My Experience at St. Margaret’s, More Personally

Awhile back I was invited by Jodi Rose, the Executive Director of Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake (IFP), to write about my personal experience as a sustainable building consultant for St. Margaret’s Church of Annapolis, MD. As editors oft do, Jodi picked the title for my piece. But, she wanted me to reveal to her organization’s audience of churches, synagogues and other religious institutions in the Chesapeake Bay watershed how my faith informs what I do.

I welcome you to read the piece at IFP’s website–as it will also introduce you to the organization and its important work. IFP is: “…dedicated to educating, supporting and motivating people and communities of faith in the Chesapeake watershed to care for the Earth and all its inhabitants, beginning with their own home, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.” To get to the website, go here, then look for the bar that reads “Featured Congregation, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Annapolis.”

Incidentally, I’ve written about or quoted from newsletters written by IFP. One, by Kolya Braun-Kreiner, I quoted in its entirety: “With these ‘watershed eyes’ we can view the sacredness of water from our Creator’s Perspective.” The piece moved me then, and still does.

Project update- The last of the sustainable building systems originally hoped for was being added when I snapped these pix several weeks ago. An angel of St. Margaret’s committed at about the first of the year to donating this 29.4 kW solar PV array. (Building occupancy occurred last late August.) Using the LEED-required energy model, I calculated as much as 17% of the Formation Building’s power may be supplied by this on-site renewable energy system if it “were to happen.” The very reliable solar provider, Solar Energy Services, estimates a savings nearing $5K/yr. which would approximate the 17% calc.

As I write this, the system’s due to be switched on at BGE any day now.