by Scott Hoover

"I live and love in God's peculiar light."--Michelangelo

Imagine what the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel would have been like had their creator really wanted the job. As a sculptor who preferred above all else to bring life into cold, translucent slabs of marble from the quarries of Carrara north of Rome, it is clear that Michelangelo did not welcome the commission from Pope Julius II to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. However, after four years of steady work, nearly 1,300 square meters of ceiling and walls was unveiled to the public on Oct. 31, 1510.

In 1997, more than 487 years after the frescos were painted and attracted millions of awed observers, a problem emerged that was as simple as dirt, heat and humidity. The situation was made worse following the Vatican's recent meticulous restoration of the masterworks to their original brightness and stunning colors. Removing centuries of candle soot and ordinary dirt made the frescoes even more vulnerable to attack by moisture and temperature extremes created mainly by the daily influx of visitors.

The solution? The installation of an air conditioning system that would preserve the frescoes in stable comfort while still allowing pilgrims from around the world to gaze and wonder at Michelangelo's awe-inspiring works.

"Combining 'off-the-shelf' cooling and heating products with computer-based electronic sensors and controls we created a system that bathed the ceilings and walls with temperate air and humidity," says Rick Fedrizzi, director of communications and environmental marketing for the Syracuse, N.Y.,-based Carrier. "The air is now cleaned with powerful filters that remove chemicals and even bacteria-sized particles. Visitors, meanwhile, are showered with a higher velocity air flow that keeps dirt and humidity at floor level."

Granted, for most church administrators, the process of keeping a church compound comfortable for employees as well as visitors is not as complex as it was for the Sistine Chapel. However, picture this scenario:

It is early Sunday morning, the cold north wind is nipping at the noses of parishioners as they head toward the church and what they expect to be a warm and cozy sanctuary. Much to their surprise as well as local church leaders, the sanctuary almost is as cold as the frigid conditions outside. Nothing can keep congregation members away from church like a broken furnace in the dead of winter or an ineffective air conditioner in the scorching days of summer. How do church leaders keep from facing the aforementioned scenario and, if or when it does occur, what steps should be taken to repair or replace their current unit?

Something New

When you buy a new car, the quality of it helps to determine how well and how long it will perform. A heating and cooling system really is no different. Many times, churches have to look at cost as one of the underlying factors as to what type of unit it will purchase. However, there are a number of questions that should be asked before price is even considered.

"The quality and reliability of the company must be one of the first things to consider," says Fedrizzi. "Purchasing a brand name that has a reputation for quality and reliability may save the church headaches and extra expense in the future."

Additionally, research and talk to other pastors of churches similar in size to see what types of units have worked for their sanctuaries and what companies were the best to work with. Other research sources include consumer report magazines and company Web sites.

Fedrizzi adds that church leaders will want to make sure to ask the dealer about the efficiency rating for the furnace, heat pump or air conditioner that the church is looking to purchase.

"This will tell you how efficiently the unit uses fuel (gas, oil or electricity)," he notes. "Furnace efficiency is measured as Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency and ratings range from 78 percent to 96.6 percent. Furnaces with AFUE ratings from 78 percent to 80 percent are considered mid-efficiency; units with AFUE ratings above 90 percent are considered high-efficiency. Air conditioners and heat pumps have cooling efficiency ratings from 10 to 17 Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Heat pumps have heating efficiency ratings from 6.8 to 10 Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. High-efficiency units have efficiencies of 12 SEER and 7.5 HSPF or above. Generally, the higher the efficiency of the unit, the more it will cost, but the less fuel it will use to heat or cool the church."

However, according to Doug Shewmaker, general manager of the Arizona District of the LaCrosse, Wis.,-based Trane Co., churches shouldn't overbuy on efficiency.

"Church leaders need to decide what efficiency level they are comfortable with," he notes. "Many times a moderate-efficiency level unit will be more cost-effective than a high-efficiency unit because, typically, most churches don't operate many hours during the week. Local utility companies can be a good source for what is typical in the market. In addition, if churches are in the process of constructing a new building or adding on to an existing building, the engineer or an engineering consultant might be able to give some advice about what type of unit to purchase. It all depends on the church's long-term goals and how much the utility bill actually effects the budget."

Another point to keep in mind is that a heat pump or air conditioner is a "split system," which means that there is an outdoor unit (condenser) and an indoor unit (evaporator coil). If a church is replacing an existing system, both units should be replaced to make sure the new condensing unit will give optimal performance, efficiency and comfort.

One more aspect to consider, especially when a congregation is moving into a new building, is ventilation codes. Although codes vary nationwide, church leaders need to be aware of these codes. Over the past few years, building codes have increased the amount of ventilation needed in most public buildings and some systems tend to work better than others with high ventilation. It is good to make sure that the architect has considered what type of unit will work best for the amount of ventilation load that corresponds with the codes in your area.

