The concept of Net Zero may seem scary but there are many easy steps you can take to begin your journey:
- Fill out the Energy Footprint Tool
- Undertake an energy audit
- Appoint a Deanery Environmental Champion for your church
- Sign up to an environmental initiative
- Set up an environmental policy for your church
- Take a look at these useful webinars/links/resources on how to start
Fill out the Energy Footprint Tool
A great way to start, is to see how much CO2 you are releasing into the atmosphere, and calculate your church’s carbon footprint. You can do this by filling in our Energy Footprint Tool.
Complete an energy audit
We work with several organisations that offer in depth audits of your church building, and they can offer recommendations as to what measures can be taken to improve the energy efficiency of your building, reduce your carbon footprint, and even reducing your energy bills.
Green Journey
Green Journey offer both a free audit for our churches, subsidised by CofE, and a more in depth audit at a cost. To find out more information about a Green Journey energy audit, please visit the Green Journey website.
Inspired Efficiency
Inspired Efficiency are an organisation set up by somebody who has excellent technical knowledge of heating in churches, and a previous Diocesan Environmental Officer. Inspire Efficiency offer an in depth audit, for approx. £450. To find out more about this audit, please visit the Inspired Efficiency website.
Parish Buying – ESOS
If you complete this year’s Energy Footprint Tool your church automatically becomes eligible for a discounted energy audit through Parish Buying. This is a highly in depth audit through the government’s Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS). To find out more about this audit, please visit the Parish Buying website.
Appoint a Deanery Environmental Champion for your church
Your church may already have a PCC member of someone in the congregation that is environmentally-conscious or actively taking steps to reduce your church’s carbon footprint. This person could take responsibility for your church’s journey to Net Zero, and become an Deanery Environmental Champion. Alternatively, if there are several people at your church who are environmentally conscious, you could set up an Eco Group. Achieving Net Zero can seem like a daunting task, but help is on hand. Your church’s champion or group can contact Dan Wills or Sara Emmett, our Diocesan Environmental Team at any time, or contact one of our existing Deanery Environmental Champions.
Learn more about being an Deanery Environmental Champion for your church or setting up an Eco Group.
Sign up to an environmental initiative
Changing your church’s heating system can be an expensive and time-consuming process. This process is much easier when the PCC and congregation are on board with the concept of reducing carbon emissions. An effective way of embedding creation care as a priority in your church is to sign up to an environmental initiative.
There are two very popular initiatives, that 20% of churches across our diocese are signed up to – Eco Church and Wilder Churches.
Learn more about Wilder Churches
Set up an environmental policy for your church
Here is a downloadable Net Zero checklist from Church of England. This can be used to help design a routemap to Net Zero for your church.
Webinars and Resources
Church of England’s routemap to Net Zero.
Guidance for churches to reach Net Zero.
Who to contact
If you have any questions regarding the information above, please contact the Environment team.