Church in Mexico Installs Solar Panels at 50 Meetinghouses

Solar panels are transforming how religious buildings operate in Mexico, and one ambitious program is proving that places of worship can lead the charge toward sustainability.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has installed solar panels at over 50 meetinghouses across Mexico, reducing electricity consumption at each building by nearly 90%. The 3,100 panels now generating clean energy will prevent about 1,240 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year.

But solar power is just one piece of a larger environmental puzzle. The Church is redesigning landscaping around its Mexican properties to conserve water in drought-prone regions, replacing grass with native, drought-resistant plants that need minimal irrigation.

Parking lots are getting an eco-friendly makeover too. New permeable pavement allows rainwater to seep back into the ground instead of running off into storm drains, helping replenish underground aquifers while reducing heat buildup.

The Mexico Missionary Training Center showcases what's possible when these initiatives work together. On its 89-acre campus, nearly 200 trees have been planted in five years, including jacarandas, oaks, and olive trees chosen to match local environmental needs.

Solar collectors at the Center's 50 residences heat 80% of the water used by up to 2,500 missionaries, slashing gas consumption by the same percentage. An onsite treatment plant processes up to 32,000 gallons of water daily, recycling it to irrigate green spaces.

A rainwater harvesting system holds nearly 120,000 gallons, capturing Mexico's seasonal rains for future use. Alberto de Hoyos, operations and maintenance manager for the Church in Mexico, says the projects "seek to reduce environmental impact and optimize operational resources, while promoting a culture of caring for the planet."

The Ripple Effect

The initiative extends beyond cutting utility bills. Church leaders are training members in environmental stewardship, turning sustainability into a community value rather than just an institutional policy.

The projects reduce strain on Mexico's electricity grid during peak hours and model solutions that other organizations can replicate. Native tree planting improves air quality while creating habitats for local wildlife.

Water recycling at the Training Center will eventually support irrigation needs for the nearby Mexico City Temple, showing how infrastructure investments can serve multiple purposes over decades.

These concrete steps demonstrate how large organizations with extensive property portfolios can make measurable environmental progress while staying true to their core missions.