of the facilities at St Alban’s. Colby’s surveys include visiting the various rooms in the buildings and noting the type of lighting, windows, and weather stripping. With his handheld thermal imaging camera, he views wall and roof systems as well as electrical panels.  He also notes the age, condition, and efficiency of all energy using equipment such as hot water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, air handlers,heat pumps, and kitchen appliances.  Colby will use this information to create a detailed energy efficiency assessment report for each church.

These energy efficiency assessments are the essential first step on the path to becoming carbon neutral.  The information in the reports from this assessment will enable churches to develop their action plan to become more energy efficient.

On Tuesday, July 11, Colby continued the assessments at St Francis, Fortuna, Good Shepherd, Cloverdale, and St Patrick’s, Kenwood.  On the final day of this first round of assessments he surveyed Trinity Cathedral, St Paul’s, Sacramento, St Clement’s, Rancho Cordova, and Trinity, Sutter Creek.

The 2nd round of surveys is being scheduled for later this summer.  If your church is interested in being assessed, please contact Bob Wohlsen, Commission on the Environment Project Coordinator at bob.wohlsen@gmail.com.

This week’s assessments were funded by a generous mid-cycle budget addition from the Diocesan Board and a contribution from Trinity Cathedral.   The Commission on the Environment has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Episcopal Church’s Creation Care ministry to fund the 2nd round of assessments along with a donation from St John’s, Roseville.