A CATHEDRAL in Canada claims that it is the first place of
worship to generate solar power directly from a stained-glass
window. The window (above), named Lux Gloria, has
been created by the Canadian artist Sarah Hall for the Cathedral of
the Holy Family in Saskatoon.
Ms Hall used a building-integrated photovoltaic system (BIPV),
which integrates the solar-collecting elements directly into the
pieces of coloured glass, which in Lux Gloria are all
trapezium-shaped, but are of different sizes.
The facilities manager at the cathedral, Jim Nakoneshny, said:
"First and foremost, this is a stained-glass installation. But the
window's location as a prominent architectural feature allows us to
showcase the integration of the solar-energy component as a beau-
tiful element of the building, as opposed to a necessary
eyesore.
"Since stained glass of some sort would have been going in
anyway, the difference to include the solar element was
negligible."
All the electricity generated by Lux Gloria is expected
to be used by the cathedral, he said. "The amount generated will be
relatively small - about 2500 kWh annually - compared to the total
consumption of our 65,000-square-foot facility. But tying it into
our electrical system, and therefore the electrical grid, allows us
to use all the generated power, as opposed to keeping the two power
systems separate, and trying to find a dedicated use for the solar
electricity."
Ms Hall has executed BIPV projects for schools and universities,
but this is is her first in a place of worship.