A 70 Per Cent Cut in the Light Bill: Jamaica’s Central Adventist Conference Goes Solar

• The Central Jamaica Conference installed a solar system at its Spanish Town office
• The system has 60 kW of inverter capacity and about 69.92 kW of panels
• The electricity bill fell by about 70 per cent after installation in March
• Annual savings are projected at 50 to 80 per cent

The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Central Jamaica Conference has cut its electricity costs sharply by installing solar power, Adventist Review reported in August 2024.

The conference’s offices in Spanish Town, St Catherine, now run on a system with 60 kW of inverter capacity and 69.92 kW of solar panels. Since it was switched on in March, the electricity bill has fallen by about 70 per cent, with projected annual savings of between 50 and 80 per cent. The report did not give the cost of the system.

“This project is a significant step forward in our commitment as a conference to environmental stewardship and financial responsibility,” said treasurer Roxwel Lawrence. Conference president Nevail Barrett said: “Our primary goal in implementing this system is to embrace sustainable energy solutions that align with our commitment to environmental stewardship.”

Camiek Blair Dwyer of FosRich, which supplied the system, confirmed: “It has resulted in a 70 percent savings in the energy bill.” Vice president Everett Smith led a blessing of the installation.

Electricity can be one of the larger running costs for Jamaican church buildings, especially those with offices, schools or air-conditioned sanctuaries. Solar systems require upfront investment, but they can pay for themselves through lower bills over a number of years, and reduce exposure to rising power costs.

Other Jamaican churches and church bodies could follow this example. Before investing, a congregation should check its roof’s condition and strength, get quotes from more than one installer, understand the payback period, and make sure the system is secured against hurricane winds. Adding battery storage can also keep essential services running during outages, which is valuable for churches used as shelters.