Colin Angus, Net Zero Carbon Project Officer, writes about Impartial Energy Audits.
Once a church has ideas about how much energy they use, then a good next step is to ask how to reduce energy costs even further – on a sustainable basis. Churchwardens and treasurers have welcomed the opportunity to receive Impartial Energy Audits. Here at DBF we have identified a highly-regarded company to supply Impartial Energy Audits and reports – each one bespoke for the setting and circumstances of our churches. For this article, we caught up with Roger Hampson who is working closely with Heathcote Parish Council.
Roger is a voluntary member of the Fabric Committee:
‘[Our] PCC are passionate and committed to pursuing an A Rocha UK Award and very aware of the need for Net Zero Carbon reduction in theory but we weren’t sure how to make improvements to our building.
Inspired Efficiency produced a brilliant report confirming some of our thoughts and suggesting other very practical possibilities.
Thanks to the report we now have the confidence to press ahead with many of the energy saving works this Summer in the knowledge of the all round benefit to the climate and ourselves."
Then we spoke to Dave Legge who has been providing his professional services to churches for many years:
‘I have been undertaking church energy audits for many years now and have surveyed hundreds of churches across the entire UK. It’s a real joy to go to so many beautiful buildings and meet so many interesting people along the way, most of whom share the desire to reduce energy and care not only for their own church but also for the environment and God’s Creation as a whole.
The most recent audits we’ve been undertaking for the Church of England are driven by the 2030 Net Zero target so the churches are large and typically well used (or poorly controlled and therefore using far too much heat for what they need!!).
A lot of our suggestions go beyond the suggestion of a new electric heating solution and we try to get churches to consider better ways to heat the people such as heated gilets, possibly with logos for a professional look, for church welcomers/watchers or to heat a small area using an under pew heater with a boost button for quiet reflection and prayer.’
Colin Angus added:
‘We have commissioned around 20 survey reports done in the last twelve months. The first ones in our diocese were paid for by the CofE Environment team. They identified churches using more energy and offered the audits to try and reduce energy bills, curbing carbon emissions too. We took this a bit further and have offered it to other churches at their request – fully funded through DBF resources.’
If you are interested in receiving a report for your church, please contact Colin Angus. He can send you an example and then you can make your decision whether or not to go ahead.