HOW NORTHCITY IS REDUCING ENERGY COSTS WITH ROOFTOP SOLAR

On a crisp winter morning in 2023, Northcity Church was alive with activity. Staff were busy working in offices, a prayer meeting met in the Whare Karakia, te reo Māori classes and mums and bubs groups were gathering, and visitors enjoyed coffee in the café and clothing in the op shop. While the building was bustling, not immediately visible were the numerous fan heaters running throughout the facility. Even on sunny days, the cold crept in — and the cost of keeping the building warm was significant.

​

This sparked a simple idea: could we use the sun to heat and power our building instead?

​

Partnering with Garden City Solar and Christian Savings, Northcity Church developed a plan to make use of the extensive roof space on the church’s warehouse building.

​

By October 2024, solar panels were installed and operational. The impact was immediate. From November through February, the system generated more power than we used, earning us credits that offset electricity costs during the colder, less sunny months.

​

We are now on track to reduce our annual power costs by approximately two-thirds. And on those cold but sunny winter days, it is encouraging to see the solar panels quietly doing their work — helping keep our spaces warm and welcoming for everyone who walks through our doors.

​

Check out below to see how much power our solar panels are making right now.