How to cut your church energy costs this winter

Discover ten ways to reduce your church's energy use and cut your bills this winter - all part of 'National Cut Your Energy Costs Day' (10 January).

The hands of a White person hook a white data logger on a hook on the back of a padded open pew

1. Assess your energy usage

You can make a start by using the Church of England’s Energy Footprint Tool to understand your carbon footprint. This will help you figure out exactly how much energy your church uses and what guzzles the most. Often old and inefficient appliances that are constantly switched on, such as fridges and freezers, use the most energy. So you may want to think about putting in a plan to replace them with A+++ rated ones when they fail. This will save you a lot of energy and money in the long run.

2. Switch to LED bulbs

One of the simplest changes you can make is switching to LED bulbs. These use a fraction of the energy and are much brighter. If you have floodlights that need replacing, changing them to LED units will save you money too. Putting outside lights and those in a corridor on a sensor or timer will also cut energy usage. And remember to switch lights off when a room isn’t in use!

3. Only heat a space when you need to

If you can put your heaters on a timer or sensor, this will mean they will only be turned on when they’re needed. If you have water-filled heaters, consider turning them off 15 minutes before the service ends as they will continue to radiate residual warmth.

4. Fix any broken windows

Broken window panes can allow draughts to come in, significantly increasing the amount of time you need heaters to be on. Replacing these are a quick way to make your church more airtight and cosier. Gaps around windows can also let in cold air, so look at whether those need to be fixed or filled.

5. Insulate your pipes

By insulating heating pipes, you keep more warmth in them and can direct heat where you want it to go. Not only will your heating be warmer so you shouldn’t need it on as much, but it also reduces the risk of the pipes freezing in very cold weather and causing water damage.

6. Draught proof doors

If you have significant draughts coming from your doors, draught-proof the gaps or put up a door curtain that can be pulled across when the door is not in use. Not only will it make a space warmer, but it’ll reduce the need for the heating to be constantly on.

7. Think about your roof

Maintain the roof and gutters, to prevent damp entering the building and warm air escaping. If you have broken or missing tiles, replacing these will help to keep the heat in. If you have an uninsulated, easy-to-access roof void, consider adding insulation in the space to help keep the heat inside and reduce the amount of time it takes to heat up the space.

8. Switch off and unplug!

Phantom loads or vampire power is electrical energy used by electronic devices and appliances left plugged in or on standby mode. If you don’t use the church for extended periods of time, switch off all non-essential appliances at the plugs to save electricity. If you have a fridge or freezer in the church that isn’t in constant use, this could be unplugged to save electricity.

9. Rethink your heating system

Consider under-pew electric heaters and/or infra-red radiant panel heaters, which keep people warm without trying to heat the whole church space. Radiant panels are especially good for specific spaces like chapels and transepts, which you might want warm for a meeting or group who don’t need to use the whole space. As these run off electricity, they are also more eco-friendly than gas appliances if you have a green energy tariff.

10. Learn more about your building

Use data loggers to learn how your building heats and cools throughout the day in different weather conditions and seasons, and how this links to the comfort of those using your church. It can help you assess whether bigger changes are needed, like installing solar PV and/or a heat pump which have large upfront costs but lead to cheaper bills in the long run, not to mention a much lower carbon footprint.

Please note: If your church and interior are of historic, architectural or artistic interest or listed, seek professional & Diocesan Advisory Committee advice first. Stabilising the environment for these interiors is important to minimise cycles of treatment, with their inherent carbon cost. It is important to seek advice early before making visible or lasting changes to the church.