On Friday July 21,2023, Dell Salza convened a meeting of four members of the Building & Grounds Team (Ken Kuehm, Tom McKenna, Ray Gonzales), our Facilities Manager, Victor Young, and Joe Hofstetter of Karpinski Engineering and Peter Bohan of Perspectus Architects. They had a productive meeting to begin The Energy Audit that is funded by a MCKimm Fund Grant. The Audit will result in a detailed plan to thoroughly tighten the envelope of our UUCC building, reduce our energy use, and in the future install an efficient, no fossil fuels heating AND COOLING system. Joe Hofstetter is a former certifier of LEEDS buildings and Karpinski Engineering did the installation of the geothermal systems at Trinity Cathedral and CH-UH High School.

Following through on this plan will enable us to continue to efficiently use the building in the summer despite high temperatures, reduce our use of fossil fuels, and provide a cooling center for vulnerable people in the community as the heat continues to rise.

So far, we have money to develop the plan. We do not yet have the money to actually do the work but funding possibilities are being researched. Anyone who wants to help Dell with that is more than welcome.

These are examples of what a home energy audit looks at. The UUCC Building is just a big home.