Solar power is clean, environmentally friendly, energy producing, and extremely cool.Over 150 houses of worship in Massachusetts host solar panels. Over the past10 years, the cost of solar panels has dropped significantly and typically will pay back in 10 years, or as little as 5 years depending on the state and federal incentives that you take advantage of.
Solar power uses the sun’s energy to produce electricity (DC) which goes through an inverter that converts the current to AC, the kind of electricity used by our lights, appliances, etc. Most often, you remain connected to the grid so you can draw electricity at night or when the panels don’t produce all of the electricity the building needs. InMassachusetts, due to a regulation called “net metering”, if your panels produce more than you need, the “excess” is sent onto the power grid and your electric account is credited for the cost of that electricity. As batteries improve and become less expensive, they are commonly added to solar installations to provide additional flexibility and resilience in the event of a power outage.
Of all electricity producing sources, solar energy has the smallest environmental impact.Solar panels do not take up land when installed on top of houses or places of worship so they conserve land. PV cells do not require massive strip mining for fuel (coal) or produce toxic byproducts. While some energy – and thus carbon emissions – are created during the manufacturing process, these are offset within the first 1 - 4 years of the panels’ operation that creates zero carbon emissions. Over the course of 25 years, a 10 kilowatt solar system will save approximately 67.5 metric tons of CO2 from reaching the atmosphere. This is roughly equal to driving 168,750 miles in a car.
Another significant reason to install solar panels is to reduce the amount your home or house of worship pays for electricity. Since 2015, electricity rates in Massachusetts have risen 75%. If you buy the panels, you will eliminate much, if not all, of your electricity bill. A typical solar array on a house of worship costs $75,000 - $100,000.
North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center maintains an excellent database of these incentives – Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, DSIRE. Click on this link and click on Massachusetts on the map: https://www.dsireusa.org/ . With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, non-profits could take advantage of these credits through a provision known as “direct pay”; however, this provision is likely to be eliminated in 2026.
If your organization can’t afford to purchase the panels, financing options such as a lease or a power purchase agreement typically save you 10 - 20% on your electricity bill. (Seethe MassIPL Everyday Environmental Stewardship brief “Financing Solar Panels ”https://bit.ly/EESFinancingSolar).
The two most common approaches to solar arrays are roof-mounted and ground-mounted panels. Each has its own advantages, costs, and design considerations.
● Roof mount – The most common installation method, roof-mounted solar panels are attached to a rack system secured to the roof rafters. For flat roofs, the racks are typically ballasted—weighted down without penetrating the roofing material—to resist wind. This option is often the most cost effective and space-efficient, especially for homes or businesses with ample sun.
● Ground mount – These systems are installed on a standalone structure at ground level, either in open land or as canopies over parking lots. While they offer flexibility in orientation and easier maintenance access, they usually require additional permitting, zoning approvals, and engineering, which increase costs compared to roof mounts.
Two main components make up a solar array:
● Solar panels – These are the photovoltaic (PV) modules that convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity. Made of silicon cells, solar panels are typicallymounted in groups (called arrays) and are responsible for capturing solar energy throughout the day.
● Inverter – The inverter is the device that converts the DC electricity produced by the solar panels into alternating current (AC), which can be used by home appliances or fed into the electric grid.
There are two main types:
● Central (string) inverter – A single inverter that handles the power output of multiple panels connected in a series. It's cost-effective but can reduceo verall performance if one panel is shaded or underperforming.
● Microinverter – Small inverters are attached to each individual panel.These allow each panel to operate independently, improving system efficiency, especially in shaded or complex roof conditions.
It is likely you have lots of questions when you begin considering installing solar panels,including:
Is my building a good solar site? Whether for your home or house of worship, there are a few important features the building must have:
● Orientation between east and west, with due south ideal. While north-facing roofs will still produce some electricity, typically it is not enough to justify the cost of panels.
● Little to no shade. Shade from trees, steeples, chimneys, nearby buildings, etc.,significantly decreases the amount of electricity the panels produce. While a small amount of shade is acceptable, avoid roofs that have shade for much of the day.
● Roofing material that is less than 10 years old. Solar panels will produce electricity for 25 years or more. It would be expensive to remove them in order to install new roofing, then reinstall them; if your roof is 20 years old, definitely replace it before installing solar. If it is between 10 - 20 years, you may go ahead and replace the roof or wait a few years to reroof then install panels.
● Few obstructions on the roof. Ideally, pick a roof with no dormers, plumbing vents, HVAC equipment, skylights, etc., so that the entire roof can be used for solar panels.
The closer you can get to generating 100% of your electricity from your solar panels, the better! Start with understanding how much electricity you use every year – the kWh consumed over the past 12 months can usually be found on your electric bill. Then, the size of your roof is a limiting factor. Finally, consider how your electricity use might change in the future: Are there energy efficiency projects you can do to decrease usage? Will you install heat pumps to heat and cool the building in the coming years, increasing your electric usage?
If the idea of your house of worship installing solar panels excites you, take the lead in organizing the efforts to make it happen. Here are steps MassIPL recommends: identify like-minded congregation members; have an initial conversation with clergy and lay leadership; get a copy of a recent electric bill; contact MassIPL for an initial evaluation at solar@massipl.org; discuss financing options; and contact solar installers to ask for proposals. While installing solar panels on your house of worship is a big project, it has many benefits and is very feasible. MassIPL is here to help you take this important step in combating climate change and caring for Creation.
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