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Church gets heavenly help with energy bill
 | | Father Shaun Richards with the new solar panel roof Picture: Dieter Perry |
A CHURCH has made history this week by replacing an entire roof with solar tiles that it is hoped will generate 47 per cent of the church needs.
Saint Silas Pentonville Church, in Penton Street, Islington, held a ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate the completion of the solar tiled roof. The panels were designed in a similar way to the original tiles to blend in with the Victorian building.
Parish Priest, Father Shaun Richards said: "This is a pioneering project in solar energy and it is a wonderful way to show other people how to be more energy efficient. It is such an exciting project to be involved in."
After hosting a six-week course on green issues, the congregation decided to become more energy efficient.
Faced with the task of fixing the roof after the original tiles were damaged in a flood, they saw the opportunity to go green.
Father Shaun said: "The church community and local people have pulled out all the stops. The big solar roof project would have been a non starter without their commitment and pioneering spirit."
Islington Council, the diocese and the local residents who helped raise £270,000 to fix the roof all attended the event.
Churchgoer and treasurer Pat Black said: "It is a fantastic project. The tiles will make an impact on climate change and it will also save us huge amounts of money in electricity bills. The church has high ceilings that use a lot of electricity.
"We are a poor congregation but we raised huge amounts of money.
"It has been difficult taking on a large building project with no experience but everyone has got involved in making it a success."
The project is part of a move within the Diocese of London to make climate change a priority and to reduce its emission by 20.12 per cent by 2012.
The scaffolding around the church has been removed and it is hoped the solar panel will reduce the church carbon emission by over 7000 kg per annum.
Church staff are also hoping to sell green energy back to the National Grid using the feed in tariffs scheme launched by the government.
Father Richards added: "What is most amazing is Saint Silas is in a deprived area but everyone is commitment to reducing carbon footprint. We are also hoping that through our action its set an example for the community and the London diocese.
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