Roofers install solar panels at Lindisfarne Worship and Community Centre, Invercargill. by Supplied

Green Grants Support Solar

   /   
Green Grants Pūtea Tiaki Taiao was launched at Conference 2022 as the Methodist Church of New Zealand’s grass roots response to global warming. The first funding round saw more than $155,000 distributed across five applications for four entities.

All the projects involved the installation of solar panels and in two cases the solar panels were supplemented by additional heating sources and efficiencies, including heat pumps, insulation and double glazing.

Feedback has been extremely positive from the four parishes and Wesley Community Action who used funds to achieve improvements to church buildings, a parsonage and the Canons Creek Community Centre. Aside from the obvious benefits of the initiatives, recipients all found the application process uncomplicated and swift.

Rev Andrew Donaldson from Christchurch South commented, “It was really good that the grant was available. The Parish had been thinking about solar panels for a while and we were trying to work out how to finance the project. The grant meant we could look at replacing heating and installing double glazing and solar panels to effectively save energy. The church is now much more energy efficient and, as we didn’t have to pay off the solar panels, the installations were cost effective and the benefit was immediate.”

Parishes and MCNZ entities are encouraged to consider projects that address climate change such as solar panels, greywater recycling, insulation, use of renewable energy or new builds incorporating green building initiatives for the next funding round. Information on how to apply can be found HERE.