Sylvania United Church of Christ, Sylvania, OH

Members of Sylvania United Church of Christ (UCC) in Sylvania, OH are saving more than 84,000 pounds of CO2 emissions each year through conservation efforts. The building itself has a passive solar design that uses a hillside to maintain a constant temperature in certain parts of the building. The church recently added to its energy savings by installing a photovoltaic array (solar panels) on its roof. The project was started with help from Dr. Al Compaan, church member and chair of the Physics department at the University of Toledo. A grant the State of Ohio paid for half the cost, and the church hired a local company to install locally manufactured panels.

The 126 panels have produced 19,000, for a savings of $1750 in the first two years of operation. Normally, all of the electricity generated is used by church activities; however, the church sells any excess energy to the local electric company.

Cost savings for present and future generations of church members was an important consideration for installing the panels, but environmental stewardship was the primary factor motivating the switch to solar energy. “All of our efforts are based on our understanding that we are integral part of God’s creation,” said Compaan. “By raising consciousness of the impact of our behavior and decisions regarding the use of natural resources, we strive to honor God’s creative, life-giving gifts in and around us.”