Hoffman Planning, Design and Construction: The power of earth, wind and fire

Contact: Scott Pigeon Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction, Inc. | Director of Marketing Phone: 920-380-2175 | Email: spigeon@hoffman.net

The Power of Earth, Wind & Fire

Hoffman brings insight on renewable options to RCRI National Conference

(Appleton, WI) – Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction will bring its expertise to the 2016 Resource Center for Religious Institutes (RCRI) National Conference October 11 – 14. Hoffman has been invited to lead two panel discussions at this year’s conference in Anaheim, California.

Mark Hanson, Hoffman’s director of sustainable services, along with Sr. Rose Jochmann, will present “The Power of Earth, Wind & Fire: Renewable Energy Options for Reducing Your Carbon Footprint” workshop on Oct. 13. Sr. Rose is community treasurer of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross in Green Bay, which installed a large solar system in 2014.

“Many religious congregations find themselves asking if there’s more they can do with their facilities and campuses to reduce their carbon footprint, and the quick and easy answer is yes.” Hanson says. “We’ll take a look at the various options available to implement renewable energy–especially solar power–to complement energy efficiency and right sizing. Our emphasis will be on identifying financially effective strategies.”

Hoffman will also host “Leaving a Legacy with Land Trusts” on Oct. 13. Pat Del Ponte, Hoffman’s vice president of planning, will present, along with Sr. Ginger Downey, general secretary of the leadership team for the Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters (Huntington, Indiana), and Jason Kissel, executive director of ACRES Land Trust (Huntertown, Indiana).

Religious congregations to preserve land and creation for future generations will learn about the benefits of using land trusts. “Land trusts protect land from future development, thus preserving natural areas and all that lives within them,” Del Ponte says. “By preserving land, the congregations can leave a legacy to future generations to learn from and enjoy.”

Hoffman has a rich history of partnering with women religious, having served more than 45 congregations throughout the United States. Hoffman’s expertise in sustainable planning, design, construction, and renewable energy has helped congregations perpetuate their missions while having a positive impact on the environment.

Local congregations Hoffman has collaborated with include the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross (Green Bay), Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother (Oshkosh), and the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (Fond du Lac).

The Resource Center for Religious Institutes is an organization created to serve the needs of Catholic communities of religious women and men. Serving as a partner, they help navigate the many complexities related to taxes and tax-exemption, corporate structure, internal organizational setup, finance, administration, and canon law. They work with hundreds of religious institutes and societies of apostolic life from all over the United States and from several foreign countries.