Page 15 - C.A.L.L. #38 - Summer 2014

“The Sun Rises, and the Sun Sets”: 14

Religious Communities Using Solar Power

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg

http://sustainablog.org

If I asked you to provide a one
or two word answer to the

question “What do you call a
group of people who live
together, share work and living
space, and power their
lifestyle with renewable
energy?” you’d likely answer
with “commune,” or
“ecovillage,” or maybe even
“intentional community.”
“Monastery” or “convent”

probably wouldn’t come
immediately to mind, but
perhaps they should: like their earthier brethren, numerous religious communities are
now powering at least a portion of their buildings and groups with solar power.

The reasoning for this choice often involves a dedication to “creation care” by the men
and/or women of the community, as well as the order/organization to which they
belong. There may be more practical reasons for going solar, as well: a purchased array
of solar panels will eventually pay for itself and deliver “free” energy. If there’s an
excess of electricity created, the community may take advantage of net metering
options, or even sell the power to nearby homeowners and businesses. A solar lease, on
the other hand, can fix electricity costs for a long term, ensuring savings on utility
costs. Monks and nuns are like the rest of us in one sense: they’re not interested in
paying any more for power than they have to…

After digging around a bit, I’ve discovered these 14 religious communities that are
powering themselves (at least partially) with the sun. If you know of others, tell us
about them.

14 Religious Communities Using Solar Power

Benedictine Abbey of Christ in the Desert: Solar power was a true no-brainer for
these New Mexico-based monks: the abbey is fifteen miles from the nearest power
line. Their solar array is just one of a number of sustainable systems integrated into
their complex.

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