Environmental effects are lessened too, says Father John Horgan
By Josh Tng
The B.C. Catholic

The need for new boilers in two Catholic buildings in the archdiocese has encouraged the two parishes to take advantage of often-unclaimed financial assistance.

“By switching the boiler, we will save money on our gas bill,” said Trevor Bencze, the facilities maintenance manager of St. Francis de Sales School. “The old boiler was running 24/7, but the new boiler is set up to shut off when the temperatures warm up in the afternoons of the spring and fall months.”

Many churches and schools, like St. Francis de Sales, rely on old boiler models. “It was getting harder and harder each year to find parts because the school is still using the original 50-year-old boiler,” Bencze said. “It was only running at around 50 per cent efficiency, which means half our money was going up the chimney.”

The new boiler will run at about 90 per cent efficiency.

Chris Alionis, an energy solutions manager for FortisBC, said their financial assistance program, open to everyone, helps customers lower their energy bills.

St. Francis de Sales School, along with St. Pius X Parish, qualified for FortisBC’s Efficient Boiler Program, which paid them a portion of the installation cost. The St. Francis boiler is still being replaced; the St. Pius boiler has been running since 2015.

FortisBC provided $4,600 to St. Pius X, and St. Francis de Sales is eligible for $12,000 on completion of their upgrade. Alionis said many non-profit organizations, such as parishes, do not make claims when upgrading or changing their heating systems.

“We were upgrading (our boiler) because of inadequate heating,” said Father John Horgan, the pastor of St. Pius X. “We wanted to do it in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to provide for our parishioners.”

“Since 2015, FortisBC has provided $70,000 of energy efficiency incentive funding to religious buildings in British Columbia,” said Alionis. “Rebates often go unclaimed. Our rebate programs keep our energy rates low by reducing our need for costly capital investment, and help protect the environment by using natural gas more efficiently.”

Additional information on FortisBC’s program is available at 1-866-884-8833 or commercialrebates@fortisbc.ca.