In our 2021 Diocesan Synod in the resolution on climate change we committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 in our churches and in our personal lives to strive to reduce our carbon footprint.

As individuals we have control over emissions in four main sectors: our buildings, transportation, the food we eat and our consumption (clothing and other material goods). In each of these sectors there are a few basic choices for us to focus our efforts.

For our buildings the advent of the cold weather heat pump has been the quantum leap forward in reaching our goal of emission reduction.

It can be cold outside, with the temperature at zero or 20 below zero, with the wind blowing snow around our face. When we pass by the outdoor heat pump compressor unit, we hear a gentle hum from the fan as it exhausts air. And if we pause, we might notice the temperature of the exhausted air is colder than the outdoor air. But when we go inside the cozy warmth of the indoor temperature will embrace us as heated air is blasting from the registers. The cold climate heat pump is able to extract heat from that cold outside air and move it inside. The amount of heat moved can be 3 to 4 times more than the equivalent energy used by the heat pump motors.

The heat pump has become an affordable proven technology for helping us to meet the challenge of reducing our climate footprint of buildings. Many people in our diocese will be heating their homes this winter using only the heat pump for the entire winter.

Some churches in our diocese have hot water heating systems and require a boiler. Heat pumps are available that will heat water to a high temperature to replace a fossil fuel boiler. However, cold weather heat pumps that replace boilers are an emerging technology and are usually not readily available by local installers. They use staged or cascading compressors using more than one refrigerant to bring water to higher temperatures (180 or 190 degrees) necessary for radiant heating at a competitive cost. Read about high temperature heat pumps here: https://www.hitachiaircon.com/uk/magazine/discover-high-temperature-heat-pumps-advanced-heating-solutions.

Another advantage of the heat pump is that it can be used as an air conditioner. With a heat pump our churches can provide cooling centres for our communities, providing comfort and relief during heat waves. They would also make our churches more attractive for use by the community.

Some will argue that heat pumps don’t reduce emissions where the electricity is produced with fossil fuels. This is not just misleading but is completely false when the 3 to 4 times efficiency of the heat pump at extracting heat is factored in.

The heat provided by a heat pump is gentle and continuous. The humidity is healthy, unlike the dryness of wood heat and the high humidity of gas. From indoors they are almost silent, and outside there is just a soft humming sound. In the summer they are much quieter than window air conditioners.

Because there is no combustion, there is no risk of fire, and no smoke or fumes created, so heat pumps are the safest option. They definitely save on heating and cooling bills.

Heat pumps can help us meet our diocesan objective of 50% reduction in carbon emissions for our buildings by 2030. This reduction is also within Canada’s Climate Action Plan of 40% reduction for buildings by 2030.

Please get in touch with us if you would like more information, or perhaps we could help you plan a heat pump information session. Also let us know if your parish already has a heat pump. We would love to feature it on our Facebook page or on our website.

Email: greengroup@ontario.anglican.ca.

The post Heat pumps now an affordable proven technology appeared first on Dialogue.

The Diocese of Ontario Green Group has chosen to focus on care for creation. We are all part of God’s world. Christians are people of the Word and people of action. So again what can we do? We all love a good to do list and there are many to be found. Google “what can I do about climate change?” Numerous environmental organizations will invite you to sign up and will offer plenty of actions to take. There are lifestyle changes to be made. Eat a more plant-based diet, increase use of public transportation, avoid fast fashion, drive an electric car, install a heat pump and many more. Pick one thing to start with. Heat pumps reduce reliance on fossil fuels and are also air conditioners in the summer. Your church may wish to host an information session. Feel welcome to contact us at greengroup@ontario.anglican.ca if you would like help with that action.

Leah Kostamo, cofounder of A Rocha Canada, in her book, ‘Planted A story of creation, calling and community’ offers a way forward for us that consists of three actions: be grateful, be generous and honour the Sabbath.

We offer this suggestion as something to ponder as we enter the Season of Creation for 2025.

