If I had $28.5 MILLION to spend on a cathedral, I wouldn't let another $250k - $500k for solar windows turn me off.

Just a note, enough panels to make a solar installation viable on a normal house, I've looked into it, range from $75k - $100k.  Yes, there is payback in 8 years but only because the hydro rate is majorly subsidized.

I think it is a nice idea but no way can it be justified in terms of environmental concern.

Are they designing to be LEED certified?

Are they storing rainwater?

Are they recycling water?

Are they using geothermal heating?

There are a lot of less visible sexy ways to be responsible.

IT

Russ

Most of the United Churches I've been in seem to have been saving energy. The congregation was just not very emotive. I think it's the Presbyterian influence, the "frozen chosen."

I regularly tell my church that they can save about 10% on their heating bills by painting the steam registers flat black or dark brown.

It gets ignored, but it is true. The  church will heat up faster too.

Old news. Two churches in our city have already installed solar panels for electrical generation. It's a moneymaker to offset power costs, and intended to participate inthe rape of the rest of Hydro One customers who have to pay huge power rates (80 cents/kwh) to buy power which is then sold for 6 cents per kilowatt hour.

Got a study that backs that up?

Kay - really nice story!  Probably costly though. 

DKS - Old news that they created stained glass that does solar?  I dont' think so.  Many folks still think a solar array is contemporarily ugly but useful.  This is a lovely way of sending a message & getting the job done.  Pretty cool.

Re MC's comment:  Most churches idea of saving energy amounts to no more than turning down the thermostat to the barely comfortable range and down-watting lighting so that you can barely see your way.  Serious steps like recaulking windows, replacing single-glazed windows with double- or triple-glazed , installing low flush toilets (our house has saved $250/yr by replacing two), installing on-demand water heaters, just to name a few are rarely considered because they cost money. The thought that you have to spend money to save money often just doesn't seem to register.

our church needs to do some serious work on this. 

Re Birthstone's comment "Many folks still think a solar array is contemporarily ugly but useful.  ". Personally I think that any solar array is more beautiful than a plain roof. Nevertheless, I think Richards Memorial UC in London ON did a really tasteful job with their recently installed array.

(for link see:

www.richardsmemorial.ca/CHURCH.jpg

the reality though is that the payback term in most places is too long.  Is it good stewardship to put the congregation in debt for decades (in provinces other than Ontario where the governement has created a quick pay-back system) for the principle?

However, for issues where the payback term is really short -or at least shorter- (like many of spiritbear's suggestions) there is less of an arguement to be made.

We will find out how well things turn out in a few months.  The builder says we should be in by May, and if all goes according to plan, the building will be Silver LEED certified.  And I can say, it isn't cheap to do.

But, we are supposed to be Stewards of the planet.

IT

Russ

IMO, the discussion is different between new construction and planning and retrofit/renovation of an existing building.

GordW

True.

We are rebuilding the CE Hall, but under LEED certification they include the existing Sanctuary which isn't even being touched.

Thus not only do we have to be good, we have to get extra points to offset the Sanctuary.

IT

Russ

I have worked with heat for 38 years as a heat treat technician and am as skilled in controlling how heat is transmitted as anyone in the country. Flat black is the best radiator (and absorber)  of heat. That is why peoples who originate in hot climates have black skin - it  allows them to radiate heat more efficiently. Thus they can be more active in hotter climates.

The fact is that painting a radiator black or dark brown is a cheap way to raise it's efficiency.