Looking toward a cool future

In late January, St. Paul saw the replacement of the 30-year-old A/C chiller unit that cools most of the building except for the sanctuary and newer offices. It took years of preparation, discussion, and planning, and the project is now nearing completion.

Dramatic heat fluctuations during the summer months made for unpredictable days around the church as St. Paul’s three-decade-old chiller struggled to keep up. Regular maintenance was needed to keep the chiller running. Finally, it was time to plan for the installation of a new system. The project was brought before the finance committee and congregational council. Bids with contractors were reviewed and supplies were ordered. Now, in just a few short months, the chiller will be ready to be turned on.

The largest part of the project took place in late January when the old chiller unit was lifted out of the west side of the building by a large crane and the new chiller system was brought in and installed. Church council vice president Matt Lee is an engineer with John Deere.

“A chiller is like an average outdoor A/C unit you’d have at home. The chiller provides cool water to the air handling units which then distributes cool air throughout the building. It’s a heat exchange system that takes hot water and turns it into cool water,” Matt said. “Part of this project was also replacing the large condenser in the basement and cooling tower, as well as pumps and piping. These are all essential pieces for cooling the air and moving it where it needs to go throughout the building.”

The St. Paul building utilizes a water-cooled system, with water being cooled by the chiller. The unique part of this system is that only one system, either heating or cooling, can run at any one time. As the seasons change, St. Paul must be very thoughtful before switching from heat to cool. 

“St. Paul is going to save money in the long run,” Matt said. “A new, more efficiently functioning chiller system will require less maintenance costs. We should have a stable, operable system for the long term. It’s peace of mind.”

At nearly $500,000, the cost of the project looks like a big number, but this new system should last as long as the previous chiller while being the most affordable option. This system is not only the most visually appealing but also delivers the quietest performance.

“Extreme fluctuations in temperature put stress on a building. If temperatures can’t be regulated inside, expansion and contraction of the materials happens,” Matt said. “Cracks begin to form and, eventually, things can break. Having a reliable system creates a more stable inside environment and reduces excess moisture and heat, preserving the longevity of the inside of the building.”   

The finance committee also played a large part in making the project happen. Martha Bakeris serves on the St. Paul finance committee. Before retiring, Martha worked at MidAmerican Energy for 20 years and as a banker with First Midwest Bank for 15 years.  

When large projects, like the replacement of a chiller unit, come up, the committee looks to the Capital Improvement Fund, different from the fund that supports daily ministry activities, to plan for this type of substantial cost.   

“St. Paul has a capital improvement list outlining projects completed in the past and projects needed for the future. We don’t prioritize the list because we can’t predict if another project will take precedence,” Martha said. “The discussion of the chiller has been on the finance committee agenda since early 2023. We knew it would need replacing and began to prepare for that cost. St. Paul has a Capital Improvement Fund with dollars specifically set aside for these types of projects. St. Paul staff and committees steward their funds thoughtfully. When we plan the budget for the following year, we typically have a carryover amount, meaning we didn’t spend as much money in the previous year as we budgeted for. A portion of that carryover amount always goes to capital improvement so we’re constantly reinvesting dollars back into those funds for future projects.”   

Bakaris said the pledging and giving philosophy at St. Paul allows committees to plan accurately and is a strength in building the church together as a community. 

“One of the beauties of St. Paul is that we do not constantly ask the congregation for money. The pledging system St. Paul has established is unique compared to other church systems, and we forget how special it is. In other places, money is often asked for from the pulpit. I come to church to get healed, experience joy, and find strength, not to be asked for money every week,” Martha said. “When I joined the finance committee, I noticed the orientation manual had a page on stewardship and giving practices. The line that stood out to me was ‘Fundraising is not part of our general giving philosophy.’ It’s a different mindset. We rely on the pledges of St. Paul people and every person’s pledge makes this church what it is. We do this together.” 

When the weather warms and the time comes to turn on the new chiller system, St. Paul will host an open house to tour the system and celebrate this cool new unit! Stay tuned; more details to be announced in the coming months!