Overview

Sainte-Anne Church was facing challenges with its furnace heating system. This system was not only inefficient, but also costly to operate, with annual heating costs reaching unsustainable levels in the context of church occupancy rates. Technirep was asked to evaluate and design a solution to reduce heating costs and improve comfort in the church.

The challenge

• High energy costs: The church was spending over $40,000 a year on heating, due to a heating method that was ill-suited to the environment and needs.
• Occasional use of space : The church is only used a few hours a week.
• Inadequate comfort: The furnace heating system didn’t provide constant heat, so hot air ended up on the ceiling instead of heating people on the floor.
• Maintenance issues: The existing system required frequent maintenance, increasing operational costs and creating inconvenience.

The solution

Technirep specifically designed an electric radiant heating system to meet the needs of Sainte-Anne Church. The system comprises six 11.4 kW, 600 V infrared heating units, combined with a custom-designed, automated CCPA control panel.

Results

• Cost savings: The new system has reduced the church’s annual heating costs by $25,000, or more than 50%.
• Instant heat : The system requires no preheating and is only switched on when needed.
• Improved comfort: Infrared heaters provide constant, immediate warmth, greatly enhancing comfort.
• Reduced maintenance: The new system requires much less maintenance than the old one, reducing operating costs.
• Reducing GHGs : By significantly reducing the number of kW used to heat the parish, and by enabling the principle of spot heating, we have succeeded in reducing GHGs.

Conclusion

The installation of Technirep’s radiant heating system at Sainte-Anne church is a testament to the effectiveness of modern, efficient heating solutions. By switching from a traditional heating system to an electric radiant system, the church has made substantial savings and greatly improved user comfort.