How can we Reduce the Carbon Emissions from our Church

1. Guidance on Energy Efficient Operation and
Replacement of Plant and Equipment
Deliverable D9 Carbon Management Programme
Church of England
September 2008

2. Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 2
This guidance document ................................................................................................... 4
Churches ...................................................................................................................................... 5
How can we reduce the carbon emissions from our church? ........................................... 5
How much energy does a church use and how much carbon dioxide does this emit? .... 7
Where do we start? ......................................................................................................... 10
How do I calculate carbon dioxide emissions? ............................................................... 14
Energy walk-round checklist ........................................................................................... 15
What about renewable energy? ...................................................................................... 17
Further information .......................................................................................................... 18
Cathedrals .................................................................................................................................. 19
Introduction...................................................................................................................... 19
Energy and carbon dioxide emissions from cathedrals .................................................. 21
Creating an energy saving routine .................................................................................. 22
How do I calculate carbon dioxide emissions? ............................................................... 25
Energy walk-round checklist ........................................................................................... 26
Renewable energy .......................................................................................................... 28
Further information .......................................................................................................... 29
Introduction...................................................................................................................... 30
Clergy Homes ............................................................................................................................ 30
Energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions from a home ................................. 31
Parsonage Sustainable Energy Project .......................................................................... 33
How to reduce emissions from domestic properties ....................................................... 34
Good practice in domestic properties ............................................................................. 36
Tools and resources for the home occupier.................................................................... 37
Schools....................................................................................................................................... 38
Introduction...................................................................................................................... 38
Schools energy use and carbon dioxide emissions ........................................................ 39
Guidance for schools ...................................................................................................... 41
Measuring the energy consumption of schools............................................................... 43
What is an energy efficient school? ................................................................................ 45
Renewable Energy......................................................................................................... 46
Further information .......................................................................................................... 47
Offices48
Reducing the carbon footprint of offices ......................................................................... 48
Where is energy consumed in a typical office?............................................................... 49
A plan for reducing the carbon footprint .......................................................................... 50
Further links:.................................................................................................................... 52
Appendices ................................................................................................................................ 53
Reading a meter.............................................................................................................. 53
Replacement/Maintenance of plant and equipment in Cathedrals and Churches.......... 57

3. Glossary
Kilowatt hours
A unit of energy equal to the work done by a power of 1000 watts operating for one hour.
Kilowatt hours are used to measure the amount of gas or electric that we are billed by the Utility
companies.
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
The most important greenhouse gas. CO2 emissions result from the combustion of fuel, from land
use changes (agricultural processes, deforestation etc) and from some industrial processes. CO2
emissions are limited by the Kyoto protocol.
Greenhouse gases
Greenhouse gases are those which contribute to the greenhouse effect when present in the
atmosphere. Six greenhouse gases are regulated by the Kyoto Protocol, as they are emitted in
significant quantities by human activities and contribute to climate change. The six regulated
gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),
perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).
Emissions of greenhouse gases are commonly converted into carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e)
based on their 100 year global warming potential. This allows a single figure for the total impact
of all emissions sources to be produced in one standard unit. Conversion factors of greenhouse
gas to CO2e are calculated by the IPCC and Defra publish guidance on which set of conversion
factors to use.
Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e)
There are six main greenhouse gases which cause climate change and are limited by the Kyoto
protocol. Each gas has a different global warming potential. For simplicity of reporting, the mass
of each gas emitted is commonly translated into a carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) amount so
that the total impact from all sources can be summed to one figure.
Carbon footprint
The total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual or organisation, event or
product. It should be expressed in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
What is green electricity?
Green electricity is generated by renewable energy; sun, wind, water, the heat of the earth and
well managed forests. Usually “green” electricity is supplied to our homes and other buildings
using the national grid by a utility company that charge for a “green” tariff.
Care should be taken when considering “green” tariffs as they will be supplied on the basis of part
of the electricity being generated by renewable sources. Some tariffs may also have other
environmental benefits and some “green” tariffs will supply electricity that has been generated
from 100% renewable sources.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced that the
calculating of greenhouse gas emissions from “Green” tariffs should now use the same conversion
factor as the normal grid supplied electricity. For more information see the DEFRA website.
Emissions conversion factor
When calculating emissions from energy use it is common to know what quantity of energy was
used, either in kWh or by volume or mass of input material. Emissions factors enable a conversion
to be made from the input measure of energy to the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that will
result. UK conversion factors for energy to CO2 are published by DEFRA.

4. Carbon Offset
An emissions reduction, commonly resulting from a project undertaken in the developing world,
which has been sold to compensate for emissions elsewhere. Offsets are commonly used to net off
corporate emissions so that an organisation can claim to be carbon neutral. See The Carbon
Trust three stage approach to developing a robust offsetting strategy.
Carbon neutral
Commonly accepted terminology for something having net zero emissions (for example, an
organisation or product). As the organisation or product will typically have caused some
greenhouse gas emissions, it is usually necessary to use carbon offsets to achieve neutrality.
Carbon offsets are emissions reductions that have been made elsewhere and which are then sold
to the entity that seeks to reduce its impact. In order to become carbon neutral it is important to
have a very accurate calculation of the amount of emissions which need to be offset – requiring
calculation of a carbon footprint.
Good practice
A term used in this document to indicate a building that has a low annual energy consumption per
square metre of floor area (kWh/m²). This benchmark (kWh/m²) is commonly used to compare
buildings energy consumption performance. Good practice is defined as the top 10% of a given
category of buildings that were surveyed to produce the benchmark figure.
TRVs
Thermostatic radiator valves are fitted to radiators or heat emitters to limit the flow of heat into a
room. They are set manually to a desired temperature and will automatically sense when that
temperature is reached and limit the flow of heat.
Lamps
Lamps are light bulbs and they are used in luminaires (light fittings) to produce light from
electrical energy.
Efficacy
This is the measure of the amount of light emitted per watt (lumens per watt or lm/W) of
electrical power consumed by a lamp. Together with the life expectancy of the lamp figures for
efficacy can provide and indication of the efficiency of the lamp.
CFLs
Compact fluorescent Lamps are commonly used as an energy efficient replacement for
traditional Tungsten lamps. CFLs are now produced with a range of efficacies, power ratings
and are suitable for a range of fittings and uses.
The U-value
Thermal transmittance (i.e. the U-value) is a measure of how much heat will pass through one
square metre of a structure when the air temperatures on either side differ by one degree. U-
values are expressed in units of Watts per square metre per degree of temperature difference
2
(W/m deg C).
Whole life cost
When considering the purchase of a new energy consuming appliance, piece of equipment or
plant the purchaser should consider the other factors rather than just the initial cost. The whole
life cost considers the initial cost, the cost in use (energy consumption costs) for its lifespan,
maybe maintenance costs and then perhaps the disposal costs. This enables a fuller picture of
cost of the appliance, piece of equipment or plant across its lifespan

5. Faber Maunsell 2
Introduction
Managing and reducing energy consumption can have significant
benefits for everyone. Reducing energy consumption reduces costs,
releases funds to be spent in other areas and helps to reduce the
volume of harmful greenhouse gases being released into the
atmosphere.
It has been calculated that the Church of England
emits approximately 330,656 tonnes of carbon dioxide
(tCO2) per year.
Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge facing the world today. Rising global
temperatures will bring changes in weather patterns, rising sea levels and increased frequency
and intensity of extreme weather. The effects will be felt in the UK; internationally there may be
severe problems for people in regions that are particularly vulnerable.
Climate change is any long-term significant change in the “average weather” that a given
region experiences. The 2007 Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) stated that human activity is “very likely” the primary driver of the
observed changes in climate.
The Church of England has an ongoing commitment to reduce the energy being consumed and
the greenhouse gas emissions that are produced. In June 2006 the Church launched Shrinking
the Footprint, a national strategic campaign led by the Bishop of London. This project aims to
challenge and support the whole Church to shrink its carbon environmental footprint to 40% of
current levels by 2050.
Within the Church of England each diocese and parish has, or is in the process of developing,
their own approach to tackling the issues of our climatic impact. Centrally this ongoing
commitment has so far delivered the following projects:
• “Measuring our Footprint” – It undertook a national energy audit, which gathered
information on the energy consumed from churches from across the nation.
• In 2007 it undertook the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Management Programme
• During 2008 “Greening the Spires” completed church and cathedral energy
surveys
• And also in 2008 with the support of the Energy Saving Trust (EST) the
Parsonage Sustainable Energy Project was completed.

