As we finish up the current phase of our St. Anthony's work on the main floor, our attention turns to probably the most important decision Grand Street Community Arts will ever make -- how can we heat this huge space and make it comfortable and at the same time not break the bank?

The sanctuary, of course, is the biggest concern. By design, it's always going to be one very large, open space.And the builders of St. Anthony's did not have the same concerns 100 years ago because energy was cheap. They built it to be beautiful and to last forever, but they didn't worry much about conserving energy. Now, being green is not only the right thing to do, it's the only thing.

It's a decision we have to make now, because our architect (Janet Null, who patiently keeps us on track) tells us it would be foolish to design the basement space until we have heating systems for both levels figured out. Will there be ducts, or heating coils or radiators or other such necessities to work around? Since we are in the process of developing a plan for the Harriet Tubman Free School, the alternative high school affiliated with the Free School, to share the basement space, we need to make these decisions as soon as possible.

So we are on a journey of exploration and education. Just about all of our building committee members and some of the other neighborhood residents who help out with various projects at St. Anthony's have some interest in green technology, and some of are really expert in various aspects of green energy. How about a veggie oil heating system?

 I have recently had two fascinating conversations that got me thinking in new directions. At Ellen and Larry's invitation, two professionals in energy  conservation came and took a look at the building, and both picked up on our solar possibilities right away. They advised against active solar, such as panels on the roof,  but pointed out that our south facing side could be the source of a major part of our heat on the main floor. And if we were to design the room where the   new bathrooms are (the old chapel with the confessionals), as an enclosed space it could be heated pretty efficiently with passive solar and a backup source.

There is a major impediment to solar heat for the sanctuary -- the building next door, which was gutted by a fire about two years ago and has been on the market with no takers since then. On of our patron saints suggested way back when we bought St. Anthony's that it would be a great idea to buy this old cinder block building of no architectural merit and tear it down, giving St. Anthony's space for a courtyard and green space. We have no money for that, of course, but it becomes a much different deal when you consider the cost savings from not only our solar gain, but also a handicap access that would eliminate the need for an elevator, and the solution to some persistent water infiltration problems.

Something to think about.