Pilgrim Solar Panels installed in 2018

After a  two year study on the feasibility of installing solar panels to reduce our energy cost, Pilgrim received a Solar for Good Grant and conducted a successful fund raising campaign to raise the additional money needed for the installation.

In April of 2018 a nine kilowatt hour panel array (two rows of 12 panels) were installed on the south facing roof of the educational building.  This system will produce about 60% of our electricity, saving the church $1,500 annually. Solar panels have a life expectancy of 25 years which will save us at least $37,500 on our annual budget over those years.

A comparison of 2017 and 2018 utility bills indicates that we are saving money.  The cost of all utilities in 2017 was $2293.00.  In 2018 the total cost was $1626.00- a reduction of 29%. This figure includes charges for gas, flood lights outside the building and charges for electricity provided to the storage shed.  These numbers were not affected by any improvements.

Our Treasurer  separated as best as is  possible the electricity cost for only the church building.  In 2017, this cost was $1248.00, in 2018, $687–a 55% reduction from last year. The major changes were new solar panels and changes to more efficient lighting.  We have no convenient way to separate these.

Based on the size of the solar installation, it was projected that the system would produce about 60% of our electricity, and save us $1,500 in our annual budget.  The figures from the first six months indicate that these projections are accurate.