St. Paul Lutheran Millington
  • I'm New
  • About ▼
    • Our Beliefs
    • Leadership
    • History
  • Worship ▼
    • Watch Live
    • When & Where
    • Sermon Archive >
      • 2020 Sermons
      • 2019 Archive
      • 2018 Archive
      • 2017 Archive
      • 2016 Archive
      • 2015 Archive
      • 2014 Archive
      • 2013 Archive
      • 2012 Archive
  • What's Next? ▼
    • Praise
    • Learn
    • Serve
    • Youth Program
  • School
  • Give
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Messenger
  • Resources
    • Links
    • Bring it Home
    • Walking In the Word
  • Church Business
    • Annual Reports
    • Voters' Minutes
    • Documents
  • Info
    • COVID 19
    • Calendar
    • Subscribe
  • My St. Paul
  • Past Funerals

Why no A/C?

6/18/2020

0 Comments

 
Why have we Turned Off the Air Conditioner?

In order to reduce the possible spread of COVID 19 during our worship services, we have determined it to be the safest to turn off the air conditioning system.  There are many factors that went into this decision, but the following are the main reasons.  

The air conditioning system at St. Paul is 100% return air. This means that all air in the space gets returned back into that space.  The system does not introduce any fresh air from outside into the building.

When the air conditioner or fans are running, they blow in a continuous pattern that does not vary.  If, for example, you are sitting to the right of someone who may have COVID 19, you will be continually exposed to their droplets as it continues flowing in the same pattern. This continuous exposure greatly increases your chances of contracting the virus.  

But the big box stores, grocery stores, etc. haven’t shut off their A/C!
​

While this is true, there are fundamental differences between the airflow, operation, and usage of these spaces that does not equate to our church sanctuary.  In one of these locations you are constantly moving and interacting with different airflow and people.  While this increases the number of possible infectious people you meet, your contact with them is relatively short and the transfer of the virus is limited. In our sanctuary, you are sitting in one location for approximately one hour.  If someone near you or upstream in your airflow is contagious, you have a much higher chance of contracting the virus, as the concentration of the virus in your vicinity is much greater.

Additionally, these large stores generally pull air from high above anyone and push air down and away.  In our sanctuary, the air flows from below and just above members, spreading horizontally across the space.  The store systems also provide fresh outside air to change all the air in the space over a relatively short period of time. Our system does not provide any fresh air.

What are we doing about it?

There are air cleaning systems that can reduce the possibility of spreading the virus (and other contaminants) through the sanctuary.  This UV-C system has been approved by the Board of Trustees and funded by a donor.  We are waiting for the equipment to arrive in approximately 3-5 weeks.  Once it is received and installed, we can then turn the air conditioning system back on.  

In the meantime, we are “cold soaking” the building  to 62-65*F before each service, and shutting it down just before people are allowed to enter the building.  This has kept the building cool for the duration of the service. 

But what if I’m not concerned about contracting the virus?

We need to remember that in Christian love for our neighbors there will be conveniences we need to give up, and additional protections required to keep everyone safe.  Turning off the air conditioner does not  prevent you from worshiping with your church family. 

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Weekly events

    Worship Opportunities
    Saturday 7:00 PM
    Sunday 8:30 AM
    Sunday 11:00 AM

    Live Stream
    Sunday 11:00 AM or Anytime

    Faith on Fire
    Sunday 10:00 AM

    Coffee Hour
    Sunday between Services​

    Regular events

    Bible Studies

    Categories

    All
    COVID

    Links

    Messenger
    Calendar
    Voters
    Links

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    March 2019
    November 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    March 2016
    November 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    RSS Feed

    Picture
Picture
St Paul Lutheran
4941 W. Center St. 
Millington, MI 48746
​989-871-4581
Worship Opportunities
​

Saturday 7:00 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
​
Online at 11:00 AM  Livestream
Stay Connected
​

Subscribe to our Weekly Email to keep up with everything going on at St. Paul.​

Website by EPSys LLC
Copyright 2022 - St. Paul Lutheran Millington
School | CMS | E-mail | Music | Edit
  • I'm New
  • About ▼
    • Our Beliefs
    • Leadership
    • History
  • Worship ▼
    • Watch Live
    • When & Where
    • Sermon Archive >
      • 2020 Sermons
      • 2019 Archive
      • 2018 Archive
      • 2017 Archive
      • 2016 Archive
      • 2015 Archive
      • 2014 Archive
      • 2013 Archive
      • 2012 Archive
  • What's Next? ▼
    • Praise
    • Learn
    • Serve
    • Youth Program
  • School
  • Give
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Messenger
  • Resources
    • Links
    • Bring it Home
    • Walking In the Word
  • Church Business
    • Annual Reports
    • Voters' Minutes
    • Documents
  • Info
    • COVID 19
    • Calendar
    • Subscribe
  • My St. Paul
  • Past Funerals