The Energy and Sustainability workstream is looking primarily at how we implement a new heating system to replace our existing boiler, which has had its share of issues and which will be coming to the end of its life in the not two distant future. We will be investigating options that will hopefully reduce our energy costs but also give us more certainty about our energy costs in the future. Also, as a congregation, we recognise our responsibility to do our part in implementing the Church of England’s commitment to reaching Net Zero as a means of mitigating the worst effects of climate change.
In addition, we are also looking at other measures that would support these objectives and those that will generally improve our environmental footprint and reduce our operating costs.
We have had a number of responses to the questions that we put out in relation to this subject. So far there has been a broad consensus in regard to the measures that we should be pursuing, with three enjoying broad support. These are
- a heat pump based underfloor heating system.
- solar photovoltaic panels on the roof, where they will not be visually intrusive or detract from the architecture of the building;
- a reduction in paper usage, potentially using a screen during services to replace the considerable printing that we currently do.
