Whatever sort of building you have (Victorian, listed, modern) getting to grips with its running is a good first step.

Look at bills for electricity, gas and water and note how much you’ve used or spent.  Make a chart and when you begin to make changes you can note your consumption or expenditure.  You should be able to see the difference straightaway.

Look around the building.  Look for gaps around windows and doors and note which areas are too warm or too cold.  But don’t block air bricks or vents which provide air circulation.  Look at grounds and land and think about what you can do there.

Charities often get reduced rates from energy suppliers and Anglican churches come under the charity umbrella of their diocese, so make sure you’re getting charity rates.

Make sure heaters aren’t obstructed by furniture or curtains, reducing their efficiency.

Make sure radiators don’t have airlocks stopping them working properly.  Bleed them to allow the air trapped inside to escape.

Clean the grills on convector heaters so that the air can pass efficiently over the surface.  This can make a real difference!

Remind people to draw curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping. 

Get your boiler regularly serviced for maximum efficiency.  If you notice anything unusual, e.g. smoke, noise, flame colour – get it sorted!

Turn it down!  According to some sources, reduction of just 1°c can cut energy hills by up to 8%.  If it’s too warm, turn down the heating – don’t open the window!  Let people know how the heating system operates.

Don’t hold meetings in rooms that are too large: use the smallest practical space and if possible have meetings on the same day so space doesn’t have to be heated more than necessary.

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If your heating system needs replacing, think carefully – renewable energy may be part of the solution.  Solar panels have been used to great effect in churches.  Find out if you can get a ground source heat pump system.  Consider solar water heating, a wind turbine etc.  There is plenty of advice available with examples of where things have worked well, e.g. try Devon Association for Renewable Energy or the Energy Saving Trust for advice and possibly grants.  The Diocese/ISR has general information on options.

Fit thermostats to the radiators to allow control of each radiator.

Is your boiler very old – more than 10 – 15 years?  If so, it’s probably not very efficient.  If you can afford to replace it you’ll make a big saving and be much more fuel-efficient.  Condenser boilers can convert more than 88% of their fuel into heat. 

Insulate your roof (? church hall).  A third of heat can be lost through your roof so proper insulation is vital.  Consider cavity wall insulation where possible.  There may be grants available.  Insulate hot water tanks and piping to reduce heat loss and save money.

If possible install double-glazed windows and reduce heat loss by up to half.  Remember to investigate any restrictions on buildings.

 

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There are lots of savings to be made in an office.  A copier left on overnight can use enough energy to produce 1500 copies!  Switch it off when not in use.  Likewise, shut down computers.  Leaving things on standby wastes a lot of energy.  Recycle toner cartridges – send them to a charity
or get them refilled.

 

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Get a team together to clean up the grounds around your church or hall – it will look greener straightaway! And think whether you can plant more trees and shrubs to help wildlife and the environment.

Put up bird feeders, boxes etc to encourage more wildlife into your grounds.  Leave a small area to grow wild for insects and plants and scatter some wild flower seeds.

Planting a tree is a public sign of your church’s commitment to the environment and is fun for younger people and will provide a habitat for wildlife.

Use fewer chemical weed killers and pesticides.  Look for green alternatives which can be cheaper.

Find a quiet spot that can be a place for contemplation and prayer.  Perhaps provide a seat.

Why not rent a local allotment and grow some vegetables and flowers to sell (organic, of course!)?  This is great for children and youth groups.

 

 

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There are all sorts of lighting in churches:  aesthetic, security, stage or just so that everyone can sing from the hymn sheet!  But you can reduce your bills and your carbon emissions easily in a few simple steps.

A 100w light bulb left on for 30 minutes creates enough carbon dioxide to fill a party balloon!

Go around your buildings, inside and out, and note the position and condition of all light fittings.  If some lights are left on all day – is this really necessary?  Can any areas benefit from rearrangement to make best use of natural light?

Turn out lights: it’s rarely cost-effective to leave lights on, even fluorescent tubes.  Put up signs reminding people to turn off lights when leaving the room.

 

Make sure windows and skylights are sparkling clear so that you make maximum use of daylight. 

Replacing old flickering or dim fluorescent tubes with tri-phosphor coated ones that will give more natural light and can save up to 30% on bills.

Replace old-fashioned bulbs with energy saving ones.  They can last up to twelve times longer and reduce your lighting costs by up to three quarters - that’s a saving of £100 over the lifetime of a 100W bulb!  They are widely available and the newest look the same as the old ones. 

You can also replace security lights etc with special energy-saving bulbs.

 

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Install sensors or time switches to reduce lights being left on unnecessarily.  Fit dimmer switches to control light where appropriate.

 

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Check doorways and windows.  Some insulating materials and draught excluders will be available in your local DIY shop but check that they meet the required British Standard.  Just a small gap in a door can allow in as much cold air as a hole in a wall the size of a brick!

Replace cracked or broken windows where heat escapes and cold air comes in.

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What we buy determines how much rubbish (packaging) we throw away.  Reuse things where possible and recycle everything that you can.  Recycled and eco-friendly products may cost a little more but it shows that we care about the planet. 

Check what you purchase regularly.  Look at how your church/hall disposes of its waste.  Special collections for food waste may be available.

If you already recycle as much as you can – brilliant!  Help others to do the same by marking recycling location points (e.g. a bin for paper, a bin for plastics).  Make it easy!  Get a volunteer to take responsibility for getting waste to the recycling centre or putting it out for collection.

Compost flower and churchyard/garden waste.  If you get an allotment you can use the compost on it!  You may have to buy a compost bin – your local authority probably sells them quite cheaply.

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It’s not just about the water that’s saved but also the energy used to collect it, clean it and pump it.

Despite all those wet summers and events rained off, water is a precious commodity.  We all use more water than necessary – about 150 litres each per day! 

So how can we save water?

Check for leaks!  If you use a water meter turn off all taps and the stop valve and take readings a couple of minutes apart.  If there’s a change, you may have a leak!

Use a washing-up bowl for washing up – it’s smaller than the sink.

Make sure all sinks have plugs to minimize unnecessary running of taps and remind people not to leave taps running. Running taps can use 10-14 litres of water a minute.

Two cups of coffee?  Boil two cups of water – not a jug full!  This way you’ll save water and electricity.

Why buy bottled water?  In contrast to tap water which is distributed through an energy-efficient infrastructure, transporting bottled water long distances involves burning massive quantities of fossil fuel and the plastic for the bottles is derived from crude oil.

Check for dripping taps that you should have fixed ages ago.

Put a ‘hippo’ in the water cisterns of toilets – it doesn’t have to be posh – a brick or a bottle filled with water will do the job just as well.

Consider changing urinals to waterless technology.

Collect rainwater for the church flowers – a bucket would do but a water butt would be great.  You could also adapt toilets to use rainwater.

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How do the members of your congregation get to church?  Is it really necessary to drive?  Could you give someone a lift? 

Consider installing a secure cycle rack at your church or hall.

Make sure people know about the availability of public transport and put a notice of times on the church notice board. 

Consider a ‘walk to church Sunday’ once a month for those who can.