Environment & Energy

Delarage

(2,304 posts) Sun Jun 30, 2024, 04:10 PM Jun 30

Solar panels for church

I'm the "green guy" at my church and they gave me the OK to look into ways to save money/save the planet. So I connected with a group called "Interfaith Power & Light" who connected me to Energize Delaware (who I was familiar with) and they are going to use a team of engineering students from the University of Delaware and their own auditor to perform a thorough energy audit of the old building to identify areas to focus on. The good part for the Earth is:

There are grants available, of course...thanks President Biden...BUT they have a low-interest loan (2% for 20 years) that they build around savings that we realize. For example, if we get solar panels and they save the church $300/month, they work it so the loan payment is around $300/month. So our out-of-pocket costs would be about the same until the loan was paid off...but we would be cutting fossil fuel use significantly. I hope this all works out! We are a small church of mostly older people--so we can't afford many new bills and not everyone cares about energy. So this will help me sell the idea.

4 replies

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Solar panels for church (Original Post) Delarage Jun 30 OP

$300/month for 20 yrs, seems like a huge principle amount even at 2% Think. Again. Jun 30 #1

I just made up that number Delarage Jun 30 #2

Sound like you're on the right track then! Think. Again. Jun 30 #3

Thanks! Delarage Jun 30 #4

Think. Again.

(15,388 posts)

1. $300/month for 20 yrs, seems like a huge principle amount even at 2%

Reply to Delarage (Original post)

Sun Jun 30, 2024, 04:21 PM

Jun 30

Please be sure the deal you are offered by any private companies is well audited before you sign anything.

Edit to add:

I strongly suggest you speak to other religious organizations that have already installed solar panels for details on the various concerns you may face (fraudsters, tax benefits for 501c-3, etc.).

I am 100% FOR transitioning away from CO2-emitting energy sources but I am also aware there are many scams that focus on the solar panel industry.

Delarage

(2,304 posts)

2. I just made up that number

Reply to Think. Again. (Reply #1)

Sun Jun 30, 2024, 04:45 PM

Jun 30

But that was the gist---they'd work the loan payment around whatever our improvements cost. The guy from Energize Delaware said he'd be happy to review any offers we get to make sure they're legit.

Energize Delaware is a non-profit funded by money Delaware gets from other states that send coal-smoke and fossil-filth into our air. They just help get us the grants and stuff and have no preferences---just a list of approved contractors. A couple solar installers I know and love are on the list. CMI Electric's owner is big in the anti-fossil fuel movement in Delaware and is a good guy, so they will definitely be reached out to for a bid.

Think. Again.

(15,388 posts)

3. Sound like you're on the right track then!

Reply to Delarage (Reply #2)

Sun Jun 30, 2024, 04:50 PM

Jun 30

Delarage

(2,304 posts)

4. Thanks!

Reply to Think. Again. (Reply #3)

Sun Jun 30, 2024, 05:51 PM

Jun 30

I did not see your earlier edit... But that is good advice. There's another Presbyterian church nearby that has a huge array on their roof. I will reach out to them and see how they did it and how it all has worked out for them.

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