Community Church and Historical Landmark in Hampshire County
Project Overview
Dwight Chapel, a historic and actively used community facility in Belchertown, presented a unique set of technical and structural challenges for solar integration. With a mix of attic voids, drop ceilings, and a complex electrical infrastructure, this project required high coordination, customized conduit strategies, and an elegant solution to deliver solar without compromising the building’s functionality or appearance.
Goals
The Dwight Chapel solar project was designed with more than just energy production in mind. From preserving the building’s historic integrity to supporting long-term sustainability, each goal reflected the chapel’s unique role in the community.
Reduce long-term energy costs
By generating its own solar power on-site, the chapel aimed to significantly lower electricity expenses and gain more control over future utility costs — creating long-term savings for a facility that serves the community year-round.
Non-Disruptive System Design
The solar installation was carefully planned to respect the chapel’s historical character, using discreet routing and placement techniques that preserved the building’s appearance while delivering modern energy benefits.
Support Sustainability Efforts
The project reflects the chapel’s commitment to environmental responsibility by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and aligning with broader sustainability goals within the community.
Valley Solar Solution
To fit the chapel’s unique layout, Valley Solar designed a custom solution that worked around the building’s structural challenges. Because there wasn’t usable attic space beneath the main roof, the team carefully planned a pathway for the wiring that started outside and continued through drop ceilings and partial attic areas inside the building. This approach allowed the system to stay connected across multiple zones without disrupting the chapel’s interior.
The solar array layout was adjusted on-site to account for roof angles and other unexpected conditions, including removing a few panels to ensure long-term performance and safety.
All major equipment — including the inverter, disconnect switches, and energy monitoring system — was installed next to the building’s existing electrical gear. This made the installation cleaner, more efficient, and easier to maintain over time.
System Size
32.3 kW DC
Est. Annual Production
39,135 kWh
Impact
With an estimated annual production of over 39,000 kWh, the solar system at Dwight Chapel is expected to save the facility more than $8,000 per year in electricity costs. Beyond financial savings, the project offsets approximately 16.6 metric tons of CO₂ annually — supporting the chapel’s commitment to sustainability.
This installation demonstrates how Valley Solar can deliver clean energy solutions that work within architectural constraints, preserve building aesthetics, and provide lasting benefits for community-centered spaces.
Est. Yearly Savings
$8,218 ($0.21/kWh)
CO₂ Offset
16.6 metric tons
