Church of England properties and Net Zero

Monitor energy use to find out where energy is wasted

HeatingSave is more than just a Building Energy Management System — it is also an accurate energy monitoring system.

In 2022 the General Synod approved the Net Zero Carbon Routemap for the Church of England, setting out how the Church will become fully Net Zero by 2030.

Part of the necessary requirements for reaching Net Zero is to monitor energy use, starting from a baseline before any adjustments are made.

HeatingSave can monitor energy use from multiple sources — including, but not limited to, mains gas and electricity, solar panels, oil, and biomass boilers — as well as the energy used by electrical equipment (including air conditioning units) and appliances. It uses these readings to determine the energy performance of the building (or buildings) minute-by-minute, in real-time. It can also be used to understand the energy efficiency of each room or zone that is being monitored.

This data can then be analysed to see where and when energy is most used and most wasted. This makes it possible to see not only how much energy is being used, but how much of it is from renewable sources.

For churches, this can be useful in seeing if particular areas of the church are wasting energy, or if specific electrical equipment is using more than necessary. It can also be used to find out if any groups or meetings held throughout the week are using more energy than perhaps they ideally should.

The effect of collecting all this data is that it allows decisions to be made about any changes that might be necessary. This might include simple adjustments like when the heating comes on or for how long, or it may lead to more substantial modifications such as the installation of insulation or the replacement of windows.

Reducing energy usage reduces carbon emissions

One of the benefits for churches of using the HeatingSave Building Energy Management System is that once data about energy use has been collected, HeatingSave can then analyse it and act to help save energy.

Use the Heating Diary and Room Booking System to tell HeatingSave which parts of the building(s) are being used at which times, as well as set the temperature for those uses.

Different bookings can have different temperatures set. For example, if a Bible study group of mostly older people meets in the evening, and a children's group meets mid-morning, the Room Booking System can be used to book the required space and set the desired temperature for each.

Using an advanced AI algorithm, HeatingSave then calculates the ideal time to turn on the heating or cooling to reach your desired temperature at the time you want.

Data from its sensors — including for room temperature, outside temperature, boiler flow temperature and occupancy — means HeatingSave can ensure that occupied areas are kept at the appropriate temperature, but only using the minimum amount of energy to do so.

Destratification fans can also be used if the church hall has a high ceiling of four meters or more. These bucket-like, variable speed fans mix the air to provide a constant temperature and air quality, resulting in less energy being used to heat the same space.

By limiting the energy used and using the heating system in a much more energy efficient way, the carbon emissions and environmental impact are reduced. If the heating system is older and inefficient, HeatingSave can have a significant impact on the amount of energy used — and therefore a substantial improvement in sustainability.

By using the monitoring and analytics capability in the HeatingSave software, it is easy to see how much less energy you are using — and thus the reduced environmental impact.

A cost-effective way to help with Net Zero goals

The other major positive for churches is that HeatingSave saves money on energy bills.

By streamlining heat control, minimising fuel use, and improving system efficiency across sectors, HeatingSave provides average energy bill savings of 20%-50%, with poorly controlled systems benefitting the most.

In addition, HeatingSave is a cost-effective solution to implement, and can provide a relatively quick return on investment. It can be retrofitted to almost any existing heating system, so you don't need to undertake expensive upgrades or replacements. HeatingSave can also replace any pre-existing, outdated or defunct Building Energy Management Systems that may be installed.

HeatingSave contributes to sustainability targets and saves you money

HeatingSave is a low-cost Building Energy Management System that is ideal for churches looking to upgrade their existing heating system or replace an out-of-date BEMS, as it will help to reduce your carbon output as well as your energy bills, without expensive upgrades.

Our engineers are experts at installing church energy management systems so get in touch today to find out how your church could benefit.