Thanks to a national church grant Nunney Rectory, Frome has undergone a major transformation and is now a completely net zero carbon house. The successful energy efficiency and decarbonisation project was undertaken by the Property team using the Housing Demonstrator Grant from the Archbishops’ Council. The work is a significant step in our diocese’s commitment to caring for creation and reducing its carbon footprint.
The project is part of the Church of England’s overall national Net Zero Carbon programme, aimed at making church housing more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable as we work together to take better care of God’s creation and strive to achieve our target of Net Zero by 2030.
Built in the 1980s, the detached four-bedroom house in Nunney was previously heated by an aging oil boiler and had an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E. It was costly to run, difficult to keep warm, and inefficient.
Owain Wynne, Diocesan Surveyor / Property Manager for Bath and Wells says, “This is a wonderful achievement and a great example of the steps we are working towards to achieve Net Zero. With the support of the grant we have been able to implement changes which have dramatically reduced carbon emissions and have created a warm energy-efficient home for the future.”
The project took a whole-house approach, addressing insulation, ventilation, energy generation, and heating systems. The insulation was improved to reduce heat loss, ensuring the house stays warmer for longer while maintaining good air quality. A Solar PV system was installed to harness renewable energy, reducing reliance on the grid, and an EDDI Hot Water divertor (a smart solar power diverter that uses excess energy from solar or wind panels to power homes) was fitted to make the most of solar power for heating water. Most significantly, the old oil boiler was removed and replaced with a modern, fossil-fuel-free heating system, helping to cut carbon emissions dramatically.
The rectory’s EPC rating has improved from E to B, which is a huge leap in energy efficiency. Carbon emissions have dropped from 8.2 tCO₂e per year to just 2.2 tCO₂e, and projections suggest this may fall further to around 0.5 tCO₂e by 2030 as the electricity grid continues to decarbonise. This represents a 94% reduction in carbon emissions.
Beyond the environmental benefits, the improvements will make a difference to the day-to-day lives of those living in the rectory. The house will now be more affordable to heat, with lower energy costs.
As a diocese we are committed to reaching Net Zero Carbon by 2030.
Sara Emmett, diocesan Climate Justice & Environment Adviser says, “As Christians, we are called to be good stewards of God’s creation and this project is a powerful example of how we are working to live out that calling in practical ways, reducing our impact on the environment. A 94% reduction in carbon emissions is a huge achievement and show us what we can achieve.”