Welcome to the NDBF Net Zero Carbon pages. This is where we have gathered all the information to help you on you journey to save energy and reduce your Carbon emissions.
To begin let’s look at the why and then we can get going on the how.
Defining Net Zero Carbon
‘The reduction as far as possible of all in-scope carbon emissions and the removal of an equivalent amount of carbon from the atmosphere for the remaining in-scope emissions by use of accredited offsetting schemes’ Routemap to Net Zero Carbon by 2030
Background
General Synod voted in February 2020 for the whole of the Church of England to achieve net zero carbon by 2030. The vote recognised that the global climate emergency is a crisis for God’s creation and a fundamental injustice. The Synod asked for a plan to be made, setting out how to get to net zero carbon. That plan is called the Routemap. It was written by the Net Zero Carbon sub-committee of the national Environmental Working Group and went to consultation from October 2021 to February 2022 and the responses received shaped the final version. It was approved by General Synod in July 2022
Saving energy and reducing carbon can be part of everything we do. Where do you want to save energy today?
Choose one of the main headings below:
Ten simple steps to reach net zero
Ten simple steps churches can take to reach net zero carbon | The Church of England
One of the ways churches can tackle climate change is through reducing the carbon released from buildings into the atmosphere.
But where do you start? It can all seem overwhelming.
Here’s ten simple steps to get your church started on its journey to net zero carbon.
1) Find some people to work together, this is a big challenge to do alone. Maybe you could team up with another church in your deanery, or get a keen volunteer from the community.
2) Have a look at our resources and case studies for inspiration and advice.
3) Register for Eco Church and have a look at the survey questions – they have lots of ideas for free, including many easy changes you can make.
4) Start recording regular meter readings so you can see how much energy you actually use. Or get a smart meter to make it even easier!
5) Fill in the Energy Footprint Tool (EFT) to get an annual carbon footprint report to share with your PCC and help get more people on board!
6) Use the Church Heating Checklist to think about what where your church needs to be heated – is it the space or the people? All the time or just Sunday morning? Everyone, or just the choir?
7) Use our new for 2025 Practical Guide to Net Zero Carbon for Churches to help you through lots of potential measures to save energy and reduce carbon.
8) Get some expert advice. You can ask your DAC, your QI architect, or get an independent energy audit. This will give you a summary of the likely measures suitable in your church.
9) Check what grants are available on our website.
10) And finally have a nice cup of tea and celebrate everything you have done!
Do you need more inspiration?
You can also take a look at our new Practical Guide to help you – this is packed full of tips and advice, a handy flowchart to help with heating solutions and a checklist for step by step actions you can take as a church. There’s also a Word version of the new guide as well, handy for printing or for cut and pasting information into your own church documents and reports.
Environment and Net Zero News
