Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church

God’s Solar Energy

Solar Panels

by Scharmel Roussel

Sunflower

Sunflower

If all goes as planned, solar panels will be installed and generating power at my small patio home before July is out in 2009. Solar panels are an outward sign of my love for God and the planet we call home. My carbon emissions will be cut by 3 to 5 tons each year.
 I have found that getting solar panels takes persistence, commitment and conviction. Friends, neighbors, and relatives say years and years will go by before I save enough money on my electric bills to justify the cost of solar panels. But it is not about saving money. It is about saving the earth for future generations. It is not about cutting back on utility expenses. It is about cutting back on carbon emissions.
Getting solar panels also takes a serious financial commitment and will require sacrifices in areas of discretionary spending. I like to think of it as aligning my expenditures with my values. I value God’s amazing creation.  What if everybody reduced their carbon emissions by 5 tons every year (or more for larger houses) ? If I can do it, anybody can. If anybody can, everybody can.
Scharmel Roussel
Communications Director