| Volume 11 | No. 2 | Spring 2009 |
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Faith in Solar Power |
The new UCS online feature “Faces of Renewable Energy” profiles residents, business owners, contractors, and others who are helping to drive the development of renewable energy in the United States. One of these individuals is Pastor Jeff Wild, who tapped into solar power to reduce energy consumption at Advent Lutheran Church in Madison, WI.
“I noticed immediately after becoming a pastor here [in 2000],” he said, “that the concern for creation and the environment among members was a very important part of this church’s mission.”
A Greener Congregation
Jeff formed a task force with other congregation members to expand the environmental efforts already under way at the church (such as restoring native prairie grasses on the church's seven-acre site). The group quickly homed in on reducing the building’s energy consumption. They first replaced old light fixtures and appliances with energy-efficient models, and encouraged fellow parishioners to turn off lights when not in use. Jeff said implementing those simple changes reduced energy consumption considerably.
For the church’s remaining power needs, the task force worked with assessors to investigate the best renewable energy options for the site. Jeff was surprised to learn that the often blustery winds were not strong enough to produce sufficient electricity. But what it lacked in wind resources it made up for in solar power. “It just so happened that our building was situated in a perfect location,” said Jeff. “It was oriented toward the sun and the roof was at a perfect angle for [solar panels].”
Cutting Costs—and Carbon
To help defray the high up-front cost of installing solar panels, they turned to Focus on Energy, a state program created in 1999 to help Wisconsin-based businesses and residences install renewable energy systems. The church applied for and received a $15,000 grant for a 2.4-kilowatt solar array, which was installed in 2002. The panels have required no maintenance in the six years since the congregation installed them. Only one event stopped the solar panels from producing electricity. “Last winter,” said Jeff, “[the roof] was under a foot of snow for weeks at a time.” Once the snow melted, the panels started working again.
The solar panels, combined with the task force’s efficiency measures, have reduced the church’s conventional electricity use by 40 percent. The panels have also helped to reduce the church’s most expensive electricity; they generate more power on summer afternoons, when both the demand and cost of conventional electricity are at their peak. As a result, the church can recoup the initial investment costs even more quickly.
However, “the benefits are not only what we save in energy costs,” Jeff noted, “but also the reduction of the CO2 into the atmosphere.” He says the church has cut its annual carbon dioxide emissions by 22,000 pounds. An additional benefit is that the solar power system has raised the church’s profile in the community. But while the congregation appreciates the extra attention, Jeff insists that the church’s actions were pragmatic and encourages others to follow suit: “Reducing energy consumption and conserving is a no-brainer and pretty easy.”
To hear Jeff’s firsthand account of his experience, or to read profiles of other renewable energy supporters, visit www.ucsusa.org/faces.
Also in this issue of Earthwise:
Dialogue
Will reducing global warming pollution from big rigs increase the cost of retail goods?
