Saint Andrew, Seattle, is an environmentally conscious congregation that will become even more green in 2015. The church installed solar panels that will connect to the Seattle City Light grid on Friday, February 27. Located in Seattle’s Green Lake neighborhood, St. Andrew’s has steadily increased its energy efficiency since 2008. “We hope our project will inspire other churches to embrace clean energy alternatives,” said The Rev. Connie Carlson, Interim Rector at St. Andrew’s.
Seattle City Light Incentives for Solar Panels
St. Andrew’s is availing itself of production incentives from Seattle City Light. “These incentives will average $1560 a year until 2020,” states parishioner J.B. Hoover. These incentives are on top of savings from reduced consumption. “St. Andrew’s would be decreasing our electricity consumption by close to 15 to 20% for the life of the system – 30 to 40 years,” says Hoover.
Funding from the Diocese and the Congregation
In June 2014, St. Andrew’s received a grant of $500 toward the new solar panels from the Bishop’s Committee for the Environment of the Diocese of Olympia. This committee helps Episcopal congregations make improvements that align with the 2009 Genesis Covenant, which is “a public commitment by the Church to work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from every facility it maintains by a minimum of 50% within ten years.” In a spring 2014 Capital Campaign, St. Andrew’s raised $45,000 for the solar panels that were installed on the roof of Mentzer House, a building that contains Sunday School classrooms and office space for ministry and low-income counseling services.
History of Energy Efficiency
In 2008, under the leadership of now retired rector, Peter Strimer, St. Andrew’s replaced its boiler, thermostats and windows to improve energy efficiency. This led to measurable results. “Using the EPA’s Portfolio Manager for Houses of Worship, we know St. Andrew’s has reduced its annual carbon emissions by over seven tons of carbon a year, from 63 tons to 56 tons, an 11% reduction from our baseline,” explains Hoover.
Additional Socially Conscious Initiatives
In addition to the solar panels, St. Andrew’s also raised $22,000 to upgrade a rental house it dedicates to low-income housing through the HomeStep Family Program of Compass Housing Alliance. Another $15,000 will go to install a new sewer system for its sister church, St. Stephens in Nakiwogo, Uganda. “This campaign and its resulting work represent a firm and faithful commitment to the growth of St. Andrew’s and an expansion of our work in the world,” said the Rev. Connie Carlson, interim priest of St. Andrew’s.
St. Andrew’s, founded in 1906 near Green Lake, is an active and welcoming Episcopal parish of more than 355 households that offers Sunday school, junior and senior high youth groups, and adult education classes ranging from yoga to bible study.
