Morocco’s mosques are set to receive a ‘green makeover’ in a government-led initiative to improve efficiency and promote renewable energy.

Under the Energy Efficiency in Mosques programme, the North African country will install energy-saving lighting, photovoltaic systems and solar water heaters in the country’s mosques.

The four-year project — undertaken in collaboration with the German government — will begin in 600 of the country’s estimated total of 15,000 mosques by March 2019.

100 mosques are already expected to adopt the measures by the end of 2016 in big cities, such as Rabat, Fez, Marrakech and Casablanca.

Morocco’s environment minister Hakima el-Haité told the Guardian last year: “It is very important for Muslim countries to come back to their traditions and remind people that we are miniscule as humans before the importance of the earth. We need to protect it, and to save humankind in the process.”

The project is expected to cut electricity usage by 40% and create hundreds of jobs.

In November, Marrakech will host the COP22 climate conference.