For many years, South Church has had an active Green Team which promotes creation care. From bringing renowned author and environmental activist Bill McKibben in to speak, to working with environmental interns from Andover High School, the Green Team is invested in building working relationships with the broader community. In this vein, members of South Church were instrumental in guiding the Town to install a solar panel on the roof of Doherty Middle School several years ago, made possible with funds provided by the former Mass. Technology Collaborative.
In October 2011, South Church began to look closely at installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on their roof to generate electricity. Vendors had started to advertise systems with Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in which the host (the church) simply provided the space and agreed to purchase the solar power produced, at a discounted rate. The owner paid for the system—designed, installed, and maintained it—and collected the tax benefits and the Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs).
South Church contacted Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light, who recommended several contractors with expertise in installing solar PV systems. South Church then requested proposals from three contractors and evaluated them for cost savings, the experience and reputation of the designer/installer, the quality of the equipment, and the warranties. They selected SunBug Solar, and have been completely satisfied with their service.
As soon as South Church had preliminary proposals in hand, relevant church boards were brought into a conversation regarding the various benefits and risks, and members of the congregation were consulted in order to determine the best option. In April 2012, a proposal was selected. South Church obtained approval from the Historic Commission to move forward, and the system was then installed.
The results thus far are impressive, both from a creation care and a cost-saving standpoint!
The system produces about 92% of South Church's electricity needs. When it produces more than the church needs, the utility gives them a credit on their bill for other months.
Trinity modernized its aging heating system with high-efficiency boilers, improved controls, and better zoning, resulting in much lower energy costs, a 53% reduction in CO₂ emissions, and improved comfort for building users.
When a condemned boiler left First Congregational Church scrambling through one cold winter, the congregation turned the crisis into a decision: a high-efficiency heat pump system that moves the historic 1860 church off fossil fuels and toward a low-carbon future.
Since 2006, the church has reached its goal of Net Zero Energy Use, cutting total energy use by 70%, eliminating its carbon footprint, and saving $17,000 a year through conservation, efficiency upgrades, and solar power.
