Work has begun to fit solar panels at Gloucester cathedral in south west England.
The cathedral, which originated in 678 or 679, will be upgraded with up to 200 panels to reduce its annual energy costs by 25% or “enough to make 2,000 cups of tea every day of the year”.
Located on the south nave roof, 30m above the ground, the panels will be almost impossible to see.
A fundraiser that was announced for the project in August last year has raised 90% of the money needed.
Reverend Canon Celia Thomson said: “The installation of solar panels on this remarkable building is a historic moment.
“We are thrilled that our vision to become a greener cathedral is being fulfilled and proud to make a valuable contribution to the Church of England’s Shrinking the Footprint campaign.”
Once the work is complete, the 1,000-year-old building will become the oldest cathedral in the UK, and possibly the world, to install a commercially sized solar panel system on its roof.
Image: Gloucester Cathedral (Wikimedia Commons/Saffron Blaze)
So what happened to the Listed building status and preserving the fabric in it original condition. I’m pretty sure the original builders and design didn’t have solar panels. We either preserve the old heritage the way it was originally constructed or we simply throw out the requirements to protect such buildings within the built environment. This is history and heritage which should be exempt from carbon footprint requirements. Regardless that the solar panels will not be seen from street level, it is a material alteration from the original design and materials used and shouldn’t be allowed in my humble opinion, that is if we are to stick to conservation rules.
Great well done Gloucester Cathedral, and the trustees who have had the gumption to carry out this exercise.
A cathedral is not a museum; it is a living building with a purpose. Gloucester Cathedral has ‘architecture’ of many periods; it is not static. We are in the 21C with 21C needs and imperatives, like saving the planet. BTW- should we revert to medieval toilet arrangements?