A Rocha Canada is part of an international Christian environmental organization which provides educational programs, does scientific research and participates in sustainable living, all in a way that honours God’s calling to each one of us to tend to the earth in ways in which he has equipped us to do.

Gathering with like minded people is another action we can take. September 20 is a Day for Global Action on Climate Change. The Diocese of Ontario Green Group will be hosting our third annual conference at Christ Church Cataraqui, 990 Sydenham Street, Kingston, on that Saturday, September 20. Coffee and muffins and registration will begin at 9:30 am. We will open with prayer at 10 am. Our plenary speaker will be Luke Wilson, CEO of A Rocha Canada, an international, Christian, environmental organization. Luke will lead three interactive sessions, ‘A Captivating Vision of Shalom’, ‘Prayer & Discernment is the Essential Work of Creation Care’, and ‘What Does A Rocha Do In Canada and Around the World?’ A potluck plant-based lunch will begin at 11:30 and dismissal will be at 2:30. Bring a friend. A postcard you can share with others is attached. We hope you join us at Christ Church on September 20!

The post Taking Action appeared first on Dialogue.

The Green Group first learned about A Rocha through Rev. Dr. Ian Ritchie, who shared his experiences at one of the group’s early meetings. Since then, A Rocha has remained a topic of interest and inspiration. Over the years, the idea of inviting someone from the organization to speak at a diocesan event has been discussed many times. This year, the committee reached out—and was thrilled when Luke Wilson accepted the invitation to lead the conference.

A Rocha is an international Christian environmental organization that began on a small farm, or quinta, in Portugal—its name meaning “the rock” in Portuguese. Inspired by God’s love, A Rocha engages in scientific research, environmental education, community-based conservation, and sustainable agriculture. Their work is rooted in a deep commitment to caring for creation as an expression of Christian faith.

In Canada, A Rocha operates an environmental centre in Surrey, British Columbia, and is active in Manitoba and Ontario. Their projects include habitat restoration, species monitoring, and educational initiatives that connect people with the natural world. What makes A Rocha’s approach unique is its integration of ecological responsibility with spiritual and community life.

The Green Group sees this conference as a timely and meaningful opportunity for the diocese. Many members have been inspired by the writings of A Rocha leaders, including Planted by Leah Kostamo, a co-founder of A Rocha Canada. The book offers a compelling narrative of how faith and environmental stewardship can be lived out in everyday life, and it has helped deepen the committee’s excitement for this year’s gathering. The Green Group has also benefited from resources provided by A Rocha, with a survey used in a recent communication to Anglicans in our diocese.

The Green Group is hopeful for a strong turnout on September 20. The location will be held at Christ Church Kingston, 990 Sydenham Road, Kingston, beginning at 9:30 am with a potluck lunch to be served at noon. Contact greengroup@ontario.anglican.ca.

This event is not only a chance to hear from a respected leader in Christian environmentalism, but also an invitation for the wider diocesan community to reflect on their role as stewards of God’s creation. Whether attendees are seasoned advocates or just beginning to explore the intersection of faith and ecology, the conference promises to be both inspiring and transformative.

The Diocese of Ontario Green Group warmly invites all to join in this important conversation and to take part in a day of learning, reflection, and renewed commitment to caring for the earth.

The post Changing the Way People Treat the Earth: Green Group annual conference appeared first on Dialogue.

To assess the progress made by the diocesan churches, the bishop has annually requested information on the use of energy sources used for heating churches. The Green Group prepared an analysis of the returns, and Synod Council considered the results and provided further guidance on the reporting. This year, 13 churches reported statistics on energy use in 2023. They included 8 churches reporting annual consumption since 2018, and also in 2022 and 2023. These are: Holy Trinity, Maynooth; St. Paul’s, Marmora; St. Mathew’s, Marlbank; St. Mary Magdalene, Napanee; St. Lawrence, Brockville; St. Luke’s, Camden East; Christ Church, Tamworth; and St. Philip’s, Milford. Other churches reported on some years only. Most of the reporting churches also listed measures taken to reduce energy consumption.

