Project recap: First Church in Cambridge's lighting project
At the completion of each project, we ask the project coordinator to complete a questionnaire detailing his or her experience planning, funding, and executing the green project.
First Church in Cambridge's lighting project
Location: Cambridge, Mass. Funded: Dec. 31, 2010
Project coordinator: Rich Goode
The basics
Equipment installed: 124 LED light bulbs
Vendors: ThinkLite engineered, furnished, and installed all the light bulbs.
Organization's role: We oversaw the project and decided which bulbs to replace. In total, we replaced about half of all the bulbs in the church -- replacing the other half would've cost an additional $50,000.
How long did the project take to complete?
Planning phase: We spent about six months thinking 
about it, but once we decided to move forward with a light project, it took about one month to plan it.
Fundraising phase: We raised $7,000 in 16 days with NGE, who then matched the donations.
Implementation phase: About six months
What were the biggest challenges you encountered?
Planning phase: Determining which green project to do.
Fundraising phase: None -- thanks to the generosity of the congregation and from the NGE match.
Implementation phase: The custom lights -- and some unforseeable incidents -- made this project take longer than expected.
Did the actual project implementation time differ from the estimated time?
Yes -- it took six months instead of three months. The light are engineered in the United States but they're produced in China. A customs snafu held them up for a while, as did redesign. (In the end, the redesign increased reliability.)
Did you experience any surprise expenses?
No -- ThinkLite stuck right to the budget -- even when they had to do more work than originally planned. (They didn't charge us more.)
Do you have some feedback or information on the vendors, suppliers, or equipment that you worked with?
ThinkLite was great -- we highly recommend them.
Now that the project is complete, would you recommend that others undertake a similar project?
Absolutely. Most sanctuaries have tall ceilings that require strong lighting, sometimes up to 500 watts each. Lighting retrofits are the cleanest, easiest way to take on an energy project. In addition, LED’s are dimmable, which means they support a sanctuary’s role.
What did you enjoy most about the project?
We enjoyed allowing everyone to feel like they were a part of the project. NGE's financing model allows grassroots donors, which was great because even people with only $5 to spare could contribute and belong to the project. It was also great to meet new people and expand our green network.
Is there anything you'd like to say to organizations considering similar projects?
There's no reason not to do it.
Look into existing resources in your area. For example, HEET in Cambridge, Mass. offers Energy Efficiency barnraisings for free and NSTAR will pay a high percentage of the cost of a lighting retrofit (with CFLs). While CFLs don’t work in the sanctuary, they would work in a church's offices, daycare rooms, etc.
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