Solar Powered Hindu Temple Sets Sustainable Example

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Solar power offers us many possibilities. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and Cultural Center demonstrates one. The Centre is scheduled to open in the summer of 2008, under the aegis of the BAPS organization. Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) is a large socio-spiritual Hindu organization, with 3,300 centers and 55,000 volunteers worldwide.

The organization works o address spiritual, moral and social challenges and issues faced by the world. Now. the center is poised to set an example of sustainable design.

The temple and cultural center will be installing a 60kW (kilowatt) grid-tied solar power system by GoGreenSolar. The system will generate more power than required by the temple and cultural center, and the extra power generated will be sent to the local grid for distribution. It has been estimated that the solar panels would reduce 1,556 tonnes of CO2 emissions, which is the equivalent to planting 62,244 trees, over a period of 25 years.

The center will reduce its electricity consumption by installing solar tube lighting. This eliminates the use of light bulbs during the day, drastically cutting the power consumption. This use of a two-pronged strategy combines generating electricity with reducing usage and has the potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the temple.

Some 400 species of trees will be planted to better the air quality in the area. As a prelude to this, the organization participated in a plantation drive this year on the Earth Day.

The entire center will be built on a 20 acre-site, northeast of the 71 Freeway, between Monte Vista and Central Avenues. The temple will cover approximately 10,000 square-foot, and the cultural center 33,781 square-foot. Classrooms, computer labs, gym, dining hall, kitchen, restaurant, gardens and living quarters are the centre's main elements.