6. Faber Maunsell 3
Carbon Management Programme
The Carbon Trust Carbon Management Programme investigates all the possible sources of
carbon dioxide emissions or other greenhouse gases from an organisation. The programme
then works with the organisation to identify key areas where reductions in emissions can be
achieved.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Source
Parsonage houses - Gas
Parsonage houses - 16.4%
Electricity
13.5% Church - Electricity
17.2%
Offices - Gas
0.9%
Offices - Electricity Church - Gas
1.1% 39.7%
Palaces - Gas
Church - Oil
0.3%
Cathedral - Electricity 7.3%
Palaces - Electricity
0.3% 1.4% Church - Other fuel
Cathedral - Gas 0.0%
1.8%
For the Church of England a Carbon Footprint has been estimated that covers the carbon
dioxide emissions from the 16,200 churches, 43 cathedrals, around 100 offices, and roughly
13,000 clergy homes and many other buildings. In 2006 – 2007 it has been estimated that the
Church of England emitted over 330,000 tCO2.
Greening the Spires
This project utilised Carbon Trust funding to carry out energy surveys at 24 Churches and 6
Cathedrals from 7 dioceses. At each site the opportunities for energy savings were
investigated and estimations of the potential energy, carbon and financial savings were
reported. The energy savings found during these investigations have been supplemented by
reference and guidance documents to produce the church and cathedral guidance sections for
reducing carbon emissions.
Parsonage Sustainable Energy Project
It is estimated that the 13,000 clergy homes emit just around 99,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide
per year. After churches this makes them the second largest contributor to the overall
emissions of the Church of England.
The Parsonage Sustainable Energy Project was an investigation into the possibilities for energy
efficient refurbishment for clergy homes. The project was undertaken by Marches Energy
Agency and run with the help of the Energy Saving Trust and some project sponsors. It
investigated insulation, high efficiency boilers, renewable energy and behaviour change to
create energy and carbon dioxide savings.

7. Faber Maunsell 4
This guidance document
This guidance document is aimed at people that are responsible or want to be responsible for
energy consumption, the carbon footprint and/or the environmental impacts of a building. The
sections can be used independently; they each present essential information and provide a
simple plan and actions to get you started. This guidance document is split into sections for
each of the major building types within the Church of England.
• Churches
• Cathedrals
• Clergy Homes
• Schools
• Offices
• Appendices – references are made to the detail in this section by this information
mark.
o Reading your meter
o Technical guidance table - Replacement/Maintenance of plant and equipment
in Churches and Cathedrals

8. Faber Maunsell 5
Churches
How can we reduce the carbon emissions from our church?
The 16,200 churches are responsible for 65% of the
total carbon dioxide emissions of the Church of
England
Carbon dioxide emissions from churches arise from a limited number of activities. Mainly
emissions come from energy used when heating and lighting a church but at larger sites other
activities like hot water generation, kitchen and catering activities and office energy use will also
contribute. It should be noted that using energy, whether it is electrical energy or fossil fuels like
gas, oil or coal, will result in the release of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. This
guidance document sets out information that is aimed to help each church reduce its carbon
dioxide emissions;
• Where is energy used?
• Where do emissions come from?
• A plan to create a routine of energy saving
• What about renewable energy?
• And where you could find further information?
This guidance document will link to some further information on carbon emissions and energy,
reading meters and conducting energy walk rounds and guidance that include technical detail
on replacement and refurbishment of energy saving appliances and plant, an information sign
will indicate that further information is available.
The next page shows a list of the most important actions that can be undertaken to save energy
and carbon dioxide emissions. The table includes:
• An indication of cost.
• The expected range of energy savings as a percentage.
• The cost savings from an average church.

9. Faber Maunsell 6
Top actions to reduce a typical church’s carbon footprint
The table below shows the typical energy saving actions that a church could undertake and the
potential savings that these could achieve. More information on these actions can be found in
the Church and Cathedral Guidance Table – found in the appendix of this document.
Typical energy Typical cost
saving as a % of saving from
Capital cost
Description of action the annual heating or
£
heating, electric electrical bill
or total bill
Begin a routine of energy saving Low or no cost 5-15% total £280 total
Improve boiler controls £1-5,000 5-10%heat £300-1000heat
£10-30 per
Insulate hot water pipes 5%heat £200-350heat
metre
Install draught proofing £200 -£5,000 2.5-10%heat £50-700heat
Reducing heat loss associated with
£250 -£1,000 1%heat £0-100heat
windows
<£100 to
Replace lighting installation 3-50%electric £15-800electric
£4,000
Replace boiler £2-15,000 15-25%heat £200-1000heat
total =this is a total energy saving
electric=this is a saving from the electricity consumption
heat = this is a saving from the heat consumption

10. Faber Maunsell 7
How much energy does a church use and how much carbon
dioxide does this emit?
The energy consumption of a church varies with size, age, heating type, weekly occupancy and
the community use of the buildings. It is possible to compare the energy consumptions of
churches using the benchmarks. Benchmarks are defined by investigating the actual energy
consumption of a range of sites. This information is then compiled to indicate the energy
consumed as a Normalised Performance Indicator (NPI). Typically this is the annual energy
2
consumption per square metre of floor area (kWh/ m per year) and will represent buildings that
are average performers (Typical Practice), the top 10% of performers (Good Practice).
The table below shows the benchmarks established by the Chartered Institute of Building
Service Engineers (CIBSE). CIBSE have compiled energy consumption and floor areas from a
number of sites to compare churches by the amount of fossil fuel (this is most commonly
natural gas) and electrical energy. The information is presented in the volume of kilowatt hours
(kWh) they consume per square metre (m²) of floor area, or kWh/m².
Good Typical
practice operation
Fossil Fuel 80 kWh/m² 150 kWh/m²
Electricity 10 kWh/m² 20 kWh/m²
The typical operation benchmark is the average consumption of the sampled buildings. The
Good Practice figures indicate what could be achieved if the church that is being operated
efficiently.
Fossil fuel energy used in churches, 43% of churches
use natural gas and 21% use oil for heat energy.
An average church
In 2008 a series of surveys were undertaken to outline the possible energy saving opportunities
for the Church of England. The table below displays the average energy consumption, cost and
carbon dioxide emissions, from the church energy surveys that were undertaken.
Tonnes
kWh Benchmark Cost £
CO2
Fossil fuel 151,581 151 kWh/m² £4,244.27 29 tCO2
Electricity 17,339 35 kWh/m² £1,387.12 9 tCO2
Energy use within a church
The charts below show the information collected during two of the energy surveys. Energy is
consumed differently in each church and the charts show urban/suburban and rural church
energy consumption. The rural church typically has lower energy consumption with the majority
of energy used for heating and lighting the church and associated buildings. For the
urban/suburban church the size, community centre, kitchen/café, office and longer hours of
occupation mean the energy consumption is greater.

