Toby Lucas, 56, climbed the sloped roof of King’s College Chapel with the agility of a student. He proudly showed off the solar panels his craftsmen had installed on the newly leaded roof. He described it as the scariest part of the project due to the risk of igniting the ancient timbers beneath the roof. Lucas, whose firm, Barnes Construction, completed the restoration, emphasized the importance of preserving the iconic landmark and not being responsible for any damage.
The chapel, now a symbol of green energy, houses 438 photovoltaic panels that will provide over five percent of the college’s electricity. Other historic churches in England, like Salisbury and Gloucester cathedrals, have also embraced solar energy. The debate over installing the panels at King’s College Chapel was intense, touching on aesthetics, economics, and politics.
Critics argued that the panels, though barely visible, clashed with the historical character of the building. However, proponents highlighted the environmental benefits and the potential for change in normalizing sustainable practices. Despite the controversy, the panels were successfully installed and have been embraced by the student community.
