Glasgow mosque goes green with solar energy panels

GLASGOW, Scotland

Glasgow’s Central Mosque will go one of the greenest mosques across the world, thanks to a Greenpeace and Islamic Relief joint project, the mosque said Thursday.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency as the COP26 continues in the city, the mosque’s General Secretary Irfan Rezzaq said the mosque is one of those selected in this environmentalist project and other iconic mosques include Masjid-i Haram, Masjid-i Al-Nabi, and Masjid-i Al-Aqsa.

Rezzaq said they are "installing solar energy panels” in the mosque and this move will “reduce the energy consumption by 23%.”

Rezzaq said the Glasgow Central Mosque has already taken up some green projects, including changing all the light bulbs to LED bulbs, introducing a cycling club, and carpooling to reduce emissions.

As well as increasing the overall energy efficiency, the new solar panels will “encourage the community” to think about energy saving, he said.

Rezzaq said they will raise community members’ awareness of the environment through these projects.

Speaking about the big gardens adjacent to the mosque, Rezzaq said they have got a great potential to grow vegetables and fruits and reduce the emissions caused by shopping for the mosque.

The new green project came as the UN Climate Change Conference continues in Glasgow.

The world leaders, convening in the city on the first two days of the conference, made announcements towards reducing carbon and methane emissions and financing the transition needed to fight the climate crisis.