United Methodist Church, Lansing

In 1983, when James “Buck” Buckhahn did soil explorations for a new Methodist church in Lansing, Iowa, it was just another job. He had no idea that this new church would one day become his spiritual home, that he would spend years of his life shepherding the congregation there.

Fast forward to 2008, and Buckhahn retired from his first career in engineering and material testing. He became a Methodist minister. He was appointed to Lansing United Methodist Church in 2022. “It felt like home the first time I came down the hill, Hwy 9 into Lansing,” he said of his return to this small community on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Buckhahn knew that the church’s furnaces—most dating to 1983—were nearing the end of their useful lives. “Having worked previously for an engineering company, I’m probably more proactive than reactive,” he said.

The congregation decided to take advantage of a free energy audit available through Allamakee Energy District, a chapter of the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa (CEDI). The audit revealed that the furnaces were on their last legs and working on borrowed time.

The congregation was also increasingly concerned over the high utility bills in the winter—sometimes up to $2,000.

The solution? The church invested in low-temperature air-source heat pumps based on the advice of Allamakee Energy District. The district also developed an option to install solar, but the church ultimately decided to test the heat pumps for a year or two so that solar installation could be strategically sized for the church’s needs.

“Overall, the church has been more comfortable with the new system,” Buckhahn said. “We’ve seen energy usage, as far as kilowatt hours, compared to the previous two years, decline as much as a 47% reduction per month, and we’re averaging in the mid-20% reductions in energy.”

A summertime rate increase has reduced some of the expected savings, but Buckhahn hopes that winter bills will be more dramatically reduced. The church is also building in savings to combat rising costs in other areas, including a recent $120-per-month increase in building insurance.

“Right now, the savings is just to continue to meet all our budget needs,” Buckhahn said. “Our church is very proud of making its church apportionments, and we want to continue to do so. We’ve been stable, but you can see the tank going a little dry.”

TASC, Inc.

“It feels brighter in here,” said Mandy Baker, after an upgrade at TASC, Inc., installed more than 200 energy-efficient LED lights.

Baker is executive director of the rural Waukon nonprofit, which serves more than 80 individuals with disabilities through employment services, day habilitation and community living. TASC replaced every single one of its outdated fluorescent lights, upon the recommendation of Allamakee Energy District.

“The building had numerous fluorescent lights that were negatively impacting our energy efficiency.”

After what Baker described as a “super seamless” lighting replacement, energy bills are down by approximately a fifth, with savings between 16-24 percent monthly.

“Being a nonprofit, the more money we save and the more efficiently we can make things run, the more goes back to clients to improve their quality of life, and the more goes back to staff quality of life as well,” Baker said.

An energy assessment provided by Allamakee Energy District was a first step in multiple energy savings efforts. “The doors are next on my list,” Baker said. “They’re pretty problematic, in the winter especially.”

TASC recently replaced its roof and will be phasing in upgrades to its seven heating units. After completing energy savings projects, the nonprofit will be able to size a solar array to meet its needs.

Baker has an eye to the organization’s long-term sustainability as a service provider. “My goal is to expand recognition of TASC outside of Allamakee County and local areas,” Baker said. “This organization stands on so much kindness and compassion and dignity, and that’s really needed, especially right now.”

When families are looking for care for a loved one, she wants TASC to be a bright light—or maybe 200 of them—in the Northeast Iowa fields.

Immaculate Conception Church, Lansing

The hillside that rises behind Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a Goldilocks spot for solar.

Immaculate Conception developed a solar plan after an energy assessment with Allamakee Energy District. The church had already completed efficiency upgrades, including installing heat pumps and energy-efficient lighting.

The site for the proposed solar array was on a hillside behind the church’s parking lot. “It was unused space,” said Fr. Joseph Sevcik. “It’s south-facing, exactly like you would want it. It would look good on the hillside. It would fit in. It’s the perfect size for our electrical needs, and it would help us to be more energy efficient, and it would save us financially.”

Once the church council saw expected savings—about $9,000 per year—“it was a no brainer,” Sevcik said.

“We want to be good stewards of the resources that we have,” Sevcik said. “So, this is a way to be sustainable with our energy, and it’s going to be long-lasting to help us out. Further, we should care for creation to the best degree reasonably possible.”

The Archdiocese of Dubuque provided low-cost financing for the 42-kilowatt solar array, with an expected payback of the system within eight or nine years. The system meets about 93% of the church’s needs, including offices, classrooms, and the rectory.

“Any savings can help us do our ministry better,” Sevcik said. “It all goes a long way.”

The system cost about $109,000 but is expected to save about $250,000 in energy bills. A significant boost came from an IRS payment equal to 40% of the project’s cost.

Allamakee Energy District not only helped them devise the project plan but assisted with paperwork. The project was finished in late 2024, and the church received its tax credit payment eight months later.

“They were very helpful whenever I had questions,” Sevcik said of Cutting and Martin-Schramm with the energy district. “They were very responsive in solving the next little step. I would not have done it without them, and we learned a lot in the process.”

Technical assistance was invaluable because Sevcik, a sixth-year priest, is not an expert on building projects or energy efficiency. “I was hoping for more spiritual things,” he joked of the material side of parish service.

Immaculate Conception’s solar array is now a visible landmark that encourages others to think about possible energy savings. “I love it when the sun shines,” Sevcik said. “I just think about how much electricity we’re generating.”

First Presbyterian Church, Waukon
In Waukon, First Presbyterian Church “backed into” solar power, with the guidance of Allamakee Energy District. “The church itself didn’t have air conditioning, and people got tired of excessive perspiration on Sundays,” said Pastor Grant VanderVelden.

Mini-splits could heat and cool the 1904 Gothic church, but increased comfort meant increased costs. “We’ll be able to raise the money for this,” VanderVelden recalled saying in early planning conversations. “The problem is going to be, we may not be able to afford to turn it on, because obviously our electricity use is going to go up.”

Ultimately, the church undertook an ambitious, $100,000 project that will not only cool the church on hot summer days but also significantly reduce utility bills over time. First Presbyterian installed 10 mini-split heat pumps, a 15 kilowatt solar array and energy-efficient LED lighting. “Our goal is to reduce operating costs,” VanderVelden said. “And on the faith side, we’re being a better steward of resources.”

Solar is a relatively common energy strategy in northeast Iowa, at homes, farms and businesses like the bank across the street from the church. “We aren’t a hotbed of risk takers, but it’s become normal,” VanderVelden said.

He encouraged others to reach out to Cutting and Martin-Schramm with Allamakee Energy District. “They were really helpful in navigating a process that none of us had ever been through on this scale,” VanderVelden said. “They were great partners and could hold our hands a bit to lead us in the right direction.”

The church recently received a federal direct-pay tax credit of $9,328 on the solar project. “With the air conditioning, and we just got a new refrigerator for the church kitchen, we actually need more capacity. We could use that money to pay for more panels.”

Still, the whole project will drastically reduce the church’s $4,000-a-year utility bills. “You can reduce your operating expenses and either redirect those monies elsewhere or just ease the pressure on the income side,” VanderVelden said. “You dangle that carrot out there, and then everybody becomes a believer.”