The Glen Waverley Uniting Church PSALTERLink to ManseEnergyData for 2022 > GettingOffGas >
Further Emissions Reduction 2024
WarrenGreenwood convened a meeting to consider "What (more) can we do to help Synod achieve the 2040 commitment to have “all of UCA Victoria Synod achieve zero emissions by 2040"?
Report of meeting 16 March
Thank you to those who were able to attend the discussion on Saturday morning. I think it was productive and exciting. Two key questions were asked. What (more) can we do to help Synod achieve the 2040 commitment to have “all of UCA Victoria Synod achieve zero emissions by 2040"? What more can we do to further improve our Environmental position? There was also a discussion about the term “emissions”, what they are and how are they managed, and although that created a useful discussion overall the group was prepared to go with a much broader interpretation and focus on question 2 possibilities more than strictly emission reductions, and so we agreed on a number of initiative possibilities. Summary of the discussion (This was a starting discussion - I am sure more will arise):- Site information - to help everyone understand where we are at already. Worship complex:- Double brick steel framed facility with full ceiling insulation throughout; 3 x 10 Kwh 120 panel Solar system 48,000 litres of water capture in multiple tanks used for toilets and garden LED lighting installed in Worship space, Foyer, Fellowship, Office. Reverse cycle A/c in worship space, foyer, fellowship, office, Room 4, Room 1, ministers office and kitchen and 15+ year plus a/c in Rooms 2 & 3 Gas ducted heating in Rooms 1/2/3. Electric Ovens - Gas hotplates. We have already achieved zero carbon annually by the solar panels. Manses 15/17/19 Southdown ave:- Gas ducted heating in all three manses. Gas boosted solar hot water in 15/17 Gas Hot Water in 19 LED lighting throughout 15/17 A/c in lounge of 19 Evaporative Cooling in 15/17 Solar Panels on 15/17 All manses are fully insulated ceiling and walls Saturday 16th Discussion opportunities - in shorthand - happy to explain any confusions:- Convert all lighting to LED wherever possible (as soon as possible) including the manses. But start with the worship complex. It was agreed that although many of the ceiling lights are still working well, they should be replaced with LED versions in a planned and immediate cycle. Not just globes - the entire fitting. So for example, we should aim to change the lights in Rooms 1, 2 & 3, Inner/Outer Vestry, Room 4 entrance and Room 4 in 2024 (approx $80 per fitting plus labour) Estimate $2,000. Hall lighting will need to wait until a hoist is available for other purposes - aim for 2025 Install motion sensor in toilets and meeting rooms to ensure lights go off. (Caution - toilet sensors need to ensure users are NEVER left in the dark due to lack of movement). Complex and Manses Gas heating and cooking: Remove reliance on Gas heating where and when possible or when they break. Room 1 has Rev A/c and that gas unit could be disconnected immediately to prevent use, but leave in place until other rooms are addressed. Rooms 2 & 3 have 15+ y.o. A/c that should be replaced asap - Budget for 2025/2026 to install either single unit or double headed unit. Only then remove the gas heaters from those 3 rooms. Aim to complete by late 2026(unless any component fails before that time) It would be desirable to replace the kitchen gas cook top with an electric induction version Likewise for manses - but not until the gas top breaks or late 2035 - current cost $2,800 for complex kitchen - manses to be priced. Replace Manse gas ducted heating as and when they break - otherwise look to 2035 to 2040 budgets. (Note - manses heating, cooking and power savings only return to the occupants not the congregation as the occupants pay for them, so this would be a capital outlay at the church expense with any $$ benefits going to the occupants.) Replace manses and church hot water systems with heat pump technology - when they fail - 2035 to 2040 (or before) Where possible, adjust any HWS activity to when solar is available where available. Batteries and solar: Note: GWUC and UCA are not eligible for Vic Govt rebates as we are not the occupant of the home and we do not own it but there are some Federal grants available. Manses: Install batteries in 15/17 around 2030 to 2035 or earlier if funding and opportunities arise. Remember - only $ benefits occupants. Cost around $12,000 each. Install solar in 19 if practical (say) 2030 - to be evaluated as it may require the removal of the 40 plus y.o. tree - (and later add batteries) Investigate Double glazing in the manses where possible. No time frame - put on the “to do” list. Worship complex: Install batteries (3 x 10Kwh) - approximately $40,000 - could be funded in a similar way to solar panels by the actual savings. May take 10 to 15 years to repay. look to budget 2025. As no complex windows get direct sunlight for very long, solar protections may not be beneficial, and therefore double glazing may not be effective. Expand the current 3 x 120 solar array to maximum roof availability. - This may be restricted by wholesalers input limits but in conjunction with Batteries can still be beneficial. Include in battery discussion with commercial Suppliers - church system is commercial not domestic. General and Other opportunities: Funding for some of these projects could be put to the congregation for direct support. Grants and other sources to be investigated when a project is being evaluated. For example, the Water Harvest Scheme was fully funded by Govt Grant and the A/c units in the church, foyer and fellowship were 50% funded by Sustainability Victoria. GWUC Future Fund may in 2028 - 2030, have funds that could be directed to some of these projects. It was agreed that an