 
Rev. Gary West, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Gallup found
himself as St. Francis surrounded by young ecological followers at the
ecumenical Vacation Bible School in Gallup during July. The theme of the
summer school was caring for God's creation. Children were introduced to
recycling, solar green house, food production and many other sustainable
practices to help care for Earth. Here the children are introduced to
one of the community supported agriculture gardens and a solar green
house at Work in Beauty. The school was coordinated by Betsy Windisch,
of First United Methodist Church and an NMIPL board member and many
wonderful volunteers in the Gallup faith and civic community.
We, the members of First Unitarian, agree to . . .
be a positive force for social, environmental, and economic action
FIRST UNITARIAN’S SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC PROJECT
 Several months ago, our board set up a Solar Electric Task Force to investigate the feasibility of generating a significant portion of the church’s electricity using a solar photovoltaic system. The Task Force consisted of Tom Stafford, Rick Kennedy, and myself. Initially we thought we would incorporate a limited liability company with church member shareholders to purchase the system, thus taking full advantage of federal and state tax incentives that are not available to a nonprofit entity such as First Unitarian. However, recent developments made this course of action unnecessary. Thanks to all of you who expressed an interest in investing in this project.
The board has moved forward and signed a non-binding MOU (memorandum of understanding) with Consolidated Solar Technologies (CST) for a solar photovoltaic system to be installed on the roof of the sanctuary. CST will design, finance, construct, and then own a 34 kilowatt grid-tied system. CST will sell the generated electricity to First Unitarian at a fixed price for up to 20 years, discounted by at least 12 percent from the current PNM cost. First Unitarian will have an option to purchase the system after year six. CST will be responsible for all service and maintenance issues during the term of the lease.
The system will use the most efficient panels available today. The interlocking panels will be installed as a ballasted system with no roof penetrations. They will have a 5-degree pitch and will not be visible from street level. The panels will be fully warranted for 20 years and are expected to function for 25 to 30 years. With net metering, the electricity will either be used directly by the church or will reverse the PNM electrical meter. The system will supply about 60 percent of the church’s electrical usage and save about 42 tons of carbon dioxide per year. In addition, we estimate a savings of about $70,000 in electricity costs over the 20-year term of the lease. The savings would be considerably more if we purchase the system after year six since the power would be free and we would receive $0.15 per kilowatt hours generated from PNM for years 7 through 20. We expect the system to be installed and operating within two to three months. --Ken Callahan (April 27, 2010)
 SOLAR ETERNAL LIGHT SHINES AT NAHALAT SHALOM
The Ner Tamid (Eternal Light) that serves as the focal point of Congregation Nahalat Shalom’s worship space is powered by new photovoltaic panels. Rabbi Brin and the congregation wish to follow a practice of eco-kashrut to reduce the community’s carbon footprint, and the Rabbi suggested to Elisa Friedmann that she make a solar-powered Ner Tamid the goal of her bat mitzvah community service project. Elisa raised funds by soliciting donations and selling handmade jewelry and invited Marlene Brown, then President of the New Mexico Solar Energy Association and a member of Nahalat Shalom, to teach a group of volunteers, including the rest of the Friedmann family, how to install the PV system.
The Ner Tamid is a feature of every Jewish synagogue; it burns night and day and is often associated with the menorah, the seven-branched lamp that stood in front of the original Temple in Jerusalem. Because it symbolizes God’s eternal and imminent presence in our communities and in our lives, it is never extinguished. Calculations suggest that using solar energy for this one fixture will reduce Nahalat Shalom’s greenhouse gas emissions by 315 lbs. of carbon over the course of one year and up to 3 tons in twenty years!
Nahalat Shalom’s Ner Tamid was commissioned by Tova Indritz and designed by Diane Palley. It is in the form of a hexagon and incorporates images from the natural world and verses from the Torah that reflect the congre gation’s dual commitment to peace and justice.
Brother Sun Solar Project and Mother Earth Greenhouse Grace Tohatchi
While the little mission of St. Mary in Tohatchi might seem like an unlikely place for the birth of a sustainable Catholic parish; it actually fits perfectly with the Franciscan presence. St. Francis, the patron of ecology inspires staff members Sr. Pat Bietsch a Franciscan Sister of Oldenburg, Indiana and Pastor Franciscan priest Rev. John Mittelstadt who has served the Navajo mission church for 20 years.
After much planning, and fundraising by the youth with Green Bingos and through donations, solar panels were installed May 1 by a Gallup start-up company, Green Horizons, operated by Jason Jones. The solar kit, which is from Helio Power in California produces 2 Killowatts of power to the rectory and bingo hall.
They savings thus far are enough to convince anyone who might question the viability of solar. Thus far energy savings each month are estimated at about 30%. Some 1,554 pounds of CO2 have been saved since May. The parish averages 7.6kWh of energy production each day with a total yield thus far of 914 kWh. The total hours in use since May 1 is 1,275 hours. The staff estimates that $7 a day is being saved on electricity. In addition to the solar, energy efficiency measures are also incorporated into the rectory building.
This summer, with the help of volunteers a gutted mobile home is being retrofitted with greenhouse plastic side walls and roof to become the growing habitat for food for the community. The little mission with its ongoing efforts adds reality to the Canticle of St. Francis, “Praise be you God…especially Brother Sun…. Praise be you my God through Sister Mother Earth who sustains and governs us…”.
|
Rev. Roger Perkins, Church of the Holy Spirit, Gallup and Rev. Martin Bayang, All Saint's Episcopal Church, Grants gratefully receive CFL
light bulbs for their parishioners and for families The CFL project to
outlying Episcopal parishes were made possible through a grant from the
Episcopal deanery. Other parishes who will benefit CFL's for their
parishioners so that they might lower their energy bills include: Church
of the Holy Cross, Edgewood and Church of the Epiphany, Socorro.
Rev. Roger Perkins shows off a new drainage system that protects the
newly renovated Church of the Holy Spirit while offering rainwater to
plants. The parish has just undergone extensive energy efficient
renovations including energy efficient windows, new heating and cooling
system and new energy efficient lighting. It is an excellent witness to
care of creation and stewardship for property and the future members of
the congregation. Rev. Perkins noted that they did the renovations with
an eye for paving the way for the next 50 years of the faith community.
They are already benefiting from the energy efficiency measures and
grateful to be caring for God's Earth.
COOL CONGREGATIONS KICKOFF, October 30, 2010
Parishioners at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Silver City express
their joy at caring for creation through energy efficient light bulbs
that have been installed and by their choice to do dishes by hand rather
than use disposable dishes and cups at parish functions. Creating
smaller eco-footprints takes place one small act at a time and one step
at a time. 