Sustainable Renovations at Plymouth Church
When the Plymouth Church Candy Circle concluded its 95-year ministry of producing handmade chocolates in November 2008, it donated its final proceeds to the Shaker Heights church as a sweet and "green" gift with lasting impact on this landmark facility.
Needing to renovate a well-used conference room and kitchenette, church leaders and contractor Karlovec & Company found numerous ways to include sustainable materials in the project. A large slab of marble used in candy making has been recycled as the kitchenette's countertop. Slates removed during the church's roof renovation became the backsplash. New cabinets made of renewable poplar, with interior shelving of melamine, a "green" building material, were selected. Compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) is used in under-cabinet and chandelier fixtures. The kitchenette flooring is Marmoleum, a product made from natural and renewable raw materials, and a water-based stain was applied on the adjoining wood floor rather than a more environmentally-harmful oil-based product.
Also, the kitchen appliances operate at higher efficiency than Energy Star, performing 20-50 percent better than the federal standard. Care was taken to select low-VOC (volatile organic chemical) wall paint.
Karen Nordstrom of Shaker Heights, chair of Plymouth Church's Green Initiative Committee, expects this renovation will educate and possibly surprise her fellow congregants. "This project shows how attractive sustainable materials are in a home-like setting. Something like soft CFL lighting in a chandelier is both beautiful and energy efficient." The Candy Circle Conference Room opened officially in September.
The room renovation is one of the first projects Plymouth Church has completed as a member of the Northeast Ohio-based Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S). The church, at 2860 Coventry Rd., is developing a strategic implementation plan for sustainability practices as part of the faith-based sector of E4S.
According to Nordstrom, "Plymouth Church is committed to being an environmentally sustainable community, and this project shows what we can do to meet that goal."
For more information, call 216-921-3510 or visit www.PlymouthChurchUCC.org.