Men's Shelter Embraces Energy Efficiency
2100 Lakeside Men's Shelter is the largest homeless shelter in Ohio. Housing 350 men per night, you can imagine the utility bills. Not pretty—at least not until recently, when 2100 made a firm commitment to go Green.
A 2006 energy audit made it clear that the shelter could vastly reduce its overhead expenses and carbon footprint with simple upgrades. Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, which administers 2100, partnered with Community Housing Solution for a small grant to change out all lighting fixtures and water tanks to more efficient models. This was just the beginning.
Michael Moguel, the shelter's operations manager, oversaw not only the upgrades, but the creation of green policies. For him, it wasn't enough that all the heavy appliances (heating/cooling units, computer monitors, washing machines, and hot water tanks) be replaced or rebuilt—all future purchases have to be held to the same standard as well; anything short of Energy Star will not be purchased or used.
There will be many more projects—most, simple retrofits; others a bit more complex. Having just finished installing waterless urinals, and timed faucets, Moguel's focus is now on the second-floor windows, which will be reinforced with a triple-pane design for better insulating. After that, ceiling fans will be installed in all office spaces to reduce the shelter's dependence on central air conditioning. Finally, and most ambitiously, the 2100 Lakeside bus is undergoing a major engine refit, so that it will soon be powered entirely on bio-fuel.
Not to be overlooked is the work of the residents themselves. All cans, plastics and papers are recycled by the residents, and exchanged for enough revenue to purchase needed supplies for the shelter. Men staying at 2100 also volunteer in the maintenance shop as the principal laborers when installing new appliances. And it is thanks to the residents that the shelter can feature a community garden, which in 2009, yielded 2,520 pounds of produce in a 3-month season.
Indeed, supporting 350 men per night remains a daunting task—but it does not have to be an undue burden on the environment—or on the utility bills.
For more information, visit www.lutheranmetro.org.