Project Title: Energy Audit: R.E. Lee Memorial Episcopal Church

CEC Team Leader: Alexander Kelley

Engineers: Justin Smith

Adam Stewart

Advisor: Col. Arthur

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Over the course of the spring 2009 semester, our VMI CEC team worked on an energy audit for the Robert E. Lee Memorial Episcopal Church in Lexington, VA.  Throughout this process, we have had the opportunity to work with several people and companies who not only provided assistance with this project but also helped us to grow as engineers. We would like to sincerely thank Mr. Wes Hurt from Toler Insulating Company, Inc. in Lynchburg, VA, Mr. Bob Schumacher from Allied Window Inc. in Cincinnati, OH, Mr. Ken Lambert from K.W. Lambert Construction, Drilling, & Equipment Company of Bridgewater, VA, and Eddie from Valley Boiler Inc. of Roanoke, VA for providing us with valuable information on their products and services and cost estimates. We would also like to thank our client representative at the church, Mr. John Burleson, and the rest of the congregation for providing us with the opportunity to conduct our senior project on their facility. Finally, we would like to thank Col. Arthur, our faculty advisor, for his suggestions and insights that helped this project progress.

ABSTRACT

The Robert E. Lee Memorial Episcopal Church requested an energy audit to assess their current energy consumption and learn about possible ways to reduce energy cost and become better stewards of the environment. An energy audit consists of utilizing utility bills, research, observation, and analysis to make recommendations in changing the energy usage of an existing structure. The building consists of the church building and the Parish House for a total of 17,180ft cooling equipment, utilities, and occupancy use, it was determined that water, natural gas, and electricity bills could be reduced by various long and short term measures to eliminate excess energy use. During the course of the energy audit different alternatives were examined in order to reduce energy consumption. This consisted of using an hourly analysis program to observe changes in heating and cooling loads with various added insulation, considering church policy changes, receiving cost estimates from local companies for various modifications, and performing a cost analysis for the viable possible recommendations. Through these adaptations, not only would the congregation save money by reducing their energy consumption, they would also become better stewards of the earth.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF OPTIONS

The following is a summary of the final options to decrease energy costs and become better stewards of the environment based off cost analysts and research as describe in the previous sections.

Summary of Options: Costs, Savings, and Payback

2. After surveying the building of its heating and

Options                        Capital Cost               Yearly Savings         Payback Period

 

 

 

Attic Ins.                     Only $2,400.00              $2,270.02               1yr, 1 months

Wall Ins.                     Only $5,200.00              $1,926.47               2 yrs, 10 months

Interior Windows        $11,559.40                     $554.44                       32 years

 

Compact Fluorescents $165.00                          $1,061.17                Less than 1 Year

 

(100 bulb replacement)

 

Undercroft Interior Storm  $2,268.07                $437.00                     5 yrs, 3 months

 

Windows

Knight Boiler Replacement $31,700                $1,771                         23 yrs, 5 months

Toilet Bricks / Bottles            $1.36                   $35.92                       Less than 1 Month

Geothermal Heat Pump          $275,000            $6,245.84                  79 years, 6 months

Along with these recommendations implementing the minor changes to include the following:

• Weather-stripping large wooden doors (front doors of sanctuary, Parish House Bottom Floor exit door, etc.)

 

 

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Directional floor registers in sanctuary

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Using ceiling fans during both cooling and heating months

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Increasing/decreasing thermostat in cooling/heating months respectively

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Consolidating offices to one floor

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Creating permanent signs to “Turn Lights Off After Use” in bathrooms, closets, etc.