St. Francis in the Foothills United Methodist Church will celebrate the installation of its new solar energy system this Sunday.
The 9 a.m. worship service will focus on the theme of living in harmony with the earth as a vital aspect of our spiritual responsibilities. It will include a brief presentation by Kevin Koch, director of Technicians for Sustainability, the local solar company that did the installation.
The system of 252 photovoltaic solar panels provides all of the church's energy needs at a significantly lower monthly cost than previously. Sixty of the panels create a canopy for the front of the church's main center, providing full electric power along with shade for the entranceway.
By not burning coal for its power, St. Francis will save 4,605 gallons of water, keep 9,205 pounds of coal from being burned, and will not emit 20,508 pounds of carbon dioxide, 35 pounds of nitrogen oxide and 58 pounds of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere.
People are also reading…
The installation ceremony, which is free and open to the public, marks a milestone in St. Francis' history and hopefully will lead to even more such environmentally friendly projects.
St. Francis in the Foothills is at 4625 E. River Road, at North Swan Road. For more information call the church office at 299-9063.
To contribute a story, go online to azstarnet.com/foothills