education program to the congregation on the wider benefits of some of these projects may encourage them to do the same in their homes. Investigate the cost of converting the main entrance doors (north and south) to automatic air lock rotating doors - major building expense to be costed - 2035+. Replace worn weather seals in worship area and investigate door and window seals around the complex. Particularly hall - immediate 2024 - 2025 budget. Investigate alternative heating options for hall - currently 8 x 1500w radiator units. Install EV charger in Office Manager location if Office manager obtains an EV. Likewise for manses. Continue to look for better ways to recycle waste - it is acknowledged this is hard in an unsupervised kitchen and hall, but as a part of a wider eduction program it may become possible. Example - It could be a condition of hire and if not properly done by a hirer, the $ Bond would not be refunded. Power any new external signage by solar/battery option - like you see around the streets now. Although some (many) of these would not necessarily reduce the UCA “emissions", it sets an environmental standard and process for the community and other churches to see. Next steps: I will try to get some numbers for items such as new A/c in Rooms 2/3, removing and replacing Gas Ducted heating in the manses, batteries for the church and manses and put together a financial impact statement. This is my 3 to 6 month project and then I will discuss them with Property and Treasurer as to which budget year. I will keep you in the loop. As always if you have some specific other suggestions they are always welcome, but I encourage you to talk to Property members or David Morgan to ensure you have all the current understanding of our site. Again a big thanks to the team on Saturday - it sounds exciting with lots of possibilities, and thank you also to those who submitted written suggestions - they were helpful in developing the above. WarrenGreenwood
Advice from Solar installer
27 Mar 2024 via WarrenGreenwood
Feedback from Murray - Electrical Engineer supporting our existing solar array. He was the person who replaced one of our Inverters that died 2 years ago. The remaining two SMA Inverters, based on the data he can see when logged into them, are showing very early signs of minor and non urgent deterioration in their performance. These units are now 10 years old. At the end of their warranty but should last a further few years. None of our 3 Inverters are capable of having a battery system attached, and they would all need to be changed to a Hybrid SMA version to accomodate and manage a battery array. SMA currently do not offer a commercial grade 30 Kwh industrial Hybrid Inverter, but have commenced testing and using a “SunGro” 20 Kwh Inverter that they are re-badging as SMA. Their data today is positive this will be a good unit to consider. He confirms David’s numbers that we are currently running annually at a rate that makes us Carbon Neutral - i.e. we generate 50 units per year and consume 40 units per year. ANY change we want to make to the current system will allow (and they will) United Energy to WITHDRAW our current approval of sending up to 30 Kwh to the grid and reduce it to a maximum of 15 Kwh. This is because now they do not allow any commercial system over 15 Kwh to export more than that currently (Domestic is 5 Kwh) and they are taking the opportunity to pull back the Feed Ins when they can because the infrastructure cannot cope with these volumes. As a “spit in hand” estimate number, if we wanted to replace one or more Inverters with an Inverter/Battery array, it will cost approximately $1,000 per Kwh. i.e. 20 Kwh Battery/Inverter and Control unit = $20,000. Batteries are the bulk ($14K) of that cost, but are reducing in price slowly. Based on the numbers over the past 3 years, we could justify a single 20 Kwh Inverter (to replace the 2 x 10) and a battery array of 20 Kwh, which would support 90% - 95% of our night time usage and almost all day-time usage. (We deliberately did 3 x 10 Kwh so that if an Inverter or panel/s broke, we would continue to get some level of performance until repaired. This was a good decision as when one Inverter died it took 3 months to replace it under warranty). Even at a 15 Kwh export limit we could justify financially this level of battery support which would pay for itself in a 8 to 12 year timeframe due to the savings. There are NO subsidies available for a church complex batteries array. The installation should/would require a monitoring option to enable best practice management of usage. Our current setup could also have an EV charger added - that could be used if we went to battery, that if used day time would make even better use of our now generated power. The optimal time to add a battery array would be when one of the original Inverters fails and requires replacement. Then a hybrid and battery array could be considered with a battery system that could be expanded when the remaining Inverter failed. The current solar array is working well - by the numbers.
Comments from DavidMorgan
For an alternative view on adding batteries to an existing installation, see https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/hybrid-vs-solar-inverters/ You need AC connected batteries.
For export limits, see https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/dynamic-solar-exports-victoria/<<BR>>The previous fixed export limit of 5 kW per phase has been effectively doubled in Victoria. New compliant inverters can now export between 1.5 kW and 10 kW per phase, likely to operate at the upper limit most of the time.
It would require new "Dynamic Solar Export" enabled inverters.
Night time consumption data
Advice from NeilLeister
29 March 2024 * The existing inverters are each 3 phase units with 20kW total output.