Chimney Repairs

One of the more alarming problems noted in the property assessment was the deteriorated state of two chimneys. One of these chimneys is connected to the furnace of ‘B’ Building, and is above a flat roof. Loose bricks from this chimney could potentially fall, and damage the roof below. This chimney is easily accessed by ladder, and so we were able to arrange the needed repairs some time ago. The chimney for ‘A’ Building, similarly deteriorated, however, is above a steeply pitched metal roof, three–and–a–half stories above ground level, and consequently a difficult, potentially dangerous repair to plan and complete. If left unrepaired, the chimney’s loose bricks and masonry posed a risk to anyone walking below. Earlier this year, we obtained a bid for this job from a contractor, and shortly thereafter a phone call from the United Methodist Church in Mexico enquiring whether there were any particular needs we were facing? A check for 50% of our expected costs wasdelivered by members of the church’s outreach committee, which enabled us to accept our contractor’s bid. The chimney has since been repaired.

Energy Efficiency Update

In November 2010, we signed an agreement with a contractor to replace over 200 T–12 fluorescent lights with T–8 light bulbs and to retrofit all fluorescent light fixtures for the new bulbs. The T–8s are more energy–efficient and give better light. The actual change–over from the old T–12s to the new T–8s was done over the course of several days in January and February of this year, with Bear Foote assisting the contractor. As we move ahead with making the Acres a little ‘greener’, we should also recover our expenses over time for this project by an estimated annual reduction of 21,000 kWh in our use of electricity.

Windows

We have continued with the replacement of older windows with newer more energy efficient windows in ‘B’ Building. The final element to the renovation of our Sacred Heart Chapel, which was mostly complete in 2010, was the replacement of the chapel’s six windows in September. A further eight windows on the ground floor of ‘B’ Building were replaced in September and in November.

Furnaces

Just a few days after firing up the furnaces for this winter’s heating season, we found we had to shut down the boiler that heats the ‘Star’ Building. This boiler dates back to the 1970s when the Star Building was originally constructed to house the Acres’ Dining Hall. This building had been heated by an outdoor wood boiler that was put into service in late 2006, but which is currently not functional. The old boiler had begun leaking water in the fire box, was not repairable, and needed to be replaced. The heating contractor came and left us an estimate, which we accepted, and completed installation ofthe new boiler early the following week. During the interim, a bequest which we have been expecting since January arrived in the mail which represented 80% of the cost of the new boiler. The following day we received a gift from one of our regular donors in Oswego covering the remaining balance.

Exterior Lighting

On November 21 this year, the Orwell Fire Department made a site visit to the Acres to help us make a safety assessment of the buildings and grounds. One of their major recommendations to uswas to improve outdoor lighting, particularly at the entrances to the buildings. The streetlight–type lamps on poles on the grounds by the ‘Star’ Building and at the foot of the ramp to the ‘Annex’, and another similar light attached under the eaves of the second floor of the ‘Infirmary’, have been out–of–order for a number of years. The entryway to the ‘Infirmary’ has had no outside lighting at all. On the strength of the recommendation of Orwell’s volunteer fire department, we hired a contractor and now have our entrances and driveways well–illuminated.