11. Faber Maunsell 8
Rural church Urban/Suburban church and community centre
Hot Water Ventilation
4% Lighting Small Power
1% Lighting
17% 12%
20%
Kitchen
8%
Hot Water
6%
Heating
79% Heating
53%
The average energy consumption of all the rural churches surveyed is less than a tenth of that
used by urban and suburban churches; the average energy consumption of a rural church is
approximately 13,000kWh and average energy consumption of an urban and suburban church
is approximately 165,000kWh per year.
What are the carbon dioxide emissions of a church?
The carbon dioxide emissions from the energy use of a building or site are usually combined to
create a simple carbon footprint. Below are two example simple carbon footprints for the rural
and urban/ suburban churches used above.
Rural church Urban/Suburban church and community centre
Ventilation
Hot Water Small Power 1%
7% 18%
Lighting
Lighting 30%
31%
Kitchen
6%
Hot Water
10%
Heating
Heating
62%
35%
Comparing the charts we those on the previous page we can see that the activities using
electricity contribute to a greater proportion of the carbon footprint of a building or site.

12. Faber Maunsell 9
The average carbon dioxide emissions from
The average carbon dioxide emissions from the
the surveyed churches
surveyed churches
Electricity,
9tonnes
Gas, 29tonnes
The above chart shows the proportion of carbon dioxide emissions that arise from the average
electricity and gas use of the churches surveyed. More information on carbon dioxide emissions
and creating footprints can be found on page 14.

13. Faber Maunsell 10
Where do we start?
Tackling the energy consumed in a building or series building requires lots of actions to be
undertaken. The plan below shows these keys actions as a routine of energy saving.
Nominate someone to take
responsibility of energy and CO2
Create carbon footprint and Create meter reading schedule
compare and record book
Undertake energy walk-round –
take meter reading
Work through energy checklist and
identify …..
A list of actions that will reduce A low carbon replacement list -
emissions – actions could be when will equipment be replaced
undertaken during housekeeping and would an energy efficient
or part of an awareness campaign options cost extra?
Create awareness campaigns –
ask others to help manage the way
energy is used, look for help to
reduce emissions
Report on the progress made:
• Newsletters.
• To cathedral management.
• Notice boards.
Create an energy policy -
Integrate lower energy use and the
quest to reduce emissions into the
day to day running of the church
More detail on these actions is contained on the following page.

14. Faber Maunsell 11
Putting a plan into action
• A routine of energy saving is a commitment to reducing energy consumption. Most
likely you are already undertaking some if not lots of actions to manage and reduce
energy consumption, i.e. using energy saving light bulbs, closing doors and turning
things off. These actions should be incorporated into a plan that is carried out annually
and incorporates elements that will tackle emissions from the building as a whole, see
page 10. Below is some further information on the actions listed in the plan to help
create a routine of energy saving.
• Nominate someone to be in charge of monitoring energy consumption and to take
responsibility of a programme of energy saving. This role may fit easily with the duties
of the Church Warden or Parish Clergy but anyone that is interested could undertake
this role. Once in place the first action that this person should undertake is to review the
above plan undertake the actions.
• Meter reading schedule, meter readings should be undertaken regularly (monthly,
quarterly or at least annually) to monitor energy consumption, costs and help with
emissions. Guidance on how to do this can be found in the appendix. Meter reading
and recording energy consumption is an important part of Shrinking the Footprint.
Energy information will help the Church of England measure its progress towards
carbon dioxide emissions reduction.
• Create a carbon footprint, use meter readings to measure the amount of energy
(natural gas, electricity, oil, LPG etc) being used each year to construct a simple carbon
footprint. Further guidance on how to create a carbon footprint see page 14.
Each week 16,200 churches consume approximately
£203,000 of electricity
• Energy walk-rounds are used to establish where energy is being used, to reduce
wasteful practices and to establish which appliances, equipment or plant, will need
replacing. An energy walk-round is a simple tour of inspection of a building or site.
Armed with a checklist, you simply walk around the church and other buildings and
make a systematic visual inspection of each room and circulation areas. An energy
walk-round can be carried out as part of the Church’s Calendar or Care. The inspection
should note down where:
• energy is being wasted (i.e. good housekeeping practices are not being
followed)
• repair or maintenance work is needed (to reduce energy costs)
• there is a need for capital investment (to improve energy efficiency)
By undertaking an energy walk round is possible to understand where energy is being
used and how it can be reduced. The overall aim is to use this information to construct
two separate lists:
• A list of actions that will reduce emissions (Good Housekeeping).
• A low carbon replacement list (Repairs and Maintenance).
The energy walk-round checklist can be found on page 15 and 16.
A Good housekeeping list that will reduce emissions is a simple task list. The
questions on the checklist will get you started. Once you have undertaken the energy

15. Faber Maunsell 12
walk-round and completed the checklist you will be able to construct your Good
Housekeeping list.
A Low carbon replacement list, eventually it will be necessary to replace current
appliances, equipment and plant (boilers, hot water heaters, air conditioning units). At
this point the church should invest in new equipment, before doing this it should
consider the energy efficiency and the longer term running costs of the equipment.
Even if you have to pay more for the equipment the lower running costs usually
payback on this extra investment. More information on these replacement options can
be found in the appendix.
Outcomes of the energy walk-rounds, including the good housekeeping and low carbon
replacement lists, could be reviewed as part of the quinquennial inspections.
• Create awareness campaigns. Once you worked out how much energy you are using,
where you are using energy and developed an action plan it is time to bring on board
support. Creating energy awareness campaigns and other schemes will help you make
progress and implement your action plan. Encourage others to take part and focus on
the day to day things included in the checklist. Use the actions in the checklist to get
you started but ask for people’s opinions and create awareness campaigns specific for
your church.
The key to a good
awareness campaign is to
have a specific aim that
you would like to achieve
and to undertake the
campaign for a fixed
period of time, i.e. tackle
heating during winter and
reducing lighting during
summer. Once complete
replace the campaign and
review your progress.
• Monitor success and report. Once your programme of energy saving is up and
running it is important to keep track of your progress. Monitor meter readings and
awareness campaigns and report on your progress;
• How effective is the awareness campaign? Do people like it? Has it achieved
what was hoped? How effective have you been?
• How much energy are you using?
• What are the emissions from this?
• What is the cost?
A good place to do this would be on a notice board with a graphic display like a chart. A
report could then be presented at the Annual Parish Meeting. For more information on
monitoring, meter reading, and comparisons of performance look at See the appendix.
• Create an energy policy to integrate this focus on energy reduction and lower carbon
dioxide emissions into the day to day running of the church.
The Church of England has committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions to 40% of
current levels by 2050. To achieve this it will require an ongoing commitment from all
areas of the church. Integrating energy saving and managing your carbon dioxide
emissions into the day to day working life of the church is key to encouraging ongoing
progress.
An ongoing commitment is normally set out in a policy or statement. Many churches
and diocese already have these and there is more information available through the

16. Faber Maunsell 13
Shrinking the Footprint website, see links section on page 18. This policy or statement
can then be displayed and referred to internally when decisions need to be made and
externally by the public and other organisations.
Could you incorporate the themes of reducing energy consumption, reducing waste or
pollution, global equality, social pressures due to changing environments into the
weekly services? Could the parish be encouraged to think about their own carbon
footprints? The goal would be to get the rest of the church involved and to help make
the link between energy efficiency in the church, the carbon footprint, and the broader
community. Perhaps you could begin this process by holding an extra PCC meeting or
a special coffee morning to discuss the issues.
• Repeat Once completed repeat the cycle. Undertake another walk round and complete
the checklist. Reflect on previous awareness campaigns and create new ones. Once
you understand your energy consumption/carbon footprint and the options for energy
saving perhaps you can set a target for energy reduction?
The following section gives further information on calculating a Carbon Footprint and contains
an energy walk-round checklist to help get you started.

