Decatur parish goes solar

5/18/2010

Holy Trinity Parish, Decatur, Ga.

Holy Trinity Parish, Decatur, has gone solar.

Its so-called “solar array” on the south roof of Tisdale Hall includes 20 Suniva PV modules generating 4.7 KW of power. The system is connected back to the Georgia Power electrical grid and the power generated will offset a portion of Holy Trinity's monthly electrical bills. A primary purpose of the array, however, is to promote earth stewardship and to provide a visible symbol of sustainability. A web-based monitoring system allows parishioners to view power generation data. OneWorld Sustainable was the solar array contractor and Georgia Interfaith Power & Light has been instrumental in helping us put this project together.

Holy Trinity was honored at the 2009 GIPPY Awards Celebration at The Temple on Peachtree Street in February 2010. The GIPPYs are given annually by Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) to honor faith communities that exhibit "exemplary work incorporating creation care into the life of their congregations." Guests enjoyed dessert and coffee, conversation, and an inspiring program. Holy Trinity won the Power Award, not just for installing our 4.7 KW solar array, but for all of our power-related improvements and Green Team activities.

The solar array was officially dedicated April 25. The Very Rev. William Deneke, rector of Holy Trinity Parish, dedicated the solar panels before an enthusiastic crowd of parishioners and guests. [Video] Several members of the Holy Trinity Green Ministries Committee, including Bill Clark, Dawn Diedrich, and Woody Bartlett, spoke before the dedication about the solar panels and the mission of the Green Ministries at Holy Trinity.

See the solar array at work here >

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FACTOIDS
+ Since project inception and as of 5/5/10;
      - Generated 747 kwh of power
      - We have avoided:
            - 1655 lbs of Carbon Dioxide
            - 2.5 lbs of Nitrogen Oxide
            - 7.2 lbs of Sulfur Dioxide

Since inception we have generated enough power to operate a TV for 5,193 hours, 6 computers for one year, 27 homes for one day.
If Tisdale Hall still had incandescent bulbs in the chandeliers (most have been replaced with CFLs by now), Tisdale Hall’s lighting power demand would have been roughly equivalent to the peak output of the array.

Photos above by Clint Alexander

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