In addition, be sure to ask the dealer about the manufacturer's warranty that comes with the new unit. Ask about the length of time the equipment is covered and what specific components are included under the warranty.

"Many times manufacturers offer extended warranties on parts and labor at discounted rates up front vs. what might have to be paid after the unit is purchased," says Shewmaker. "Although I'm not saying the warranty should be purchased in all cases, it is well worth the evaluation process. Many times buying the extended warranty up front, will save the church money in latter years." He adds that warranties can run up to five years, seven years and even 10 years on major components.

Finally, when purchasing a new unit, church leaders should consider the noise it might make on the ground compared to the same unit on the roof. Shewmaker adds that often times, roof-mounted equipment causes more noise and vibration than ground-mounted equipment. The company chosen to install the unit should be able to give some predictable noise ranges for the unit.

Repair vs. Replace

The question of when to repair older equipment or replace it is hard to answer. Often, church personnel will get frustrated when equipment breaks down and it can be tempting to find the least expensive "quick fix" to get the unit working again. However, that "quick fix" may be the least expensive now, but it may not be the most cost-effective in the long run.

"Fixing or replacing a heating or cooling unit can dramatically effect an annual church budget," Shewmaker notes. "Most churches do not budget enough money for large repairs or capital improvements and paying for repairs to an old or inefficient system often simply prolongs the inevitable ."

According to Shewmaker, to replace a major component such as a compressor, the church will pay between $600 and $1,000.

"Typically if the equipment is a 5-ton unit or smaller and a major component fails, it is more cost-effective to replace the unit than it is to replace the compressor," he says. "The reason is when you a replace a unit not only do you get the extended warranty, generally a new unit will operate more efficiently and many times local utilities will offer rebates to owners who upgrade to more efficient equipment."

However, there are several simple maintenance and troubleshooting procedures church leaders can do to prolong the life of their equipment. Make sure to check the air filter in the furnace or fan coil every three to four weeks. A dirty filter will cause excessive strain on the furnace, air conditioner or heat pump. Be sure to replace the filter when necessary, or clean it if it is reusable. In addition, the prefilter and collection cells of an electronic air cleaner should be cleaned at least two times per year.

"Keeping the outdoor condensing unit free of debris also will help the unit last longer," says Fedrizzi. "If grass clippings, leaves and shrubbery are kept away from the unit, it should only require minimal care to operate properly. If the outdoor coil becomes dirty, use a brush or a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to clean the surface."

If a church is having problems with its heating or cooling unit and cannot afford a new one, there are a number of different sources where churches leaders can turn. One source is buying refurbished equipment.

"Most times, if a church is looking for smaller units, they will have to buy new equipment," Shewmaker says. "However, if they are looking for larger units, they should be able to find refurbished units available in the same places where new equipment is sold. Additionally, many churches can go to the suppliers and manufacturers and receive "scratch and dent" units at discounted prices."

Energy Saving Tips

In many ways, church leaders are similar to home owners when it comes to being conscious of ways to save money. Listed below are just a few energy saving tips. Contact your local utility company or heating and cooling dealer for more money saving ideas.

Windows

• Use caulking and weatherstripping to stop much of the heated or cooled air from escaping. More than 25 percent of heat escapes through windows.
• Replace single-thickness windows with thermal-type double thickness windows where applicable.
• Install storm windows and doors where applicable to provide insurance against heat loss.

Lighting

• Compact fluorescent light bulbs use one-fourth the wattage and provide the same amount of soft light as incandescent bulbs. Churches should replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent ones.
• Use lower wattage bulbs for small areas like hallways and vestibules.
• Get in the habit of turning out the lights when a room is empty.

Appliances

One of the largest consumers of energy in a church is the heating and cooling system. In an effort to conserve energy waste church leaders can:

• Upgrade older equipment with higher efficiency furnaces, central air conditioners and heat pumps.
• Make sure the heating or cooling units are properly sized for the areas they are designed for.
• Check the heating system to see that it is running efficiently. Have a dealer inspect the system before the winter months and be sure to change filters regularly--at least every three months.
• If replacing a central air conditioner, make sure that the contractor replaces the indoor coil as well as the outside condensing unit. This will allow the system to perform at its top efficiency.
• Install electric ceiling fans to boost the efficiency of room air conditioners in the summer and to circulate warm air away from the ceiling in the winter.
• Be sure to clean or replace filters of all equipment regularly. Clogged filters make appliances work harder, so they use more energy to do the same job.
• Invest in an automatic setback thermostat that will adjust temperatures at night and when parts of the church are not in use. Additionally, installing a zoning system to control and regulate airflow and temperatures in areas of the church that are not being used will help keep electric bills down.
• Adding a humidifier to your heating system may enable you to turn your thermostat down and still be comfortable at lower temperatures.
• Check the efficiency ratings mandated by the Department of Energy when shopping for new equipment to make sure you receive the correct efficiency-rated equipment needed for your church. Ratings will be displayed on a yellow hangtag required by law to be on each new unit sold.