Press release
Energy saving is implemented proactively in the Catholic parish of Winterthur.
Die Catholic parish of Winterthur manages about 30 buildings. The seven parishes with their churches, annexes and administration are therefore not only actively engaged in the broad teaching of the faith and in charitable ministry for the neighbour. They also assume their responsibilities in modern society with all its challenges to the integrity of creation. An important challenge are the issues of energy and sustainability, on which the parishes and the administration with the department of construction and real estate have been thinking for some time. Various projects have already been successfully implemented or are in the planning stage.
When you talk to Hans Hollenstein, the parish president, his eyes light up. As a former head of the safety and environmental department of the city of Winterthur, he knows how to implement energy saving measures successfully. For example, this has already been implemented in the administration building in recent months: a photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof, new windows with excellent insulation values and only in June of this year was the new, efficient and environmentally friendly system introduced of pellet heating installed for the entire building. Hollenstein emphasizes: “We have a model function as a Catholic Church, as an authority – and we take it very seriously. However, nobody should freeze with us.”
Detailed information from the Department of Construction and Real Estate
Managing the approximately 30 sacred and profane buildings of the parish, very different from each other not only in age, but also in use and structural conditions, is not an easy task. Rule Mayer he is in church Responsible for Building and Real Estate Departments the successfully implemented and currently planned projects are illustrated below. Because most of the 30 buildings are listed in the inventory of buildings worthy of protection in the city of Winterthur or in the canton of Zurich. For this reason, energy adjustments must always be made in relation to the substance of the respective building. He says: “Most of our properties are now fitted with gas boilers of varying ages, which need to be replaced gradually. Depending on the location in the urban and geological context, different energy sources are available”.
For a good year we have been able to implement a series of energy saving measures: in addition to administrative building in Laboratoriumstrasse 5, where the pellet central heating system supplies the parish center and the Tellstrasse 11 building as well as the building, a new L/W heat pump replaces the old oil heating system in another building, the former rectory at Nagelseestrasse 44.
The renewal of Church of St. Lawrence in Wülflingen is in preparation and should already be implemented next year. In addition to other adjustments, it includes insulation of the roof and windows. Furthermore, the possibility of a heating network with groundwater heat utilization is currently being clarified.
That parish house of St. Josef Toss it should also be adapted to new requirements very soon. Critically selected measures are foreseen for the insulation of the building envelope, the replacement of windows and the installation of an L/W heat pump.
Other medium-term projects include the renovation of the Churches of St. Marien in Oberwinterthur and St. Joseph in Töss. Both systems require the adaptation of outdated building technology systems, such as ventilation and heating systems, in particular the replacement of energy production.
“Ventilation systems are installed in several buildings in our parishes. These are checked, replaced or optimized in terms of energy consumption. The lighting system and its duration will also be adequate.” says Mayer.
In various locations there is the possibility of a connection to the district heating network of the city of Winterthur, for example in the Sacred Heart of Jesus parishes and peter and paul with Tellstrasse 7 and Wartstrasse 11, for which Stadtwerk Winterthur has already developed advanced projects and offers district heating.
From the point of view of “energy saving”, in addition to replacing the heating, the insulation of the building envelope is of great importance. To this end, a thorough examination of the existing building is essential. They are always important Questions about synergy and representationas Regula Meyer points out: «How do I find a tolerable degree of intervention that supports the overall design idea that drives the interaction – in weighing cultural, regulatory, technical and usage-dependent requirements?»
Marcus Scholten, community leader of Ortisei Rosenbergadds: “Already in the spring we adjusted our heating curves in the church and in the parish center and regularly check the temperature in both places. Furthermore, we hope for significant gas savings. Our church assistance is also awaiting further directives by the Roman Catholic institution of the canton of Zurich on “cost contributions for the promotion of ecological building measures of the Roman Catholic parishes of the canton of Zurich” (building contribution regulations; RFÖB; ST 182.26). regarding electricity, light and standby functions: we have already reduced the external lighting of the church, but due to our exposed location near the Rosenberg shopping center we don’t want to do without them altogether.Especially the standby functions of coffee machines, printers, photocopiers, computers, etc. are big energy guzzlers that we keep an eye on”.
