Local Mosque Becomes First Solar Mosque in the Nation
Faith in Place helps the Mosque Foundation of Bridgeview to Become
First Mosque in the U.S. to Install Solar Hot Water System
BRIDGEVIEW, IL – On Thursday, July 31st, the Mosque Foundation of Illinois became the first mosque in the nation to install a solar hot water system. The media were invited to attend the installation of the panels at 10 a.m. The Mosque Foundation is located at 7360 W. 93rd Street,
Bridgeview, IL 60455
The solar thermal system preheats water with the sun instead of natural gas. It will tie into the existing water heater to provide hot water year round for congregants as they wash before prayers.
This project was completed in partnership with Faith in Place, a not-for-profit organization that has helped more than 450 Illinois congregations adopt better environmental practices. Faith in Place has helped hundreds of congregations install energy saving devices, such as wind energy and geothermal heat systems.
“Islam teaches us to conserve and protect God’s wonderful creation,” said Imam Jamal Said, Director of the Mosque Foundation. “This solar hot water system helps us do just that.”
The $23,000 system was purchased in part with a State of Illinois rebate and a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. This funding was obtained with the assistance of Faith in Place.
“We are honored to have helped the Mosque Foundation become the first mosque in the nation to go solar,” said Sara Spoonheim, Deputy Director, Faith in Place. “All the world’s religions share a responsibility to care for God’s creation and our Muslim brothers and sisters at the Mosque Foundation have given us a shining example of how to do that.”
“We expect to significantly reduce our water-heating expense and pay off our investment in ten years,” said Dr. Zaher Sahloul, President of the Mosque Foundation. “More importantly, we will do our part to reduce global warming and use the money we save to expand our charitable work.”
The Mosque Foundation’s contractor, Solar Service, Inc., has installed thousands of systems in Illinois in the past thirty years. The systems are sensible, cost conscious options for congregations that host soup kitchens, homeless shelters, or schools. These systems are also a sensible and environmentally friendly option for homes which can provide heat by tying into existing forced air furnaces or radiant floors.
“The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) taught us to be environmentally conscious and to protect this earth, and that is apparent in many of his traditions. He told us to never waste water even if you have a river flowing at your door,” said Imam Jamal Said. “We will be mindful of His teachings as we wash for prayers with this water warmed naturally by the sun.”
Faith in Place gives people of faith the tools to become good stewards of the earth. Since 1999, Faith in Place has partnered with more than 450 congregations in Illinois - Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Zoroastrian, Baha’i and Unitarian - to promote clean energy and sustainable farming. It is located in Chicago.
The Mosque Foundation is one of the largest mosques in the United States, providing religious, educational, and social services to a community of more than 50,000 Muslims in Bridgeview and the surrounding suburbs.
Solar Service, Inc. is located in Niles, Illinois. Joe Gordon, Renewable Energy Specialist, can be reached at 312-320-5205.