17. Faber Maunsell
14
How do I calculate carbon dioxide emissions?
Once you know the amount of energy used, normally the annual consumption figures in kWh,
calculating the carbon dioxide emissions is simple. Because carbon dioxide is released as fossil
fuel is burnt it is possible to measure and calculate the volume of gas released for every kWh or
litre of energy used. The table below shows a list of carbon dioxide levels, or conversion figures,
for the main fuel types. These figures are revised regularly for government and posted on the
Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website.
Calculating carbon dioxide emissions from your energy use, CO2
emissions by fuel type for the UK
kgCO2/kWh kgCO2/litre
Electricity 0.537 -
Natural Gas 0.185 -
Domestic Heating Oil 0.252 2.674
Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) 0.214 1.495
* conversion factors taken from DEFRA, 2008.
When considering action to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions it is important to
consider the relative emissions from the different types of energy we use. Investigation has
shown that approximately 43% of churches use Natural Gas and 21% use Domestic Heating Oil
as their main heat source. If we compare the kgCO2 per kWh for these two fuel types we can
see that the emissions per kWh of natural gas are roughly ¾ of the emissions of Domestic
Heating Oil with emissions from electricity significantly higher then both of these.
Below is a worked example of calculating carbon dioxide emissions from typical energy
consumption information.
Calculating carbon dioxide emissions from your energy use, a worked
example
*Total
Energy multiplied
Units kgCO2/unit emission in
consumed by
kgCO2
Electricity kWh 55,000 x 0.537 29,535
Natural Gas kWh 156,000 x 0.185 28,860
Heating Oil Litres 1500 x 2.674 4,011
Total 62,406
* for tonnes of carbon dioxide divide by 1000
The example shows that this site emits 62.4tCO2 per year. To confirm your carbon dioxide
emission calculations you can visit the carbon trust carbon footprint calculating tool:
www.carbontrust.co.uk/solutions/CarbonFootprinting/FootprintCalculators.htm
When reading gas meters it is important to make a note of the unit of measurement on the
meter. Some meters use cubic feet, others use cubic metres, conversion factors are listed on
gas bills, more information on reading meters can be found in the appendix.

18. Faber Maunsell
15
Energy walk-round checklist
Date or Survey: Undertaken by:
Begin by taking meter readings. Then move from room to room noting where energy saving actions are or are not being
undertaken, make notes on the Good Housekeeping actions that could save energy.
Good housekeeping actions Yes? Church Other buildings
Record meter readings (include units, kWh,
litres, m³ etc) List which building(s) the meter applies too
Lighting
Is lighting switched off when not required
(subject to safety)?
Are time clocks for external lighting correct?
Is outside lighting switched off whilst there is
daylight?
Have windows and lights been cleaned?
Heat and Hot Water
Has the boiler or heating convectors or
electric heaters been maintained/serviced?
Are curtains and blinds drawn at dusk?
Are radiators (or other heat emitters) free
from obstruction?
Is draught proofing intact and working?
Are the time clock(s) on the heating controller
set correctly?
Are electric hot water heaters switched off at
the end of the day?
o
Is the hot water thermostat is set 60 C
o
Are thermostats set to 16 to 18 C whilst the
church is in use?
Is the church heating turned off or setback to
o
8 C whilst not in use?
Are radiator TRVs set correctly?
Kitchen actions
Are switch on/off times set correctly to
minimise time unused?
Are fridge, freezer and dishwasher
temperatures monitored?
Is electrical equipment switched off at the end
of the day?
General actions
Is all electrical equipment switched off at the
end of the day?
Are computers and I.T. appliances switched
off when not in use?
Now construct your list of Good Housekeeping actions.

19. Faber Maunsell
16
Date or Survey: Undertaken by:
Whilst looking at the Good Housekeeping actions that could save energy you should consider the appliances and plant and
their replacement or maintenance. Are they low energy? How can low energy consumption be maintained? Could they be
replaced with lower energy consuming versions?
Estimated
Replacement/Maintenance replacement Church Other buildings
date
Heating, check -
• Boiler performance/reliability
• Install/repair/replace boiler
controls
• Install/repair/replace thermostats
• Air filters on convection heaters
• Install/replace pipe insulation
•
Lighting, check -
• Lighting levels, is it dull or bright,
are you using daylight?
• Types of fittings and lamps, are
there any efficient versions
available?
• Install/rearrange/reposition
lighting controls
•
Other Electrical, check energy
ratings of -
• Computers
• Printers
• Photocopiers
• Fridges
• Freezers
• Hot water urns
•
General building:
• Maintain door closing
mechanisms
• Install/repair/replace draught
proofing
• Install/top up insulation in
appropriate roof spaces
• Repair dripping taps
•
Other:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Once completed create a list of appliances and plant that need replacing and maintaining and
investigate lower energy consuming options. For more information on replacement and
maintenance see the appendix

20. Faber Maunsell
17
What about renewable energy?
The renewable energy sources are:
• The Sun
• Wind
• Well managed forests (i.e. wood)
• Intrinsic heat of the Earth
• And movement of water
These resources can be harnessed by the following technologies:
• Solar photovoltaic panels for electricity and solar flat plate panels or evacuated tubes for
heat collection
• Wind turbines at range of scales
• Burning wood in boilers for heat (i.e. biomass heat)
• Hydro turbines at a range of scales
• Ground source heat pumps for heating and cooling generation
The energy output from renewable technologies is dependant on the availability of renewable
resources (e.g. sun, wind) and can be impacted by site specific constraints such as
overshading, ground condition and building design. Because of this, it is not possible to find a
single renewable technology solution that can be applied to all sites. Therefore selecting the
appropriate renewable technology can be very complex.
More information on the types of renewable energy and how to select the appropriate renewable
technology can be found in the Renewable Energy Appraisal document. This report highlights
the issues that need to be considered when assessing the technologies that are most suitable
for any given site. The aim is to provide guidance to individual parishes that wish to install
renewable energy technologies on their church so that they can make an informed decision and
obtain the best cost benefits balance.
It should be noted that energy efficiency improvements should be implemented before
considering renewable energy technologies. Energy efficiency improvements in most instances
provide a more cost effective way of saving CO2, and money than the renewable technologies
This diagram illustrates the amount of energy that can
Reduce be saved by different types of action and the decreasing
ease with which this energy can e saved. The top of the
diagram displays the easy action of turning things off,
Efficiency the middle section looks to use energy more efficiently
which may require some investment, the final section
RE reflects the resources required to utilise renewable
energy (RE) for the remaining energy or CO2 savings.
Figure 0 Energy hierarchy
For more information on the use of renewable energy please see the links below.

