Parish Impovement Project

DID YOU KNOW THAT…?

Over the summer there were major projects completed regarding the heating and air-conditioning of the school and church buildings.

1. School Heating System Upgrade ($39,600)
   The School is heated by hot water baseboards which are fed from a gas fired hot water heater. The school’s offices and 16 classrooms were controlled by one thermostat. One side of the school would be so hot they would open the windows while the other side of the building was cold. This caused the boiler to continually run to keep up, which is a costly waste of energy.
   
   The second issue with the school heat was air getting into the piping which would stop the water flow and result in no heat. Because the school had only one zone, the whole system was affected. There was no way to isolate the problem area. Due to this recurring problem we had several service calls which cost approximately $4,400.
   
   To alleviate these problems and use our energy more efficiently, each classroom has been equipped with a zone valve and sensor. This will allow us to regulate the heat more effectively and isolate problem areas.
   
   
2. Church & Hall Heating & Air Conditioning Equipment Upgrade ($38,470)
   The cooling system for the church and hall consists of two condensing units and two air-handling units. One condensing unit was replaced in 1999 and the remaining equipment is original to the system. The air-handling units are located in the hall and provided only cooling.
   
   The heating system in the Church is hot water baseboard. The hall had been heated with 6 hot water units that were in the ceiling. Many of these units did not work, the parts are obsolete, and repair was too costly.
   
   To correct these problems a new condensing unit has been installed. Two new air-handlers have been installed in the hall along with two hot water coils that will provide heat.
   
   Both of these projects were costly and labor intensive but necessary for the overall maintenance of our buildings. In the long run we will benefit from the more economical use of energy.
   
   
3. Due to the opening of the new parish school at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer in North Wales, the parish enrollment of St. Catherine of Siena School was adversely affected and we have suffered a decrease of 80 students for the new school year of 2003-2004. Needless to say, this is a concern for our parish and in particular, our parish school. Throughout this year Sr. Maureen, our school principal, and our Home and School Board will be looking at new ways to promote our school and keep it vital in light of this major loss of tuition income.