Go green, churches urged

The Church of England is taking a big step towards going green. Every parish church is being invited to audit its current energy use to determine the size of its 'carbon footprint', a term for the impact that carbon emissions have on the environment. A series of creative initiatives – from draught-exclusion and energy-saving light bulbs to water management and car-sharing – are set to follow, which will help churches as they attempt to reduce the dent they make in the environment.

The Shrinking the Footprint campaign, led by the Rt Revd Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, is a response to the General Synod’s charge that the Church must engage with climate change. The goal is to achieve ‘the 40 per cent Church’ – a reduction in energy use by 60 per cent by 2050.

All dioceses in England have received a Measuring Our Footprint Audit Pack – issued electronically - to undertake an assessment of current levels and energy consumption in church buildings in every parish. It comprises a short questionnaire for the recording of the units of energy used by churches and other essential information, and a mini-audit designed to provide an easy way for parishes to review their activity. Mainly directed at parish churches, it can be adapted for diocesan offices, bishops' houses or other buildings. It is hoped that churchgoers will promote discussion of the issues locally.

Claire Foster, national policy adviser on environmental issues for the Church of England, says that, for most churches, the starting point is not with grand schemes like solar panels on south-facing roofs or even wind turbines on the spire. "The place to start is with your light bulbs and draught-excluders – if churches have not taken on these relatively simple changes then the more ambitious energy-saving ideas will be a waste of time and money.”

Shrinking The Footprint has been more than five years in the planning and Claire Foster has visited hundreds of parishes to engage with local people in discussing the theological and moral basis for looking after the planet through energy conservation. She detects a distinct change in attitudes in that time. "The argument was one we had to win just a few years ago but now attitudes within churches have changed. The people who hold the purse strings, will say, yes we agree with you, morally and theologically… just tell us what to do."

Last summer Dr Chartres hit the headlines when he suggested that using forms of transport harmful to the environment may be a "symptom of sin". In a newspaper interview, he said there was now an "overriding imperative" to "walk more lightly upon the earth" which meant people needed to make lifestyle decisions with the environmental consequences firmly in mind.  "Making selfish choices" he said, "are a symptom of sin (which) is not just a restricted list of moral mistakes. It is living a life turned in on itself where people ignore the consequences of their actions."

The heated debate which followed his remarks came as little surprise to Claire Foster who says that, in wider society, there remains a degree of amazement that caring for the environment might have anything to do with the core business of the Church. "

I get asked 'Why would the Church be interested in the environment?' but if you believe the earth comes from God then of course it is not ours merely to exploit for our own ends."

Slowly, she says, people are beginning to realize that we cannot "separate humans from the rest of the created order, that we rely on the natural order for life…we can’t survive without insects for example…"

But, Claire adds, while churches are not the worst of environmental offenders, as the Church takes a higher profile on global climate change issues it is important that ‘our own house is in order’.

Read more at www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org

The Revd Charles Hedley, Rector of St James's Piccadilly, shows Derek Lickorish, EDF Energy’s Chief Operating Officer, some of the 34 Photo Voltaic Panels recently installed on the roof of the church. It is estimated that that the panels will generate 4,100 KW hours per year, saving about 1.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide

The Revd Norman Morris at his vicarage in Wentnor, Shropshire, taking part in Hereford Diocese's 'Light Fantastic' initiative, assisted by Katherine Shepherd from the Marches Energy Agency. The project aims to swap old light bulbs in church properties with new energy-saving models

TEN WAYS TO GREEN YOUR CHURCH

1. Measure your energy – invest in a domestic energy monitor from www.greenshop.co.uk; www.thebrightgreenstore.com
2. Switch to low-energy light bulbs –  www.ultimastore.co.uk; www.greenshop.co.uk.
3. Improve insulation – draught-excluders, heavy curtains, thicker roof/wall insulation.
4. Turn your thermostat down – by two degrees.
5. Turn lights off – when you're not using them.
6. Switch appliances off at the socket – leave nothing on standby.
7. Mend dripping taps.
8. Switch to a green energy tariff.
9. Invest in solar panels.
10. Invest in a wind turbine.