Submitted By: Doug Merrill (merrilldougt@comcast.net ) - Chair, Commission on the Environment
Challenge
St. Anselm’s is a small Episcopal church in Lafayette. In 2007, we set out to reduce our energy use and carbon footprint.
Solution Details
Our biggest accomplishment was the installation and operation of a photovoltaic system (a system using solar panels to convert sunlight to electricity).
Photovoltaic System
Our project was jump started when a parishioner gave the church $10,000 with the stipulation that it be used for a photovoltaic system. He was inspired by the experience of a neighbor, who had reduced his electrical bill dramatically with sun-generated electricity.
It was not difficult to convince our parish to go ahead with the project. There were two compelling reasons:
- The project would pay off quickly. We believed it would pay for itself in seven to eight years. We estimated our net return over 30 years to be about $125,000.
- The project would help the environment. Each kilowatt hour generated by our system would avoid production of 1.7 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) at PG&E’s power plant. CO2 is a greenhouse gas contributing to global warming.
In January, 2007, we began informing our parishioners about the system and its merits via our newsletter, by direct mail, and by talks in church. Soon contributions began to flow in.
Concurrently we asked for bids from three well-reputed, experienced photovoltaic vendors. After evaluating the bids we picked Borrego Solar of Berkeley for the job. The work was completed during a four-day period in June and in late June we turned the system on. The entire process took only six months. The gross cost was $54,000, but the state rebated $16,000, making the net cost $38,000.
Energy Conservation
Onsite power generation is an important feature of our energy program. But there is a second and often overlooked side to the energy coin, energy conservation. The church was already doing a reasonably good job in that area. Most of our lighting is energy efficient and we have thermostats that can be programmed so that buildings are heated or cooled only when occupied. Motion-activated lights also help minimize energy consumption. We have tightened up further by replacing most remaining incandescent lights with compact fluorescents and by turning off manually activated power-consumers (lights, some computers, and the copy machine) during off hours.
Benefits & Payback
Results have been in line with expectations. During our first six months of operation our photovoltaic system generated 5,560 kilowatt-hours of electricity (57 percent of the church’s electrical load). Because we selected a favorable A-6 rate schedule, we reduced our power bill by a much higher percentage. During this time our system has reduced the CO2 loading on the environment by approximately 9,500 pounds. There have been no operating problems or maintenance costs. The only maintenance required is an occasional hosing of the solar panels to remove dust.
We expect the combination of sun-driven power generation and energy conservation to reduce our annual electric bill to about 10 percent of its former value (about $3,300 in 2006). The photovoltaic system is responsible for most of the savings. Our systems will also protect us against rising electric rates (which have increased an average of 6 percent per year since deregulation).
We are very pleased with our photovoltaic system. Others have noticed too. St. Anselm’s was awarded the 2007 Environmental Excellence Award by the Episcopal Diocese of California’s Commission on the Environment. Our project was also nominated for the 2007 renewable energy prize by California Interfaith Power and Light.
Informational Links
St. Anselm's Church - Web Site
Borrego Solar of Berkeley
