[CoC] Fwd: In Your Footsteps

[Kristopher Hammer]

Here's a link to more information about HRV/ERV systems and their utility
vis a vis COVID


https://www.thesef.org/energy-and-heat-recovery-ventilation/


Kris

On Mon, May 3, 2021, 04:40 Kristopher Hammer <kristopher.r.hammer at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Does the proposed design include a heat recovery ventilation (HRV)  or
> energy recovery ventilation (ERV)  component? I think I we discussed this
> as part of the Building for the Future project. My understanding is that
> these systems are usually installed ( and seem to work better) if operated
> separately from the heating system. It may make sense not to try to
> incorporate ventilation into the existing heat plant to give use more
> flexibility in the future to change it out the heating system as new
> options become available. I would think a stand alone HRV/ERV system would
> cheaper to design and install than pne that needs to integrate with the
> heat plant.
>
> On Sun, May 2, 2021, 21:22 Paul Ohlson via CoC <
> coc at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> wrote:
>
>> FYI. More info from Belmont, MA. Supports the direction we are leaning.
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Paul
>>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>> *From:* Paul Ohlson <ohlson14 at gmail.com>
>> *Date:* May 2, 2021 at 9:22:43 AM EDT
>> *To:* Jody Renouf <jodyrenouf at gmail.com>
>> *Cc:* Allen Clark <VTCLARKS at aol.com>, Barbara Conrey <bdconrey at gmail.com>,
>> Scott Hess <scottphess at gmail.com>, Tina Muncy <tmuncy at myfairpoint.net>,
>> Victor Guadagno <victorgeemail at gmail.com>, Sam James <srjames at srjames.com
>> >
>> *Subject:* *Re: In Your Footsteps*
>>
>> Hi Jody,
>>
>> Thank you very much for your swift, complete reply! I know I speak for
>> all of us when I say that your experience ratifies the direction we are
>> headed and that this Vermont congregation appreciates the sharing of your
>> learnings.
>>
>> It is reassuring to know that the design services we know are essential
>> are, indeed, expensive whether in Massachusetts or Vermont. Today our
>> Governing Board and others of us will be hosting discussion in our Zoom
>> coffee hour on our proposed annual budget as well as reopening strategies
>> and clean air fixes. We’ve put together some excellent FAQs and their
>> answers (as best we can at this point). We are at some disadvantage as we
>> cannot firmly predict the project costs without a complete design. Time
>> will tell.
>>
>> Again, Jody, thank you very much for your willingness to share your
>> Belmont experience with us. I know that Allen and Claudia Clark found their
>> time with you on the phone very helpful and reaffirming of the direction we
>> are heading.
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Paul
>>
>> On May 2, 2021, at 8:21 AM, Jody Renouf <jodyrenouf at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Paul.
>>
>> Here are my answers to your questions:
>>
>> 1. Yes $40,000 is in the ballpark. First Church in Belmont's design work
>> is less ($30k, 10%) of the total project cost, although a couple things
>> probably make that percentage lower than expected:
>>
>>    - Our engineer did not manage the entire bidding process.
>>    - The engineer had already worked on other projects in the building,
>>    so was familiar with many of the systems already.
>>
>> 2. There were no existing ducts in the 1889 part of our building. All of
>> that ventilation ductwork is new. The 2004 addition already had adequate
>> ductwork.
>> 3. New heat sources were considered everywhere but only technically and
>> financially feasible in one area.
>>
>>    - The 1889 sanctuary still has steam radiators, and would require a
>>    separate architecturally-focused project to replace.
>>    - The new ventilation system in the 1889 sanctuary has a heating coil
>>    that can be connected to a non-gas heating source in the future.
>>    - The steam radiators in the 1889 parlor and minister's office are
>>    getting replaced with air source heat pumps as part of this project.
>>    - Our 2004 addition will still have gas (furnace) heat because a heat
>>    pump ventilation system will not fit on the roof. As part of the
>>    engineering, we got drawings for heating coils in the 2004 addition that
>>    could be installed at a later date and connected to a non-gas heating
>>    source.
>>
>> 4. There were two town hall meetings, and other small Q&A sessions, to
>> educate the congregation. Our parish board president, and the board in
>> general, have been helpful in framing the message: ventilation is necessary
>> for this and future health concerns, and our entire building lacks
>> ventilation unless we open windows. The 1889 section was built with a few
>> operable windows, and the 2004 addition was built with two
>> ventilation systems: one that only brought in fresh air very rarely, in
>> "economizer" mode, and the other that never functioned at all.
>>
>> Thank you, and best of luck to you all,
>> - Jody
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Apr 30, 2021 at 2:45 PM Paul Ohlson <ohlson14 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Jody,
>>>
>>> It seems like our Montpelier, VT UU church is following pretty closely
>>> in your footsteps in Belmont. We will likely be asking our congregation in
>>> a couple of weeks to approve up to $250,000 to design a new ventilation
>>> system that introduces fresh, outside air to our heating system as well as
>>> carefully filtering the recirculating air. Our job will also include
>>> removal and replacement of all existing ductwork but not the heating
>>> sources (2 hot air furnaces).
>>>
>>> I’d like to ask you a few questions if I may….
>>>
>>> First the design work. Can you tell us what % of the total project was
>>> the design work? We are working with a mechanical engineer that we all like
>>> but wonder about her estimate of $40,000 to design the system, review
>>> contractors’ bids to fabricate and install the system, and finally to
>>> review the system’s commissioning. Does $40,000 sound like it’s in the
>>> ballpark?
>>>
>>> Second, was there a price for simply removing your old heating system
>>> ducts?
>>>
>>> Third, did your project include a new heating source (furnace, boilers,
>>> heat pumps, etc.)?
>>>
>>> Fourth, how did you educate the congregation on the need for spending
>>> $350,000 simply for cleaner air? Did you tell them that a new ventilation
>>> system was a prerequisite for fully reopening?
>>>
>>> While we are taking this big step with confidence we sure would like to
>>> learn everything we can from those who have been there, done that.
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance for your willingness to respond to these questions.
>>>
>>>
>>> Best,
>>>
>>> Paul Ohlson, Property Committee Chair
>>> Unitarian Church of Montpelier
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
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>>
>
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