Cut energy bills and save the planet: a ‘no brainer’?
A lot of churches are thinking about microgeneration (wind or solar power generators) as an investment that will both save money in the longer term and, as part of their mission, care for the environment by cutting carbon emissions. Does this make good sense?
Generally solar or Photovoltaic Cells (PV) are more popular than wind; wind turbines being much more sensitive to location (needing a steady wind with no buildings to cause turbulence) and are more obtrusive in sensitive landscapes. So what about a PV system?
This technology has been around for decades, but only recently has government created financial incentives that make it worth while with the introduction of the Feed in Tariff (FIT). The FIT means that you can earn a guaranteed income for every unit of electricity generated (regardless of whether the electricity is exported to the grid or used on site).
Churches are often particularly suited to PV installations from a technical viewpoint. They often have a high un-shaded south facing area of roof suitable for mounting the PV cells. A typical domestic system costs around £10,000 and reduces carbon emissions by around one tonne per year. Many churches may well be able to support a larger system. Over the lifetime of the project it should give an income of about twice the value of the investment that you put into it. (See More about costs and FIT below)
But, on the down side, the capital cost is still high, which will be a problem for many churches. If you can’t afford the capital cost of the system, some banks may lend to cover the purchase cost. But beware interest rates may increase dramatically in the time taken to repay a large loan. Another finance option is, in effect, to rent your roof to a company that funds the installation of the system. This has the global environmental benefit of installing a PV system. But again be careful, most such schemes will take all the FIT income, perhaps only leaving you some free electricity which may be of minimal benefit is the church is not used during the week.
Also, the impact on heritage needs to be taken into account. There is the issue of permission; faculty certainly, and probably planning permission. For listed buildings this will inevitably be a consideration but may not rule out using PV cells. Careful installation can mean that architecturally sensitive roofs can be preserved and much will depend on how visible the installation will be. Sleaford Parish Church (Lincolnshire) has shown how a parapet can hide the installation from view at ground level. There are Grade 1 listed churches in this diocese with similar heritage issues that are hoping to be allowed to install PV cells; we wait and see. (Permission may also be needed for domestic systems)
It is also important to note that to qualify to receive FIT your PV Cells need to be installed by a contractor approved under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.
So is this the way forward for your church? Certainly if you can find the capital and get the permission it may be. But there are easier ways of reducing fuel costs and reducing carbon emissions and it would be well worth thinking about those first;
- Do you encourage people to turn off lights and heating when they are not needed?
- Are there things you could do to reduce heat loss (e.g. add draft excluders, secondary double glazing or glass doors inside the main entrance?
- Do you have a modern efficient boiler?
- Do you have to heat the whole building when only using a single room? If so could your heating system be split?
- Do you buy your electricity from a credible supplier of green electricity? (Not all green tariffs are as environmentally friendly as they seem at first.)
- Where do you go on holiday ... do you fly?
Faith in Action (Produced by the Derby Diocese’s Mission and Ministry Team) has a section helping you to make just this sort of decision in a structured way. See especially Chapter 4, section 6.6
But don’t put off a decision about a PV installation for too long! For those who have a PV installation the government has said that the rates will remain favourable for 25 years. But the scheme will be reviewed for new applicants next year, and it is unlikely to be so favourable after the review.
For a longer version of this article and links to the Faith in Action manual and to Sleaford Parish Churches website (a successful case study of a PV installation) go to www.faithinderbyshire.org/
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More about costs and Feed In Tariffs (FIT)
PV systems now typically cost over £4,000 per installed kilowatt peak capacity, and each installed kilowatt of generating capacity on a south facing roof will typically generate about 800 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy per year. For systems under 4 kilowatts, for each kWh of energy generated you should receive 41.3p of Feed In Tariff (FIT), and it will normally be “deemed” that you export half of the energy that you generate at an assigned value of 3p per kWh. In addition you will purchase less electricity saving up to 10p per kWh. Government has undertaken to adjust the FIT rate that you start with in line with inflation, and to pay the FIT for 25 years.
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Domestic systems
You may also want to consider encouraging PV installation in the homes of members of the congregation, or even the vicarage. Planning and other consents will still be required except on domestic buildings which are not listed or in a conservation area. Even where a project is regarded as ‘permitted development’ you will need to confirm this in writing with the local authority. It is also worth noting that the ‘Renewable Heat Incentive’ is expected to be introduced in the coming months, so sites which may benefit from solar water heating might wish to consider this and PV options together, as greater carbon savings per square meter of roof may then be achieved where the demand for hot water is high.
Thanks ...
Thanks to T4Sustainability for most of this article, including all the technical information. John Beardmore (T4's Managing Director) is a member of the Diocesan Environmental Group and it may well be worth a conversation with him if you are considering the environmental impact or your buildings (0845 4561332 or 0115 9448910 Mobile: 07785 563116 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
Thanks also to Sleaford Parish Church and especially Rev'd John Patrick and Anne Smille-Pearson for their help in allowing us to use their material and their patience in sending the photographs. To find out more about their PV Installation and to read a very informative case study, go to their website http://lincoln.ourchurchweb.org.uk/sleafordstdenys/ or to go directly to the case study at http://lincoln.ourchurchweb.org.uk/sleafordstdenys/docstore/18.pdf