21. Faber Maunsell
18
Further information
Documents
The Cathedral and Church Buildings Division hold two further supporting
documents:
• Renewable Energy Appraisal
• Research Report on Grant Funding Availability
Technical documents for places of worship:
• New Work in Historic Places of Worship, English Heritage, 2003.
• Energy conservation in traditional buildings, English Heritage, 2008
• Heating your church, Bordass, W. and Bemrose, C. Church Care, 1996
- although this is focused on Parish Churches the description of heating systems and
heat and humidity are useful when considering the appropriate systems for Cathedral.
Christians tackling environmental issues:
• How Many Light bulbs Does it Take To Change a Christian? Foster,
C. and Shreeve, D Church House Publishing, 2007.
• Don't Stop at the Lights: Leading your church through a changing
climate, Foster, C. and Shreeve, D. Church House Publishing, 2008.
Websites
Church Care website
www.churchcare.co.uk
Church maintenance and repair, Calendar of Care
http://www.churchcare.co.uk/calendar.php
Shrinking the Footprint
To keep up to date on the developments with the Church of England’s progress towards
reducing its carbon footprint
www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org/church40.php
There are also a list of links and resources available on the following page
www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org/link_res.php
Conversion factors for carbon dioxide emissions, Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/envrp/conversion-factors.htm
The Carbon Trust, publications page
www.carbontrust.co.uk/publications

22. Faber Maunsell 19
Cathedrals
Introduction
Energy, environmental issues and renewable energy are growing areas of concern and interest
for us all. This includes those working to operate, maintain and protect cathedrals, as reflected
in the Cathedral Fabric Commission’s Annual Report 2007. Cathedrals, although limited in the
scope of refurbishment work that can be undertaken, represent a significant opportunity for
saving energy and carbon dioxide emissions.
In total the 43 cathedrals in the Church of England are
estimated to emit over 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide
(tCO2) a year. This is equivalent to the annual carbon
dioxide emissions from over 1,800 average homes.
This document has been constructed to support cathedral staff that wish to begin a structured
programme of energy saving. This guidance document aims to help you establish a plan to
reduce the carbon footprint of the cathedral and give you some ideas about how you will go
about it. This document consists of the following sections:
• Energy and carbon dioxide emissions from cathedral’s
• Creating an energy saving routine
• How do I calculate carbon dioxide emissions?
• Energy walk-round checklist
• Renewable energy
• Further information
This guidance document also links into further information on reading meters and technical
information on the replacement of energy using equipment that may be useful when working to
create a greater awareness with other cathedral staff.
The next page shows a list of the most important actions that can be undertaken to save energy
and carbon dioxide emissions. The table includes:
• An indication of the capital cost.
• The expected range of energy savings as a percentage.
• An indication of the cost and carbon dioxide savings.
• And the years that the investment may take to pay back.

23. Faber Maunsell 20
The information contained in the table is based upon 6 cathedral energy surveys carried out in
2008. The cost and carbon dioxide savings are calculated using the average of the energy
consumed at each of the sites visited.
Average
Energy Average
Capital annual CO2
Description saving annual cost
cost saving
% saving £
(tonnes)
Begin routine of
None 5% total £1,850 total 12.5 total
energy saving^
Insulate hot water £10-30 per
3% heat £900 - £1,800 heat 4.2 heat
pipes metre
Install draught
£400-£1,500 2-9% heat £300 - £1700 heat 3 - 13 heat
proofing
Upgrade lighting 1.5 – 30%
Approx £1,000 £250 – £5,700 electric 33 electric
controls electric
Install efficient 5 – 10%
£1,500-£4,000 £900 - £1,800 heat 7 – 14 heat
boiler controls heat
Install energy £1,500 - 5 – 50%
£950 - £9,500 electric 5.5 - 66 electric
efficient lighting £100,000 electric
£10,000 -
Upgrade Boiler 10-15% heat £1,800 - £2,760 heat 14-21 heat
£100,000
total =this is a total energy saving
electric=this is a saving from the electricity consumption
heat = this is a saving from the heat consumption

24. Faber Maunsell 21
Energy and carbon dioxide emissions from cathedrals
The energy consumption of different cathedrals can not be directly compared due to the
variation in the size, heating systems, occupancy, lighting systems and the events held
throughout the year. Therefore it is important for cathedral staff to record fossil fuel (generally
natural gas) and electricity consumption monthly so that they can check performance against
previous years.
In 2008 a series of surveys were undertaken to outline the possible energy saving opportunities
for the Church of England. The table below displays the average energy consumption, cost and
carbon dioxide emissions from the cathedrals surveyed.
kWh Cost £ Tonnes CO2
Fossil fuel 740,000 £18,400 140 tCO2
Electricity 255,000 £19,000 110 tCO2
If lighting efficiency is improved at a cathedral as part of
the scheduled lighting refurbishment it could create a
saving of over £3,500 a year with little or no extra initial
financial outlay.
Carbon dioxide emissions from a cathedral
The chart below shows an approximate breakdown of the carbon dioxide emissions from a
cathedral. Although actual emissions may be different at each cathedral this chart gives an
indication of the relative importance of each area of energy consumption.
The approximate split carbon dioxide emissions from a cathedral
Ventilation
Small Power 1%
17%
Lighting
31%
Kitchen
6%
Hot Water
9%
Heating
36%

25. Faber Maunsell 22
Creating an energy saving routine
Tackling the energy consumed in a building or series building requires lots of actions to be
undertaken. The plan below shows these keys actions as a routine of energy saving.
Nominate someone to take
responsibility of energy and CO2
Create carbon footprint Create meter reading schedule
and record book
Undertake energy walk-round –
take meter reading and create…
A list of actions that will reduce A low carbon replacement list
emissions
Create awareness campaigns
Report on the progress made:
• Newsletters.
• To cathedral management.
• Notice boards.
Create an energy policy
Putting a plan into action
• A routine of energy saving is a commitment to reducing energy consumption. Most
likely you are already undertaking some if not lots of actions to manage and reduce
energy consumption. These actions should be incorporated into a plan that is carried
out annually. Below is some further information on the actions listed above.
• Nominate someone to be in charge of monitoring energy consumption and to take
responsibility of a programme of energy saving.
• Meter reading schedule, meter readings should be undertaken regularly (monthly,
quarterly or at least annually) to monitor energy consumption, costs and help with
emissions. Guidance on how to do this can be found in the appendix. Meter reading

26. Faber Maunsell 23
and recording energy consumption is an important part of Shrinking the Footprint.
Recording energy information will help the cathedral and the Church of England
measure its progress towards carbon dioxide emissions reduction.
• Create carbon footprint, use meter readings to measure the amount of energy
(natural gas, electricity, oil, LPG etc) being used each year to construct a simple carbon
footprint. Further guidance on how to create a carbon footprint is on page 25.
It is possible to make a 25% saving by creating a routine of
energy saving and merely specifying the right energy
efficient equipment upon replacement
• Energy walk-rounds can be carried out as part of the normal cathedral maintenance
programme. The energy walk-round checklist is an outline of the actions that need to
be considered and can be used to inform any maintenance programmes already in
operation. The inspection should consider the following principles where:
• energy is being wasted (i.e. good housekeeping practices are not being
followed)
• repair or maintenance work is needed (to reduce energy costs)
• there is a need for capital investment (to improve energy efficiency)
By incorporating the above energy saving criteria into your inspection work you can
create an ongoing focus on the energy saving performance of the building. The overall
aim of an energy focused inspection or walk-round is to construct two separate lists:
• A list of actions that will reduce emissions (Good Housekeeping).
• A low carbon replacement list (Repairs and Maintenance).
The energy walk-round checklist is included on page 26.
A Good housekeeping list will help to you to create awareness raising campaigns that
can be used to involve cathedral staff and visitors. The questions on the checklist on
page XX will get you started.
A Low carbon replacement list will help you plan investment to create energy savings
and carbon dioxide emission reductions. When considering new appliances and plant it
is important to consider the whole life cost (the annual energy consumption in use
multiplied by the life span) as well as the initial investment. Studies into whole life
costing have shown that higher capital investment for better performance usually
produces long term energy savings. More information on replacement options, whole
life costs and payback periods can be found in the appendix.
It is especially important to consider the energy consumption performance of new
appliances or plant before undertaking any programmes of works to the cathedral.
Rewiring, installing new audio-visual systems and conducting lighting replacements are
very important opportunities for reducing the energy consumption of a cathedral.
Outcomes of the energy walk-rounds, including the good housekeeping and low carbon
replacement lists, could be reviewed as part of the quinquennial inspections.
• Create awareness campaigns. Creating energy awareness campaigns and other
schemes will help you gain support for your work. Commonly, the outcomes of
awareness campaigns are shared with building users alongside key energy
consumption costs or carbon dioxide emissions to demonstrate the importance of day

