The churches are also feeling the effects of the energy crisis. The archdiocese of Munich-Freising is currently developing a guide for the church foundations in the area of the archdiocese on energy-efficient heating and ventilation in buildings. The guide, which is to be given to the parishes in the coming weeks, also takes into account what needs to be considered in order not to damage the building fabric of older buildings and their art equipment or organs, explains Ursula Hintersberger, press spokeswoman in the Archbishop’s Office in Munich . In the service and administration buildings of the archdiocese, the temperatures in the cold season should also be reduced to an energy-saving level. Because of the large number of buildings that the archdiocese is involved in maintaining, great potential for savings is foreseeable.
Ursula Hintersberger emphasizes that there are currently no known plans to close churches. This is not up for discussion in the St. Korbinian parish association either, says head of administration Elisabeth Maier. Six churches and two parish homes belong to St. Korbinian, including the town church of St. Georg, St. Jakob in Vötting and St. Ulrich in Pulling.
Doubled energy costs
The parish association has already met the legal requirements and lowered the temperatures in the churches, reports Maier. In the rectory, on the other hand, the heaters only run during events, and the boilers with a flow function that still exist are on display. The temperature in the parish hall is only between 15 and 19 degrees Celsius. “But at senior meetings, for example, the heating is turned up.” All this is done to save energy and for the sake of the environment, says Maier. “But also in your own interest.” Because the price increase is exorbitant, energy costs have already roughly doubled.
The large church rooms are difficult to heat, so a middle way has to be found there. But they would have to be heated – if only to avoid damaging the organs. The topic of saving energy is very present in all committees, says Maier. “We are discussing how we can handle it. The churches want to make a contribution so that we can shoulder this crisis socially.” We are already trying to act in a sustainable, efficient and climate-neutral manner, so some green district heating is already being purchased. “We’re trying to get off the gas overall,” says Maier.
According to the Domkirchenstiftung, the room temperature in Freising Cathedral with its huge interior is already as low as possible.
(Photo: Johannes Simon)
According to the Domkirchenstiftung, the room temperature in Freising Cathedral with its huge interior is already as low as possible. “We are in close coordination with the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments and the Preservation of Monuments within the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising and heat the cathedral as little as possible anyway. We will only change what makes us better in this concept, which is gentle on the space shell and energy-efficient.” , says Marc-Aeilko Aris, rector of the cathedral church and board member of the cathedral church foundation.
Evangelical Church offers blankets
Dean Christian Weigl reports that the Protestant Church is already considering how energy can be saved. “Of course that’s a big issue for us too.” There are already various recommendations from the regional church, such as celebrating the service in the parish hall or in smaller worship rooms – such as chapels – instead of in the large church, which is expensive to heat. In the churches, the temperature should be reduced as much as possible and the visitors should be informed in advance so that they can prepare for it. Warming blankets should be offered to them during the services. The temperature should also be lowered to 19 degrees Celsius in community halls, administration offices and offices and only rooms that are really needed should be heated. Events should – if possible – be relocated to smaller rooms, and temporary closure should also be considered.
The Protestant Church is already considering how energy can be saved, and they also want to offer blankets.
(Photo: Johannes Simon)
In the Freisinger Dean’s Office, a few thermometers will first be purchased in order to find out what room temperature is actually prevailing in the rooms at the moment. “But we will not proceed according to the watering can principle,” says Weigl. In rooms and halls that are not in use, the temperature is of course reduced, but there must still be an acceptable working atmosphere in the offices. How much the temperature in the church can be throttled still has to be clarified, “of course the organ must not be damaged,” explains Weigl.