Green dream becomes a reality

The recently completed installation of solar panels, a heat pump and batteries in the Church Hall has hit the local press in the following article, which you can read here. It's a really good summary of the project, and why it's important for us as a church and for the local community.

https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/26015546.musselburgh-church-installs-41-solar-panels-hall-roof/

Green Dream becomes reality

With the recent completion of a major “greening” project at St. Peter’s Church in Musselburgh, the congregation’s dream of going green is becoming a reality. The Musselburgh church, along with the wider Scottish Episcopal Church are on a road to net zero, with the hope of achieving the goal by 2030.

St Peter’s recently installed 41 solar panels to generate green electricity, along with batteries to store the excess electricity generated on a sunny day. All of this helps to power a new heat pump that generates heating and hot water for the church hall. The church was successful in gaining grants from CARES, a part of Local Energy Scotland (Scottish Government), and from the Scottish Episcopal Church, which made the cost of the project affordable and will provide a green space not just for the church but for the many community groups that use the church hall.

Commenting on the recent project, the priest in charge Daniel Muñoz explained “we were delighted to have gained funding for this important project that moves St Peter’s significantly on, in our quest for net zero. We have also taken other steps to help us become a greener community, like changing the lighting in the church to LED bulbs and installing a HIVE thermostat in the church to better manage the heating in that building.”  According to Rev Muñoz, “caring for God’s creation is at the heart of the Good News of Jesus. For us, environmental responsibility isn’t separate from faith—it is faith in action.”

St Peter’s church hall is a community hub used by many groups, including choirs, music & theatre groups, young people’s support groups, a toddlers play group, a community Cook Club and the Musselburgh Conservation Society among others. All of these groups will now benefit from a warm, comfortable and environmentally friendly space in support of their community activities. More details about using the hall for your own group can be found on the church’s website.

With the project now completed St. Peter’s are in the process of joining the organisation Eco-Congregation Scotland, that campaigns for climate justice and a sustainable future. Within the network they hope to share their own experiences of going green, as well as picking up tips for how to go further in their own journey to net zero.