Technical Challenges

The typical route to decarbonise a building is to insulate, install heat pumps in place of gas boilers, and install solar panels (possibly with battery storage). This works best in buildings that are in constant use, ideally with year-round demand for heating, hot water and electricity.

Churches are often listed, old, poorly insulated, have high ceilings, and are infrequently used. The ability to insulate is usually heavily constrained. Most heat pumps cannot provide the quick warm up times required for the large volumes of space and infrequent use. Roofs are often in poor condition making solar panel installation difficult, irrespective of the visual impact. Existing building services are often in poor condition or lacking in capacity increasing the cost of any works.

Organisational Challenges

Although the Diocese has the responsibility for achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2030, it has no direct control over the running of the Church buildings. The ownership of church buildings in each Parish tends to be vested in the Vicar and held on trust by the Parochial Church Council (PCC). The Diocese cannot therefore implement changes to buildings or behaviours to help achieve Net Zero like a Landlord of an estate could do.

Technical Solutions

Partner organisations were selected to provide engineering and building surveying expertise, allowing a series of techno-economic feasibility studies to be developed. Through this work the following common themes emerged:-

1. Investment in heat pump technologies was most viable in Church Halls, which are often easier to insulate, and are more frequently used.
2. Solar panels are generally viable and cost effective, however this is very much dependent on the roof condition and roof covering.
3. Smart heating controls are a cost-effective way of reducing energy use across most buildings, even those still using gas.
4. Many churches are not suitable for current heat pump technology (which may change in future). While solutions could be found, the investments required are significant, and the limited funds are better spent on other buildings.
5. Behavioural change around building use can be as impactful as technical investment. For example, careful timetabling of activities to limit heating use, or moving services to Church Halls during the coldest months.

The findings of these feasibility studies has resulted in a pilot programme of a small number of carefully selected churches to have detailed designs undertaken by our partner engineers and building surveyors. The aim is to both refine solutions that can be adopted by other Churches, and to provide fully developed projects allowing grant funding to be pursued.

Organisational Solutions

Implementing technical solutions in church buildings is in the control of the PCC’s, not the Diocese. This means that in effect 250 separate decision-making bodies need to commit to investments that are often complex, difficult, disruptive, and require funding that does not exist. The solution to this issue was never going to be quick.

The approach from the NZC 2030 team has been to engage with PCC’s on various levels, raising awareness, encouraging action, and supporting those who formally enroll on the programme. Particular emphasis has been placed on the Eco Church accreditation, which goes well beyond the scope of carbon reduction, and provides low-cost actions that Churches can implement to help generate interest and momentum. It is hoped that by creating a wider community of connected Churches they will encourage and support each other.