Advice on energy efficiency
CTfC can arrange for an adviser to visit your church to help you carry out a Sustainability Audit of your building, which will include reviewing heating and other energy needs. For example The Cumbria Energy Auditors Group, run by Cumbria Action for Sustainability offers low cost independent energy audits to the third sector (including churches), which can include advice on a specific energy management issue. See environmental sustainabilty for more information

Microgeneration
A range of technologies are available which enable you generate some or all of the energy you require at, or near, your church.  This is an effective way of cutting your carbon footprint, provided you have taken steps to reduce energy demand first.  Many of these technologies will also save you money in the longer term, particularly if you are able to take advantage of the grants available.  It is important to fully consider the range of available technologies and choose the one(s) most appropriate to your situation.  Sources of advice on the various technologies are listed below.

Most churches are of some historic importance and you should consider the heritage impact of microgeneration proposals.Click here to download guidance from English Heritage on this subject.

Ground source heat pumps: most relevant to churches in daily use
as heat pumps are more likely to be useful for background heat.  See our factsheet for more details.See our case studies page for St John the Evangelist, Bigrigg, (Cumbria) and St Mary’s, Welwyn (Hertfordshire)  is 

Photovoltaics
Member of the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR) Jonathan Seagrave shares his own experience in investing in Solar PV here and a detailed analysis of the scheme
Faiths4Change have produced an advice sheet on installing photovoltaic panels in churches.

Wind Turbines
Few churches have installed wind turbines, however Gamblesby Village Hall has one, and this short video tells more.

CTfC jointly hosted a conference in March 2011 on how we can adapt traditional buildings for a low carbon future.  Much of the focus was on the refurbishment of housing, but many of the technologies have application to faith buildings.  See a short clip of the video here.  .