Since the annual energy use fluctuates among years depending on the weather, incomplete reporting does not yet permit evaluation of the trend in energy use. For the same reason, a longer time series will be required to detect trends in energy use and fossil fuel emissions. Most of the reporting churches still use fossil fuels (propane, natural gas, oil) although some heat exclusively with electricity which in Ontario is mostly free of fossil fuels.

In most cases, in 2023, churches reported a variety of measures aimed at reducing heat losses and thereby reduce the carbon emissions. The churches described diverse energy conservation measures to reduce fossil fuel consumption: programmable thermostats (including online), LED bulbs for illuminations, lowered indoor temperature to 5-6o

Some churches are dealing with urgent need to replace aging equipment and are facing significant investments in new equipment. Regrettably, they are often getting ‘traditional’ conservative advice to install gas furnaces from companies unfamiliar with the new electricity-only heat pumps. Currently available heat pump systems work adequately at air temperatures of -30oC (-22o

A significant drawback of the heat pump technology is the initial cost of purchase and installation, especially for small congregations in rural areas of our diocese. Recognizing this impediment, the Green Group had proposed that our diocese provide financial assistance in upgrading the heating plants of churches with obsolescent equipment. The 2023 Synod passed a motion “That the diocese assist congregations with the costs of the greenhouse gas reductions called for in the above resolution” (i.e., that from 2021). These are still under consideration by Synod Council.

If you have questions or comments, contact us at greengroup@ontario.anglican.ca. We would love to hear from you.

The post Report on reducing emissions in Diocese of Ontario churches appeared first on Dialogue.

This is a collective problem. Together we have made this mess and together we must clean it up. It will take everyone doing something. Every action big or small matters.

One of many good actions we can take is to participate in the worldwide Anglican Communion Forest Project. Trees contribute so much to the quality of life on earth. They provide life-giving oxygen in exchange for carbon dioxide! They foster biodiversity, help to clean water, provide homes for wildlife and so much more.

Our church, St. Philip’s, Milford, has accepted Bishop Michael’s challenge to plant 160 trees in honour of our diocesan anniversary, in response to the Anglican Communion Forest Project. I look forward to planting and caring for the three seedlings my husband and I have purchased. At my age I wonder if I will still be here when they mature. This reminds me of the story that is told in which a 100 year old man is observed planting a fig tree. When asked if he expects to enjoy the fruit of this tree his reply goes something like this: “My ancestors planted for me, and I now plant for my children.” This is the attitude we need to solve the climate crisis we face. God’s love has no barriers, let’s not put any on ours. Let’s ask ourselves how our actions will affect the next seven generations.

More actions we might consider include providing prayer and or financial support for people or organisations already doing great work for the environment. We might join a group of like minded people and learn from what they are doing. There are several online groups and many in our communities. Does your church have a green group? If not, might you be the person to start one? Would you be interested in joining the Diocese of Ontario Green Group? You can contact us at greengroup.@ontario.anglican.ca. We would love to hear from you. What actions are you taking that you might want to share with others?

In the spirit of communal effort, in the fall we, the Diocese of Ontario Green Group, hope to host a gathering of green groups and other like minded people. The purpose is to discuss goals and actions and to consider what things we are doing that are working and which ones are not. We would also like to find ways that we can all work together more. This event will be promoted in eNews and Dialogue.

For more information about our group and for more ideas on what we can do to take action on climate change, please have a look at our website at: https://www.ontario.anglican.ca/creation-care.

The post Are you looking for solutions? appeared first on Dialogue.

Such a walk is the Portuguese Camino de Santiago. It is over 600 kilometres when walking from Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela. Sadly, along with the beauty of creation, there is a lot of litter. Much of it appears to be left by pilgrims walking to Santiago. There are things such as granola bar wrappers, empty single use plastic water bottles, used yogurt containers—which are things pilgrims might have.

