FAQs
Q: What is the Shrinking the Footprint campaign?
A: The Church of England's national campaign to enable the whole Church to address - in faith, practice and mission - environmental issues.
Q: What is Measuring our Footprint?
A: In order to shrink the footprint we must discover and determine just what the footprint of the Church of England is in order to shrink it. Since 2006 Church organisations at every level have been registering their energy use as a baseline for measuring the Church's Carbon Footprint. Recording is done on a diocesan level. In addition to carrying out this exercise it is hoped that the simple environment audit is undertaken.
Q: We have a wildlife area but people complain about it as they think it is just an overgrown area which we are not looking after.
A:
What about some signs saying what it is which could also identify the biodiversity and the times of the year when individual plants can be seen.
First hand knowledge
St Giles Stanton St Quinton Wilts
St Mary's Shroton, Dorset
Woodkirk, South Yorks
All Saints Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's Living Churchyards
Q: We had a Millennium Yew which was collected at a service in the Cathedral. Unfortunately we have lost the certificate. Is it possible to replace this?
A:
You need to contact info@conservationfoundation.co.uk www.conservationfoundation.co.uk
Q: What type of insulation should I use for my Church?
A:
There is no single definitive answer about what is best for church insulation.
The most effective and appropriate solution will depend on a number of factors such as the construction of your church, the amount of use it gets, it's age and location.
It is important that the material you use while having good thermal insulation properties should not impair evaporation of moisture or cause it to be held against the building fabric. Mineral wools are appropriate in most situations, natural fibre based insulation (sheep's wool or hemp/cotton fibre mixes) might be preferred on environmental grounds and insulating boards made of wood fibre-board can be used successfully. Insulation can be laid between joists and against walls but you will need to ensure that the insulation solution you choose respects the character of the building. It is also wise to consider lagging your pipes at the same time for optimum efficiency and to prevent freezing.
For practical advice on your church contact your inspecting architect, your Diocesan Advisory Committee secretary or your Diocesan Environmental Officer who will be able to offer more specific guidance.
If your church is a historic building it is also worth looking at English Heritage's site on climate change and traditional buildings - http://www.climatechangeandyourhome.org.uk/live/saving_energy.aspx
A: All organisations of the Church of England including churches and cathedrals, diocesan and national Church offices and bishops' palaces etc.. It is hoped that Church schools, the largest single energy user within the Church can be included shortly.
Q: Will our old light fittings take these new low energy bulbs
A:
The range of low energy lightbulbs has increased to cover most types - whether they twinkle like the old ones is another thing.
Consider which lightbulbs are used the most and change those, it is not always necessary to change them all.
Churches Purchasing Scheme (CPS) offer a good range of energy saving products on their website at
http://www.cpsonline.co.uk/acatalog/Energy_Efficient_Light_Bulbs.html
Lighting tip: Many churches have light fittings way up high which makes replacing bulbs a major job often requiring ladders or towers. One church found that by spending a little on extending the chains to lower their light fittings they were able to use much lower powered bulbs and soon saved the money spent of the chains.
Q: How can we cut down car use by our congregation?
A:
More and more people are using bicycles, but can bikes be left in a safe place? Space inside or good racks outside will encourage people of all ages to cycle to worship.
First hand knowledge from St Pauls, Kingston or the diocese of Exeter
Car use can also be reduced if a simple car sharing scheme can be developed.
Q: We would like to make part of our churchyard a wildlife garden. Where can we get expert advice?
A: Your local county wildlife trust may be able to help. You can also contact Caring for God's Acre, but look at their website first as this has a lot of useful information www.caringforgodsacre.co.uk
Q: How can my church take part?
A: Each diocese has a Shrinking the Footprint Contact (usually the Diocesan Environment Officer).
Q: How can we conserve energy without major change to the church building?
A:
There are a wide range of tips to be found within the toolkit section of the website. Also read the article below from Historic Churches magazine on the homepage of Best Practice.
Q: What grants are available for church environmental schemes?
A: See grants and funding section
Q: How can we increase the biodiversity of our churchyard?
A: See Biodiversity section for ideas
Q: We get a lot of wind would a wind generator make sense
A: The planning and heritage authorities may not think so. One church has installed one as it is so far removed from the mains that it made financial sense. Another building needed to be adapted to house large batteries to store the small amount of energy produce to provide sufficient supplies when needed.
First hand information from:
Dalehead Church Revd Mark Russell Smith 01200 446238
Bishops College School, Gloucester
Q: Would a wood-burning boiler be a good idea?
A: This wood have been the way many churches were heated in the past and now with modern technology it could well make sense.
Firsthand information from:
Chelmsford (Rachel)
St Peters Church Rev Carrine Tourney 0208 469 0013
Also see case study in Historic Churches magaine (Best Practice)
Q: What sort of heating is right for our Church?
A: There is no easy answer to this. It depends on many different things - the type of building, how much the church is used during the week, the current state of the existing heat source. There will often be an expert advising in your diocese. Whatever type of heating you have the first thing is this is running as efficiently as possible that draught proofing and insulation are done well.
StF would like to hear from Churches who would like to share their experiences of church heating - both good and bad - so that other churches can gain from these before undertaking any changes. Please send your experiences to ruth.watkinson@c-of-e.org.uk
Contact St Mary's Welwyn for a helpful ground source heating case study
Q: We think solar panels would be the answer
A:
They may be, but only after everything has been done to ensure the building is made free of heat loss and draughts. Solar panels can be used to produce energy or to heat water. It is important to determine just what is needed and how much. The amount of money you are able to make by selling any surplus energy to the grid may be much less than the salesman claims. Check with other churches who have already installed panels
First hand knowledge available from - St Mary's Hinkley
St James Piccadilly
St Alban's London 020 8 769 5414
Church Hall - St Aldhelms , London Rev David Bolster 0208 8075336
See case study in Historic Churches magazine on Best Practice home page. St Denys Sleaford.
Q: Could a Ground Source Heat Pump be the answer?
A: Yes if you got land and plenty of money. Pipes need to be laid just under the surface of a car park or grassed area. This will enable water in the pipes to be warmed naturally, but the system will need electricity to pump the water.
First hand advice from:
St Mary's, Welwyn stephen.jupp@iee.org http://www.welwyn.org.uk/
St John's Church Bigrigg, Carlisle
Witnash Parish Centre, Coventry
