Wilshire’s solar panels generate savings.
July 13 marked the two-year anniversary of Wilshire’s rooftop solar panel system, which was made possible entirely by an anonymous donation. The panels are working as intended — helping to save God’s creation and helping the church save on energy spending.
Director of Operations Merik Gillett reports that about 20% of the electricity used by the church is generated by the panels. The percentage is a little lower in warmer months and a little higher in cooler months when there is less demand for energy.
Wilshire’s cost for electricity during the first six months of 2022 showed a 26% decrease from the same period in 2019, before the panels were installed. (The years 2020 and 2021 were not used in this comparison since building use was abnormal due to the pandemic.)
In summer months the panels produce about 400 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day — the equivalent of the electricity needed to power the average Dallas house for two weeks.
Next time you’re in the building, stop by the wall-mounted monitor in the hallway near the church office for real-time statistics on the panels’ performance.