One morning when walking through a village we noticed someone had left an empty water bottle at the foot of a beautiful old stone cross. It was sad to see a symbol of our wasteful society so deliberately set at the symbol of our salvation. Someone had made the choice to carefully set that bottle there. What were they thinking? Was someone else supposed to clean up after them? Why is it ok to carry a full bottle but not an empty one?

As Christians we know that Creation is a gift from God and that the Creator asked us to take care of it. God gave us the freedom to choose how we do that.

Every day we make decisions that create the lifestyle we live. Today it is easier than ever to make the choices that will allow us to take good care of the environment. Products from reusable storage containers (including water bottles!) to electric cars, heat pumps and renewable energy give us earth friendly choices. Information is everywhere. Labels inform us as to the treatment of the animals on the meat we eat and we can choose to eat less meat. We can find clothing made of organic cotton, hemp, recycled materials and bamboo. As consumers we are contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and as consumers we can all do our part to help our society make the changes we need to fight climate change.

If you would like to see how your lifestyle choices are affecting creation try using an ecofootprint calculator. There are several online to choose from. One can be found at https://climate.calculator.climatehero.me/.  The Green Group’s Creation Care website at https://www.ontario.anglican.ca/creation-care also provides information that will help with making decisions of how to take better care of our planet. One suggested site to visit was given to us by students from an elementary school who used our site for a science project. It is The Money-Saving Guide to Going Green. You can find it under the Climate Change section of the Green Group’s Creation Care.

There are plenty of books to choose from that offer help as well. One is called “Don’t Be Trashy” by Queen’s University author, Tara McKenna. It will help you to gradually move toward a zero-waste lifestyle. And the title is a creation-friendly motto to live by!

We all know, now more than ever, that we need to take better care of the world and all who inhabit it. Let us make lifestyle choices that will show others we do.

If you have questions, suggestions or comments to share please contact us at: greengroup@anglican.ca.

The post The bottle at the Cross appeared first on Dialogue.

In principle, finding locations where heat loss occurs during the heating season is simple: such places are warmed up by conduction of heat through the structure or by air leakage from the inside to the outside. While using a thermometer is not possible or practical, thermography provides the means to take images of temperature distribution across the objects or surfaces of interest. Because of the warm interior, less insulated places will be warmer outside and cooler inside, and this will become visible on the thermal images. While thermography used to be rather expensive, it is now possible to attach an affordable thermal camera to a smartphone to obtain images such as shown in the example. With the Diocese leadership agreement, the Green Group purchased the equipment and several members learned how to operate it.

During the coming heating season, Green Group members are willing to visit churches that invite us to obtain heat loss images of your premises. The images can be obtained from the outside or indoors, and they can be examined for heat loses (overall or unexpected) due to insulation in walls, glazing, draft or air leakage around doors and windows, water leakages, and indoor temperature distribution with reference to comfort of those present indoors. The technique is only effective if there is a significant temperature difference between the indoors and the outdoors (the larger the better but at least 10^oC). In addition, the outside walls should not be wet or warmed up by the sun. Therefore, the suitable times for imaging during the heating season are limited. 

On 25 February 2022 the Green Group sent a note to the wardens and treasurers of the Diocese asking if their churches would like to take advantage of the above tool if it were available. We have already received sufficient response to justify the purchase. Through this article, we are inviting other interested churches, and we intend to respond to requests on a first come-first serve basis. The timing of the visits will have to be flexible due to the dependence on the weather. The imaging may take place on various days of the week and for the day chosen, the premises would have to be heated prior to imaging. Subject to availability and scheduling, we are also prepared to offer the same opportunity for the homes of the churches’ parishioners. Expressions of interest should be sent to greengroup@ontario.anglican.ca

How Infrared Cameras Work:

All objects emit infrared energy, known as a heat signature. An infrared camera (also known as a thermal imager) detects and measures the infrared energy of objects. The camera converts that infrared data into an electronic image that shows the apparent surface temperature of the object being measured.

The post Reducing heat loss/lowering heating costs in your church: a new tool available in the Diocese of Ontario appeared first on Dialogue.