The Catholic Church of St. Francis in Ebmatingen (ZH) Switzerland received the 2019 European Solar Award on 15th November.

Built in 1989, the religious building has undergone a total refurbishment costing 1.2 million francs, which has made it exemplary in terms of both ecology (zero emissions) and energy efficiency. The oil-fired heating system, which used 7,000 litres a year and released 21 tonnes of CO2, was discontinued and the annual energy requirement of 84,400 kWh was reduced to 54,700 kWh thanks to a better roof insulation, a solar-powered geothermal heat pump heating, LED lighting and 161 square metres of photovoltaic modules. The photovoltaic installation provides 78,900 kWh/year, so that the church finds itself producing much more energy than it consumes.

Watch a Swiss news report (in Italian). (RSI News, 15th November 2019)