27. Faber Maunsell 24
to day actions like switching off lights in areas with adequate daylight. The actions on
the energy walk-round checklist are a great place to start.
• Monitor success and report. Once your routine of energy saving is up and running it
is important to keep track of your progress. Monitor meter readings and awareness
campaigns and report on your progress;
• How effective is the awareness campaign? Do people like it? Has it achieved
what was hoped? How effective have you been?
• How much energy are you using?
• What are the emissions from this?
• What is the cost?
• Create an energy policy to integrate energy and lower carbon dioxide emissions into
the day to day running of the cathedral.
The Church of England has committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions to 40% of
current levels by 2050. To achieve this it will require an ongoing commitment from all
areas of the Church. Integrating energy saving and managing carbon dioxide emissions
into the day to day working life of the cathedral is key to encouraging ongoing progress.
An ongoing commitment should be set out in a policy or statement that is agreed and
endorsed by the staff and clergy involved with managing the cathedral. At this stage it
may be useful to ask for comments from relevant cathedral stakeholders or outside
consultants or architects. This policy or statement can then be displayed and referred to
internally when decisions need to be made and externally by the public and other
organisations.
• Repeat, once completed repeat the cycle. Undertake another walk round and complete
the checklist. Reflect on previous awareness campaigns and create new ones. Once
energy consumption and the carbon footprint of the cathedral is accepted and
understood then consider setting a target for energy reduction?
The following section gives further information on calculating a Carbon Footprint and contains
the Energy Walk-Round Checklist.

28. Faber Maunsell
25
How do I calculate carbon dioxide emissions?
Use the annual energy consumption figures in kWh to calculate the carbon dioxide of the
cathedral. Carbon dioxide is released as fossil fuel is burnt and it is possible to measure and
calculate the volume of gas released for every kWh or litre of energy used. The table below
shows a list of carbon dioxide levels, or conversion figures, for the main fuel types. These
figures are revised regularly for government and posted on the Department of Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website.
Calculating carbon dioxide emissions from your energy use, CO2
emissions by fuel type for the UK
kgCO2/kWh kgCO2/kWh
Electricity 0.537 -
Natural Gas 0.185 -
Domestic Heating Oil 0.252 2.674
Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) 0.214 1.495
* conversion factors taken from DEFRA, 2008.
When considering actions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions it is important to consider the
relative emissions from the different types of energy we use. If we compare the kgCO2 per kWh
for natural gas and domestic heating oil we can see that the emissions per kWh of natural gas
are roughly ¾ of the emissions of domestic heating oil, emissions from electricity are
significantly higher then both of these.
Below is a worked example of calculating carbon dioxide emissions from typical energy
consumption information.
Calculating carbon dioxide emissions from your energy use, a worked
example
*Total
Energy multiplied
Units kgCO2/unit emission in
consumed by
kgCO2
Electricity kWh 55,000 x 0.537 29,535
Natural Gas kWh 156,000 x 0.185 28,860
Heating Oil Litres 1500 x 2.674 4,011
Total 62,406
* for tonnes of carbon dioxide divide by 1000
The example shows that this site emits 62.4tCO2 per year. To confirm your carbon dioxide
emission calculations you can visit the carbon trust carbon footprint calculating tool:
www.carbontrust.co.uk/solutions/CarbonFootprinting/FootprintCalculators.htm

29. Faber Maunsell
26
Energy walk-round checklist
Date or Survey: Undertaken by:
Begin by taking meter readings. Then move from room to room noting where energy saving actions are or are not being
undertaken. Make notes on the Good Housekeeping actions that could save energy.
Good Housekeeping actions Yes? Cathedral Other buildings
Record meter readings (include units, kWh,
litres, m³ etc) List which building(s) the meter applies too
Lighting
Is lighting switched off when not required
(subject to safety)?
Are time clocks for external lighting correct?
Is outside lighting switched off whilst there is
daylight?
Have windows and lights been cleaned?
Heat and Hot Water
Has the boiler or heating convectors or
electric heaters been maintained/serviced?
Are curtains and blinds drawn at dusk?
Are radiators (or other heat emitters) free
from obstruction?
Is draught proofing intact and working?
Are the time clock(s) on the heating controller
set correctly?
Are electric hot water heaters switched off at
the end of the day?
o
Is the hot water thermostat is set 60 C
o
Are thermostats set to 16 to 18 C whilst the
church is in use?
Is the church heating turned off or setback to
o
8 C whilst not in use?
Are radiator TRVs set correctly?
Kitchen actions
Are switch on/off times set correctly to
minimise time unused?
Are fridge, freezer and dishwasher
temperatures monitored?
Is electrical equipment switched off at the end
of the day?
General actions
Is all electrical equipment switched off at the
end of the day?
Are computers and I.T. appliances switched
off when not in use?
Now construct your list of Good Housekeeping actions.

30. Faber Maunsell
27
Date or Survey: Undertaken by:
Whilst looking at Good Housekeeping actions consider the appliances and plant and their replacement or maintenance. Are
they low energy? How can low energy consumption be maintained? Could they be replaced with lower energy consuming
versions?
Estimated
Replacement/Maintenance replacement Cathedral Other buildings
date
Heating, check -
• Boiler performance/reliability
• Install/repair/replace boiler
controls
• Install/repair/replace thermostats
• Air filters on convection heaters
• Install/replace pipe insulation
•
Lighting, check -
• Lighting levels, are there areas
that could use better daylight?
• Types of fittings and lamps, are
there any efficient versions
available?
• Install/rearrange/reposition
lighting controls
•
Other Electrical, check energy
ratings of -
• Computers
• Printers
• Photocopiers
• Air conditioning systems
• Over door heaters
•
General building:
• Maintain door closing
mechanisms
• Install/repair/replace draught
proofing
• Install/top up insulation in
appropriate roof spaces
• Repair dripping taps
•
Other:
• Fridges
• Freezers
• Other kitchen equipment
• Hot water urns
•
•
•
Once completed create a list of appliances and plant that need replacing and maintaining and
investigate lower energy consuming options. For more information on replacement and
maintenance see the appendix

31. Faber Maunsell 28
Renewable energy
The renewable energy sources are:
• The Sun
• Wind
• Well managed forests (i.e. wood)
• Intrinsic heat of the Earth
• And movement of water
These resources can be harnessed by the following technologies:
• Solar photovoltaic panels for electricity and solar flat plate panels or evacuated tubes
for heat collection
• Wind turbines at range of scales
• Burning wood in boilers for heat (i.e. biomass heat)
• Hydro turbines at a range of scales
• Ground source heat pumps for heating and cooling generation
The energy output from renewable technologies is dependant on the availability of renewable
resources (e.g. sun, wind) and can be impacted by site specific constraints such as
overshading, ground condition and building design. Because of this, it is not possible to find a
single renewable technology solution that can be applied to all sites. Therefore selecting the
appropriate renewable technology can be very complex.
More information on the types of renewable energy and how to select the appropriate
renewable technology can be found in the Renewable Energy Appraisal document. This report
highlights the issues that need to be considered when assessing the technologies that are most
suitable for any given site. The aim is to provide guidance to individual parishes that wish to
install renewable energy technologies on their church so that they can make an informed
decision and obtain the best cost benefits balance.
It should be noted that energy efficiency improvements should be implemented before
considering renewable energy technologies. Energy efficiency improvements in most instances
provide a more cost effective way of saving CO2 and money than renewable technologies.
Cathedrals, although historic buildings, may still be able to utilise renewable energy
technologies but you should always consult the appropriate statutory bodies.
For more information on the use of renewable energy please refer to the Renewable Energy
Appraisal document, see below.

