Our infrastructure subcommittee, our project architect, and the reno committee chair met on Thursday with Eric Westerhoff, Renewable Energy Engineer with Innovative Energy. This company was recommended to us by the High Country Conservation Center representative we met with last week. His on-site analysis and recommendation at this point is to not install solar panels due to the amount of shade on our roof from the trees belonging to our neighbors to the south. The economics of installing solar panels does not make sense, at least with the current technology. He suggested two options: 1) to provide wiring for panels in the future in case the existing trees end up coming down, and 2) to investigate investing in the Town of Breckenridge's solar garden or Xcel’s alternative energy offerings.

The committee agreed to proceed with wiring for future use and to look into the second option later next year when we will have a better idea where we stand with the finances of the overall project. The committee is also committed to being good stewards of the moneys pledged to our renovation.

Last month Charlie put notices in the eBlast asking for opinions about the possibility of constructing a “common crypt” in the floor of our columbarium. His research and input from our congregation and other churches has led the committee to decide that a better alternative would be to establish a “memorial garden” located outside, probably on the north side of the church. Our landscape subcommittee, along with the SAI landscape architect, will be in charge of developing plans.

The weather has been a major factor this week in pouring the footers. Thankfully, yesterday, we received a signoff from the soils engineer and the footers have been poured! This weekend they will be covered and heated to dry. We are working to set the forms for the walls and pour next week.