Sundays at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.

  550 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401  ·   (707) 579-2604  ·  

Church of the Incarnation
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How Do Solar Panels Work?

How do solar panels work?

A solar panel is made up of a layer of silicon cells, a metal frame, wiring, and glass casing surrounded by a special film. Within each silicon cell is a thin wafer composed of two layers of silicon. One layer is positively charged, the other negatively charged, forming an electric field. When sunlight or “photons” strike the cell, the electrons are excited and ‘come loose’ from atoms within the wafer. The loose electrons are set into motion by the electric field surrounding the wafer, and this motion creates a direct current (DC) of electricity. Most American buildings use alternating current (or AC) electricity; the DC current is converted to AC electricity by an “inverter.” The now-AC electricity runs through an electrical panel and is distributed within the building to lights and appliances just like electricity from the power company.

Several factors affect the panel’s electricity production: shade, the season, the tilt of the panel, and the direction of the sunlight. On cloudy days or at night, the solar panels may not capture enough sunlight for the current demand. At midday, they may collect more than is needed at that time. A net meter measures the electricity flowing both to and from the building. The utility company may provide credit for surplus power sent back to the grid. Remaining on the PG&E power grid allows us to automatically access extra electricity if we need more than our panels are producing (such as during a cloudy day) or to send any leftover energy produced by our panels on to the power company to use.

Solar panels lower utility bills, paying for themselves over time. They help reduce air pollution caused by utility companies by reducing the workload. During periods of peak demand, solar systems help increase “peak load generating capacity,” saving the utility from having to turn on expensive and polluting supplemental systems. Contributing clean, green power from our own solar electric system reduces our impact on the environment and saves money at the same time.

how-solar-works-diagram_846

References:

https://www.certainteed.com/solar/solar-101-abcs-solar-power/

https://www.sunrun.com/go-solar-center/solar-articles/how-do-solar-panels-produce-electricity

https://www.nwwindandsolar.com/solar-power-in-seattle-and-the-northwest/how-do-solar-systems-produce-energy/

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To make a donation to the roof & solar project, click here.

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550 Mendocino Ave · Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707) 579-2604
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Service Times

Our Sunday services are at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.

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Location

Church of the Incarnation
550 Mendocino Ave
Santa Rosa, CA 95401

Contact Us
(707) 579-2604

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Welcome Getting Here Children The Service What's Next?

People decide to visit a church for lots of different reasons, often because they're at some sort of transition point in their lives. Maybe you're a longtime Episcopalian; maybe you have experience in another faith tradition; or maybe you've never been to a faith community at all.

Whoever you are, and wherever you are on your spiritual journey, you enrich us with your presence, and there's a place for you here.

Learn more about visiting Incarnation.

Incarnation is located at 550 Mendocino Avenue in downtown Santa Rosa, just south of the corner with Cherry Street.

Our church parking lot is located around the corner at 636 Cherry Street. The lot often fills up for our 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. services. Additional free church parking is available in the small gravel lot at the corner of Mendocino and Cherry, or in the city garage at 521 7th Street (free on Sundays), which is a two-minute walk from the church. Finally, street parking is also free on Sundays.

We're also located close to several bus lines, and we have a bike rack in the central courtyard.

Children aren't just the church's future—they're an essential part of our faith community right now. At Incarnation we strive to serve our kids' growing faith, and we know they have much to teach adults, too. Children are always welcome in worship: any age, any time.

Learn more about our children's ministries.

Episcopal worship follows an ancient pattern that dates to the earliest days of the Christian church. The first half of the Eucharist is the Liturgy of the Word the second half is the Liturgy of the Table, also called Holy Communion. If you've spent time in Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, or Eastern Orthodox churches, much of our liturgy will seem familiar. If you're unfamiliar with liturgical Christian worship, don't worry. You're welcome to participate as fully as is right for you, or to just relax into the liturgy and let the rest of the congregation carry you in worship.

Click here for online worship, or to learn more about Episcopal worship.

To stay connected with everything that's going on, please subscribe to our e-newsletter, News and Notes.

Often someone who's been visiting for a while will ask us how to become a member of Incarnation. Learn more about becoming a member.

To support our work sharing God's love here in Sonoma County, you can make a donation online.

Giving is one of the most powerful spiritual practices in existence. It's a statement of gratitude and trust in God.

At Incarnation we encourage all our members and friends to prayerfully choose a percentage of their income to give toward causes that serve God's mission. We ask that part of that intentional giving be a pledge of financial support to the parish, both so our leadership can plan ahead in making a budget, and as a tangible commitment to what God is doing here at Incarnation. For more on the practice of proportional giving, see this FAQ.

You can make a donation to Incarnation online, toward your pledge or as a special offering, by clicking below.

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