32. Faber Maunsell 29
Further information
Documents
The Cathedral and Church Buildings Division hold two further supporting
documents:
• Renewable Energy Appraisal
• Research Report on Grant Funding Availability
Technical documents for places of worship:
• New Work in Historic Places of Worship, English Heritage, 2003.
• Energy conservation in traditional buildings, English Heritage, 2008
• Heating your church, Bordass, W. and Bemrose, C. Church Care, 1996
- although this is focused on Parish Churches the description of heating systems and
heat and humidity are useful when considering the appropriate systems for Cathedral.
Christians tackling environmental issues:
• How Many Light bulbs Does it Take To Change a Christian? Foster,
C. and Shreeve, D Church House Publishing, 2007.
• Don't Stop at the Lights: Leading your church through a changing
climate, Foster, C. and Shreeve, D. Church House Publishing, 2008.
Websites
Care of Cathedrals Rules 2006
www.cofe.anglican.org/about/cathandchurchbuild/cathedralsguidance
English Cathedrals
www.englishcathedrals.co.uk
Church Care website – although not directly focused at Cathedrals there are some useful
links and information available
www.churchcare.co.uk
Shrinking the Footprint
To keep up to date on the developments with the Church of England’s progress towards
reducing its carbon footprint
www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org/church40.php
There are also a list of links and resources available on the following page
www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org/link_res.php
Conversion factors for carbon dioxide emissions, Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/envrp/conversion-factors.htm
The Carbon Trust, publications page
www.carbontrust.co.uk/publications

33. Faber Maunsell 30
Clergy Homes
Introduction
Clergy homes are estimated to contribute to almost a third of the total carbon footprint of the
Church of England. The 13,000 homes emit around 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
The average household could save around 1.5 tonnes of
carbon dioxide (CO2) a year by making their home
energy efficient
Every year diocese surveyors inspect Clergy homes and implement renewal and refurbishment
programmes. These programmes include filling cavity walls and insulating lofts, installing
thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), and installing new boilers and double or
secondary glazing as and when they can.
Every five years Diocese surveyors are required to undertake a quinquennial inspection of
church buildings. With changing energy efficiency requirements in sold, rented and bought
properties surveyors are beginning to look at energy consumption more closely.
Earlier in 2008 the Church of England worked in collaboration with the Energy Saving Trust,
Marches Energy Agency and two dioceses to undertake a programme that would identify the
potential energy savings that can be achieved through refurbishment of a range of types of
clergy homes. This project was called the Parsonages Sustainable Energy Project.
This document
This document provides information on energy saving actions for clergy homes aims. It is
recognised that across the dioceses there is a lot of knowledge of such issues and that
considerable work has already been undertaken. This document is aiming to draw together
useful information for surveyors and the incumbent clergy living in them. It contains a guidance
section that;
• covers the typical energy consumption in a home,
• covers the carbon dioxide emissions from a home,
• gives a summary of the Parsonages Sustainable Energy Project,
• lists the cost and carbon dioxide savings from a range of energy efficiency,
• and provides sources of information and links for the home occupier, Clergy and
diocese surveyors.

34. Faber Maunsell 31
Energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions from a
home
Greenhouse gas emissions from a domestic building (home) arise from heating, hot water,
lighting and other electrical consumption, see below. The total emissions from a household will
be somewhere in the range of 4-8 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, with the lower value being
a home most likely built after 1995.
Energy consumption of an average home built circa 1975
Cooking, 6%
Lights and
appliances, 25%
Space heating, 44%
Water heating, 25%
This chart shows where energy is used within a home. When we begin thinking about the
carbon footprint of a building it is important to realise that we are considering the amount and
types of energy we use. Carbon dioxide is released from burning the fossil fuels (natural gas,
coal, petrol, diesel, LPG etc) required to supply us with the heat, electrical and transport energy
– the UK generated 4.7% of its electricity from renewable sources in 2006, DEFRA 2008. The
table below show the relative carbon dioxide intensities of each of the most common energy
types used in a home.
The relative carbon dioxide emissions from each unit/volume of energy
kgCO2/kWh kgCO2/kWh
Electricity 0.537 -
Natural Gas 0.185 -
Gas/Diesel oil 0.252 2.674
Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) 0.214 1.495
* conversion factors taken from DEFRA, 2008.
When considering action to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions it is important to
consider the relative emissions from the different types of energy we use. If we compare the
kgCO2 per kWh of Natural Gas and Domestic Heating Oil we can see that the emissions per
kWh of natural gas are roughly ¾ of the emissions of Domestic Heating Oil with emissions from
electricity significantly higher then both of these.
In 2006 27% (149 million tonnes) of emissions came
from the energy we use to heat, light and power our
homes.

35. Faber Maunsell 32
Below is a worked example of calculating carbon dioxide emissions from typical energy home.
Calculating carbon dioxide emissions from your energy use, a worked
example
*Total
Energy multiplied kgCO2/uni
Units emission in
consumed by t
kgCO2
Electricity kWh 5,000 x 0.537 2,685
Natural Gas kWh 30,000 x 0.185 5,550
Total 8,235
* for tonnes of carbon dioxide divide by 1000
The example shows that this site emits 8.2tCO2 per year. To confirm your carbon dioxide
emission calculations you can visit the carbon trust carbon footprint calculating tool:
http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/index.html
When reading gas meters it is important to make a note of the unit of measurement on the
meter. Some meters use cubic feet, others use cubic metres, conversion factors are listed on
gas bills, more information on reading meters can be found in the appendix. To confirm your
carbon dioxide emission calculations you can visit the carbon trust carbon footprint calculating
tool.

36. Faber Maunsell 33
Parsonage Sustainable Energy Project
This project provided action focused achievable examples of how the Church of England can
deliver low-carbon parsonages in a practical and cost effective manner. There is a great
potential to improve the clergy housing stock and this project demonstrated, through a series of
case studies, what is achievable around sustainable energy in the different types of parsonage
housing and how it can be achieved.
The emissions caused by passenger cars, buses and
mopeds and motorcycles accounted for a 16% (87 million
tonnes) of CO2 emissions in 2006
The project looked at the property types in 2 dioceses and selected 8 properties from 5 housing
categories; post war housing, Hard to Treat, Inter-war, Post 1996 and one for an Eco-house
upgrade. Below is a list of the outcomes of the project.
Outcomes
• Six out of eight properties required loft insulation,
• Four required cavity walls to be filled
• Two required solid wall insulation.
• Heating controls were specified as well as draught proofing and new boilers.
• Energy efficient light bulbs were fitted throughout the properties.
• Post war properties have the greatest potential for energy and emissions saving
at the least cost.
• Supplying information and guidance on energy efficiency and carbon dioxide
reduction could help incumbents to reduce heating bills.
• There is an opportunity for recognised training on carbon dioxide emissions and
climate change to be delivered to raise knowledge levels.
• There is a potential to review the procedures for the quinquennial survey to make
them more rigorous with regard to managing carbon dioxide emissions from
Clergy homes
• There is funding available from energy supplies and manufacturers for
insulation, boilers and light bulbs. Using a bulk purchasing approach will help to
attract this funding.
• The Parsonage Design Guide should be reviewed
More information can be obtained by contacting the Cathedrals and Church Buildings Division,
Church House.

