The Leeds DAC is committed to encouraging best practice in every matter relating to church buildings. Increasingly, this includes environmental sustainability and energy efficiency, reflecting the Leeds Diocesan Environmental Policy and the General Synod commitment to reaching zero carbon by 2030.
As such, the DAC had adopted the policies which can be downloaded below and which it will apply in forming its advice on faculty applications, where they involve works which have the potential to affect carbon emissions. These policies aim to encourage PCCs to think about how they might apply best practice in works to church buildings and churchyards, whilst recognising that all measures will not be suitable or affordable for all parishes.
Please click here to download the policies.
Guidance has been prepared to help PCCs in responding to the policies and to help them better understand environmental sustainability and how this applies to buildings.
Please click here to download the guidance.
The DAC has developed a Heating Toolkit and Heating Checklist to guide PCCs through the process of seeking the best sustainable heating system for their church building or hall.
Please click here to download the guidance.
Please click here to download the checklist.
In addition, links to further information can be found below:
- Leeds Diocese enviromental guidance and advice on works in churches
- Leeds Diocese enviromental guidance and advice on works in churchyards
The DAC staff and its volunteer advisers will be happy to advise individual PCCs about these matters. Please get in touch via the details provided on our contact page.
Mapping renewable energy
The Church Heritage Record is a national online system to share information about church buiildings and now includes a map showing those that use renewable energy sources such as heat pumps, biomass boilers, solar panels or wind turbines. It will soon be updated to include the introduction of electric vehicle charging points. No login is required to view this information. If your church has any of these facilities already, please check the map to see if they are shown, and if not, use this online form to request an addition to the map.
Powering God's Northern Powerhouse Conference
This conference on sustainable heating and lighting in churches took place at Wakefield Cathedral on Saturday 1st December 2018. Please click on the titles below to download the resources from the speakers at the conference:
- Why is this a gospel issue? - Bishop Paul, Bishop of Kirkstall and Jemima Parker, Leeds Diocesan Environment Officer
- How do I work with my building to achieve energy efficiencies? (powerpoint slides and transcript of talk) - Lisa McIntyre, Leeds DAC Secretary
- How do I light my church to support worship and community use? - Bruce Kirk, Director of Light Perceptions
- How do I heat my church to provide a warm welcome? (powerpoint slides and transcript of talk) - Robyn Pender, Senior Architectural Conservator, Historic England
- Birkin case study (Ground Source Heat Pumps)
- Bowling case study (Biomass heating)
- Allerton Bywater case study (Air Source Heat Pumps)
- Bolton Priory case study (Lighting)
- Managing church finances - John Knox, Director of Parish Resourcing for the Leeds Diocese
- Financing heating and lighting projects - Sue Booth, Buildings for Mission Officer for the Leeds Diocese
