LATEST UPDATE:
November 30, 2023
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November 9, 2023
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October 1, 2023
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September 26, 2023
Jim and Liz Fritz have created a film to showcase the Good Shepherd Carbon Neutral Initiative. It may be viewed here.
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September 10, 2023
The courtyard and pergola dedication was held during Fellowship Hour at 10:45 on Sunday, September 10, 2023. Jim and Liz Fritz formed an LLC to provide solar and heat pumps for our church. Jim designed the system and was the general contractor/chief grunt. Liz made sure the business side was done properly.
The project, finished this month, includes: 48 kW of solar panels (102 bi-facial panels), 4 heat pumps, a huge French drain below a permeable paver courtyard and a pergola with a large solar array on top. This project has allowed the church to get rid of the last of the old gas furnaces and become all electric/carbon neutral. Enough solar has been installed so the church will be Net Zero, meaning all the electrical needs will be met on-site through our own “private solar power utility”.
All those who helped make this a reality:
Iowa Energy Office/IEDA
Hammond Climate Solutions
Winneshiek Energy District – Andy Johnson, Paul Cutting
greenpenny.bank of Decorah – Mike Ludeking
MENTORS
Larry Grimstad, Jim Martin-Schramm, Amy Bouska
LOCAL CONTRACTORS:
Decorah Electric -Joel Teslow
Vick’s Heating and Plumbing – Steve Klemme
Legacy Concrete/Finholt Construction – Seth Klotzbach
Kittleson Woodworks – Dale Kittelson
Pinter Landscaping – Shane Pinter
Couillard Solar Foundation – Cal Couillard
Other Side Hydro Seeding – Robert Ringeon
Erdman Engineering – Lindsay Erdman
Lifetime Gutters
Alliant Energy
Reed Fitton
Tom Bourcier
For the “leap of Faith”:
the Good Shepherd Congregation
Pr. Amy Zalk-Larson
All the volunteers
Our son-in-law Jake Gazlay, for the computer renderings he made of the pergola long before it was ever built.
September 1, 2023
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August 8, 2023
Moving the Needle
by Jim and Liz Fritz
Is it possible for a small Midwestern Lutheran congregation to go from eight natural gas furnaces to eight heat pumps and create all needed energy, via solar, needed to run them in only 4 years? It is possible, and it’s happening right now! See article linked below.
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THE PROJECT:
Visit their website to learn more: www.missiongreen.llc and watch the proposal video and discussion with experts video below:
Jim and Liz Fritz are 30-year members of Good Shepherd. They’re both retired band directors, having taught in Decorah for 30 years, and live just two blocks from Good Shepherd. They have owned and operated a sole proprietorship business for over 25 years involving rental units and upgrading properties in their neighborhood. They have formed Mission Green, LLC specifically for the Carbon Neutral Initiative that is being proposed.
The business relationship would be established through a PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) and a lease between Good Shepherd Church and Mission Green, LLC. These financial contracts will provide a conduit to an affordable solution allowing for payments over time. The expenses to the church will be predetermined throughout the life of the contracts. Mission Green is responsible for all liabilities and contingencies.
Benefits of this Project:
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- Good Shepherd Church becomes Carbon Neutral
- Proactive replacement of aging 34 year old furnaces eliminates reactive, expensive replacement
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- Upgrades at reduced rate (approx. 70% value) to Good Shepherd, spread out over 7 years
- At the end of the lease and Power Purchase Agreement, Good Shepherd will own all heat pumps with an advanced air purification system for the Sanctuary and upgraded electrical equipment, create all of their own energy using solar and have a covered waterproof courtyard.
At their April meeting the church Council voted to allow the congregation to vote on the Initiative on June 5. The vote was not an endorsement at this time, simply providing an opportunity for the congregation to have a voice in this decision. Mission Green’s proposal is a comprehensive plan utilizing the latest/best technologies available. It will provide Good Shepherd with a long horizon of Carbon Neutrality. More importantly, it also includes the ability to guarantee energy costs (versus the volatile situation we are currently in) and the opportunity to redirect future energy costs towards more vital church missions.
Any questions may be directed to Jim and Liz at: missiongreen@icloud.com