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Energy Efficiency in places of worship 
Traditionally Churches have been very energy inefficient, this is in part due to their age and design but despite this much can be done to make churches more energy efficient places of worship through simple procedural and behavioural changes.
Christian Ecology Link, through their climate change campaign; Operation Noah, have put together an easily accessible toolkit called The Cool Church Toolkit. This toolkit covers a variety of methods for cutting carbon emissions, the energy efficiency section of which is reproduced here. For the full toolkit visit www.christian-ecology.org.uk/noah .
Steps to an Energy Efficient Church
- Find out who is responsible for the energy bills and heating controls in your church. Ask yourself if it would be worthwhile appointing an Energy Manager to take responsibility for this.
- Undertake an energy audit so you can understand when your energy is being used. There are various organisations that can help with this – some for free!
- Once you have identified the problem areas put together an action plan to start tackling them. They don’t have to be completed straight away and many actions can be undertaken as part of the church’s maintenance programme.
Example section of an action plan
|
Action (One off) |
By whom |
When |
|
|
Replace tungsten bulbs with low energy bulbs |
TP |
As they blow. |
|
|
Draught-strip west door |
HD |
By 1st September |
|
|
Install water heater in kitchen of church hall |
TP |
30th August |
|
|
Ongoing actions |
By whom |
When |
Frequency |
|
Switch on heating 15 hours before first Sunday
service |
TP |
Saturday PM |
Weekly |
|
Switch off heating before last Sunday service |
HD |
Before Eve worship |
Weekly |
Top tips for Energy Saving in Churches
- Cure draughts – find them and the stop them with easy to fit draught excluders for doors and windows.
- Double glazing is often not allowed or cost effective in churches, but anti-vandal plastic sheeting may reduce draughts.
- Two sets of doors leading into the church from outside will help to prevent heat loss.
- Lay carpet where appropriate to reduce heat loss.
- Use low energy light bulbs where practicable.
- Install instant hot water heaters rather than a central tank.
- Insulate all pipes and tanks; this will prevent pipes freezing in the winter and also reduce heat loss.
Available Help
There are various sources of information and assistance available to businesses and community groups in our resources section. For more information contact your local Council, find out who your local Eco Faith contact is on the contacts page of the website.
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This page was last updated on 10/05/10 at 09:36:00
Office Use Only: 7/12-02-11/Helen Swyer |
