St Heliers Presbyterian Church and Community Centre

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St Heliers Presbyterian Church and Community Centre
St Heliers Presbyterian Church and Community Centre
The 68-panel solar system, featuring Trina Vertex S+ technology, is expected to slash the church's monthly electricity bill by an average of $559 ... It has been calculated that the panels will help reduce 4.6 tonnes of CO2 per year.

St Heliers Presbyterian Church and Community Centre has unveiled a new solar panel and battery system, becoming a beacon of renewable energy in the Auckland's eastern suburbs. The installation positions the church as both an environmental leader and a reliable Community Emergency Hub.

Over 100 congregation members came together to launch the installation – many wearing yellow in recognition of the solar milestone – alongside community leaders, Ōrākei Local Board representatives, Rewiring Aotearoa, Eco Church New Zealand, and Lightforce Solar representatives. There was also a ceremonial cake cutting featuring a church-shaped cake complete with chocolate solar panels.

The 68-panel solar system, featuring Trina Vertex S+ technology, is expected to slash the church's monthly electricity bill by an average of $559, crucial savings as the Community Centre serves the wider community seven days a week, including hosting numerous community groups and being home to the Small Miracles pre-school.

Rev. Dr. Jordan Redding led the ceremony alongside project initiators Jody Bews-Hair and Hunor Csomortani, with special recognition for the generous parishioner donors who made the vision a reality

The project was driven by three key motivations: building community resilience, environmental sustainability, and managing rising energy costs. The church's new battery system means it can operate as a Community Emergency Hub during power outages, providing a vital lifeline for residents during storms or other emergencies.

‘Planting in faith, growing in action’ is the motto of our local eco church group. This project is a step taken on that path of action,” said Csomortani. “Through this step, we hope to make this community more resilient when it comes to getting the energy it needs to function.”

It has been calculated that the panels will help reduce 4.6 tonnes of CO2 per year.

"We are exceptionally grateful to our parishioners who generously donated close to $60,000 to make this vision a reality," said Jody Bews-Hair, one of the Directors of the charitable company operating Community Centre facilities and project co-initiator. "Combined with the Ōrākei Local Board's $8,000 grant, this community support shows what's possible when we work together. We hope this inspires other churches and community centres to explore solar solutions. The research by Rewiring Aotearoa shows incredible potential for household power savings from solar across New Zealand. If we can lead by example, perhaps more of our community will consider solar for their own homes and businesses."