As part of our annual reporting we calculate the ‘energy footprint’ of our buildings to see how energy efficient we are being, and identify ways we can make improvements. We do this using a tool from the Church of England which calculates emissions from the different types of energy we use, takes into account any offsetting we do, and then compares it to our building size and usage.
Our carbon emissions
Carbon dioxide is a major contributor to global climate change. By measuring our CO2 emissions and comparing it to the types of activities in our buildings we can identify areas for improvements.
Net CO2 emissions
Our net CO2 emissions in 2022 were 21.2 tonnes, up from 20.0 tonnes in 2021. This is in the 90-100% range of churches.
This is our overall carbon footprint. It includes the CO2 and other climate-altering greenhouse gases produced from electricity generation, gas and other fuels. Where we have saved CO2 by buying renewable energy, this has been taken into account.
The increase in our footprint from 2021 has mostly been from an increase in usage in our Community Centre, as bookings have increased following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Emissions adjusted for floor space
Our emissions per square metre in 2022 were in the 80-90% range of churches.
Both of our buildings have large open spaces and are relatively poorly insulated, which means they take a lot of energy and produce a lot of emissions to keep warm.
We are actively investigating ways we can reduce our energy usage.
Usage-adjusted emissions
Our usage-adjusted emissions in 2022 were in the 0-10% range of churches.
Although our net emissions are very high, both our church and Community Centre are well attended and see frequent usage. This means that the amount of emissions we produce for the amount of time and number of people who use are facilities are comparatively low.