37. Faber Maunsell 34
How to reduce emissions from domestic properties
Reducing emissions from domestic properties is relatively simple. There are many no cost
actions that should be undertaken initially to reduce energy consumption and then many easily
available capital investments that can provide on going savings.
Ways to reduce energy consumption – no cost actions
It is not possible to save when you are unsure how much you use – sounds obvious but very
few people or organisations know how much energy they use and if that is more or less than
the previous year. Therefore regularly reading meters is very important. Simply reading meters
and keeping track of the amount of energy being consumed can help save money. If the
occupier is conscious of the amount of energy being consumed they invariably become
interested in undertaking actions to reduce energy use.
Reading meters is also essential to build on the success of “measuring the footprint”. More
information on reading meters can be found in the appendix. As the Church of England
develops the Shrinking the Footprint it will depend upon the collection of energy consumption
information from a variety of building types including Clergy homes to construct an ongoing
picture of the emissions arising from the Church’s operations..
No cost actions for saving energy at home are well documented. From switching off lights to
filling the kettle with enough water to make the tea or coffee required. The Energy Saving Trust
10 ways to save energy and help prevent climate change. is a good resource, see this link
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/what_can_i_do_today/getting_started
More guidance and information on how to save energy at home refer to the Marches Energy
Agency Parsonages Sustainable Energy Project
Ways to reduce energy consumption – capital investment
Within the Church of England replacement and refurbishment of Clergy homes will be
undertaken by the Diocese. Previous work has shown that there is an opportunity to
standardise the best options for replacement and refurbishment of clergy homes and also to
continue sharing the knowledge gained from pervious work in each of the Dioceses.
The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) - which came into effect on 1 April 2008 and
will run until 2011 - is an obligation on energy suppliers to achieve targets for promoting
reductions in carbon emissions in the household sector. Practically promotion means funding
reduced price insulation and other energy saving measures. These can be purchased directly
through Utility companies or indirectly through larger Council and Utility run energy efficiency
schemes such as the British Gas Council Tax scheme.
This and other national or regional funding scheme may help to support the work undertaken by
the Dioceses to improve the energy performance of Clergy homes.
Options to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from homes
The table on the following page displays a list of the potential no cost actions and replacement
and refurbishment options from homes. Beside each option the table displays the potential
annual saving in terms of cost and carbon dioxide, these figures are calculated using the
average figures from a three bedroom detached gas
central heated property unless otherwise indicated. The Cost
table also give an indication of the potential cost of
implementing each option. No £0
Low <£100
Please refer to the table to the right which explains the Medium £100 - £1,000
cost savings from different options. High £1,000 - £5,000
Very high £5,000 - £12,500
very very high >£12,500

38. Faber Maunsell 35
Table displaying the options to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from home
Savings
£s kg CO2 Cost
Wall insulation *
Install cavity wall insulation 70 464 Medium
Install solid wall insulation (internal) 200 1376 High
Install solid wall insulation (external) 220 1464 High
Loft insulation *
Install loft insulation to 270mm 210 1419 Medium
Top up your loft insulation to 270mm 60 389 Medium
Double glazing
Install double glazing 40 265 High
Draught proofing *
Fit draught proofing 10 97 Low
Floor insulation *
Install floor insulation 30 173 Medium - High
Tanks and pipe insulation *
Fit a hot water tank jacket 30 195 Low
Insulate your primary pipe work 10 64 Low
Buy Energy saving recommended products
Low if purchased at
Fridge freezer 30 142 Medium
replacement date
Upright/chest freezer 20 85 Medium
Refrigerator 10 48 Medium
Washing machines 10 45 Medium
Dishwasher 20 90 Medium
Integrated Digital Television 10 45 Medium
Heating *
Install a condensing boiler 80 562 High
Install heating controls 90 619 Low
Fit energy saving light bulbs
Fit energy saving light bulbs in your home 40 172 Low
Simple tips *
Turn down your thermostat by 1°C 30 187 No
Turn appliances off and avoid standby 30 133 No
Wash your laundry at 30°C 10 45 No
Only boil as much water as you need 10 29 No
Always turn off your lights when you leave a room 10 23 No
Generate your own energy
Install biomass * 180** 2880 Very high
Ground source heat pumps ** 90** 1386 Very high
Install a wind turbine 200 860 High - very high
Install solar photovoltaics*** 400 1720 Very very high
Install solar water heating**** 24 146 High
Assumptions
* If replacing Gas central heating, savings will be higher if system is replacing electric or oil
** assuming a gas central heating consumption of 18,000kWh/year
*** assuming a 5kWp system is installed
**** assuming 2 m² of installed solar thermal area
Information taken from the Energy Saving Trust Checklist saving assumptions and the Church
of England Renewable Energy Appraisal

39. Faber Maunsell 36
Good practice in domestic
properties
This is an Energy Saving Trust diagram that
demonstrates the areas of energy loss and the
areas for potential energy savings.
Figures are indicative of the potential savings.
The savings generated from individual energy
saving measures will vary with property type,
construction, heating fuel, occupancy and the
energy saving measures already installed.

40. Faber Maunsell
37
Tools and resources for the home occupier
Energy Saving Trust website has lots of useful information
• What can I do and how much would it save?
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/calculator/checklist
• Grants and Offers for the home occupier
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/what_can_i_do_today/energy_saving_gra
nts_and_offer
• What can I do today?
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/what_can_i_do_today
Christians tackling environmental issues:
• How Many Light bulbs Does it Take To Change a Christian? Foster,
C. and Shreeve, D Church House Publishing, 2007.
• Don't Stop at the Lights: Leading your church through a changing
climate, Foster, C. and Shreeve, D. Church House Publishing, 2008.
Information and links for surveyors
The Cathedral and Church Buildings Division hold two further supporting
documents:
• Renewable Energy Appraisal
• Research Report on Grant Funding Availability
More on government funding
• Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT)
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/household/supplier/
Technical documents:
• Energy conservation in traditional buildings, English Heritage, 2008
• Document - GPG 171 Domestic Energy Efficiency Primer. Provides a
useful breakdown of housing types and gives detailed descriptions of the
potential energy efficiency measures that can be installed.
Websites
Shrinking the Footprint
To keep up to date on the developments with the Church of England’s progress towards
reducing its carbon footprint
www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org/church40.php
There are also a list of links and resources available on the following page
www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org/link_res.php
Conversion factors for carbon dioxide emissions, Department for
environment, food and rural affairs (DEFRA)
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/envrp/conversion-factors.htm

41. Faber Maunsell 38
Schools
Introduction
“Reducing energy use has many advantages for schools – it saves money,
reduces carbon emissions (helping to combat climate change), improves the
learning environment and can enhance a school’s reputation.” Carbon Trust,
CTV019.
The Church of England is involved in the operation of over 4,000 primary schools
(25%) and 200 secondary schools (6%). Although the involvement for the Church of
England varies between each school it is acknowledged that under Shrinking the
Footprint the Church of England should begin to engage with schools on the issue of
reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
UK schools release up to four million tonnes of
carbon dioxide (tCO2) a year. 7% or 300,000 tonnes
of these emissions could be saved through effective
energy management. An average English home
uses approximately 5.3 tC02.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) discusses energy
savings as a component of the push towards sustainable schools. A sustainable
school is one that is considering more than just the carbon dioxide emissions and
has a wider focus on trying to manage its overall environmental impact. The DCSF
state that a sustainable school has the following characteristics:
• It conserves energy and water
• It avoids the use of pollutants and potential pollutants
• It takes steps to minimise the production of waste
• It enhances and protects plants and wildlife
• It meets local needs while respecting people and their environment.
The first and most important step towards becoming a sustainable
school is managing the energy consumption of the school. This document
is intended to provide staff at the Church of England with a higher level view of the
issues of energy management and reducing carbon dioxide emissions from a school.
Its aim is to give a summary of the information and tools that the Church of England
may require to communicate with schools. This document outlines the following:
• Schools energy use and carbon dioxide emissions.
• The guidance available for schools.
• Measuring the energy consumption of schools?
• What is an energy efficient school?
• Renewable energy.
• Further information.