Solar Electricity Generator at the Seicho-No-Ie United States Missionary Headquarters Starts Operating from July
In June of this year, a solar electricity generator was installed on the roof of the Seicho-No-Ie United States Headquarters in Gardena, California and it started operating on July 7. Its total electricity output is 12.5 kW.
The United States Missionary Headquarters has been actively using natural energy through the purchase of green electricity since 2007 and reduced the CO2 emissions from the electricity use at the Headquarters. It was proposed at its board of directors’ meeting held in October of last year that a solar electricity generator be installed on the roof of the Headquarters’ hall. This was followed by research into specifics of the actual installation and selection of a vendor started.
Installed on the roof were 84 pieces of solar panels, each generating 180 W of electricity. It is expected that 1,950 kWh of electricity will be generated per month, or 23,400 kWh per year. That is 124% of the Headquarters’ annual electricity consumption of 18,930 kWh. This means a CO2 reduction of about 13.6 tons per year.
The cost of the installation was $107,700 (about 10.7 million yen). An incentive of $28,235 (about 2.8 million yen), or 26 percent of the cost, was provided by a stimulus from the California State Government.
According to the United States Missionary Headquarters, Seicho-No-Ie was the first non-profit organization in and near the city of Gardena to install a solar electricity generator of this scale. It receives inquiries from passersby and helps advertise Seicho-No-Ie’s environmental protection activity.
Mrs. Akemi Ueda, Chairperson of the United States Missionary Headquarters, commented. “I am pleased to report that the installation of a solar electricity generator was completed. This is thanks to the efforts of the Missionary Headquarters’ directors and Rev. Teshigawara, Bishop of the United States Missionary Headquarters, who are promoting the movement to live with kindness to nature. I am grateful to them. I hope that all the electricity needed at the Headquarters will be generated by the solar generator some day.”
Followers’ comments included: “I am proud that our Missionary Headquarters installed the solar panels”; “This is the source of encouragement for our environmental protection activity. We would also like to do whatever we can.”
Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie United States Missionary Headquarters, remarked, “I was deeply moved by the positive actions of the directors of the Missionary Headquarters. California is a society which depends heavily on cars. Solar panels are installed at a place which is easy to spot while people drive by. I believe that it will be educational to many people. I would like to actively address the “Movement that Grows with Nature” and also expand the circle of people living by the sundial way of life.”