YORK - As fuel prices rise and the threat of global warming gains mainstream recognition, it seems that an environmental consciousness has seeped into more and more areas of our lives.
A quick internet search will bring up hundreds of articles on how to go "green" in your home, office, during vacation, for the holidays.
And recently, when the congregation of the York-Ogunquit United Methodist Church found themselves in a unique position where they could make an investment to lessen their church's impact on the environment by installing solar panels on the roof, they chose to do it. The project is the first major solar installation in York on a public building, according to Dave Ranta of Pine Brook Corporation, the Kittery company that manufactured the panels.
By the end of January, 44 solar panels, producing 170 watts of electricity, will be installed on the south-facing roof of the church, providing power for the Route 1 building. The solar panels should supply close to 75 percent of the church's electric power.
"When you start adding up the numbers, it's amazing what you can save," said Dr. Bill Wieting, president of the church's board of trustees.
The decision to make the $57,000 investment came about as the church was installing a new insulated roof and lighting system, said Wieting. They already had the funds from the sale of the church's Ogunquit building, money that had to go toward capital investments, and they are also blessed with a large, south-facing roof that receives a lot of sun.
The panels won't just reduce the church's use of fossil fuels. Whenever the power produced exceeds the amount needed by the church, that extra electricity will furnish power to other Central Maine Power customers, which will be credited against the church's electricity bill, thanks to a special two-way meter. The installation comes with a 25-year warranty and has an anticipated lifespan of more than 40 years.
"This puts us in a very good position for the future," said Wieting.
Although bringing down electricity costs in the long run is one of the church's goals in the solar-power installation, that wasn't the only reason the congregation decided to move forward with the project.
"What underlies the congregation's enthusiasm for it is that it really is the right thing to do," said Wieting, who said that although some members were cautious about the plans at first, they eventually reach a unanimous consensus.
At the same time the church is looking forward to a more environmentally friendly future, it is also looking at the future of its congregation, whose membership has remained fairly static in the last few years, not unlike many churches in New England, said Wieting.
He said the York-Ogunquit Methodist Church has addressed the need to grow the congregation by making it family-friendly - Reverend Jim Shook encourages parents to bring children to worship service in the sanctuary as long as they behave - and developing a choir under the direction of piano and organ player Nancy Roberts, whom Wieting called, "one of the best we've ever had." The church has also reached out to the community by offering itself as a meeting place for programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
When asked if the church's decision to go "green" would make a difference in attracting new members, Wieting said that remained to be seen.
"The point has been made that there are young people who look at solar power as evidence of a forward-thinking church," he said.
Though Wieting hesitated to say whether it would actually attract new members, he said the church members are definitely a community with an eye on the future.
"The more I think about it, the prouder I am of the group," said Wieting.
