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Energy For Places Of Worship

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Places of worship are vital to community wellbeing and cohesion; however, they can be expensive to run and striking the balance between energy cost efficiency and carbon saving can be tricky. With that being said, there are some easy changes you can make that will reduce overheads and Co2 output.

It's always a good time to consider switching energy plans to one that's more suited to your individual usage requirements - the sooner you switch, the more savings you could see, freeing up the resources you need to better serve your community.

How Much Energy Does A Place Of Worship Use Every Year?

Typically, places of worship will have a significant multi-site energy contract in place every year because of their size and usage.

It's estimated that an average-sized place of worship will use around 22,000-30,000 kWh of electricity per year - around nine or ten times higher than the average domestic home.

How Can Places Of Worship Benefit From A Business Energy Deal?

As with domestic and commercial properties, a place of worship requires regular heating and lighting. However, there are other challenges to overcome in these buildings owing to their size and usage, when compared with other domestic and commercial spaces. Issues with damp and mould can be common.

Like businesses, places of worship require special energy supplier deals to compensate for different energy usage styles, and, like businesses, they usually require a rollover contract. A rollover contract is an energy deal that provides continuity between the end of the energy supplier deal and the new one, reducing any out-of-contract fees.

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How To Reduce The Energy Bills For Your Place Of Worship

Set heating timers for services/gatherings

Places of worship can be difficult to heat effectively, owing to the sporadic nature of services and events. Still, it's vitally important that places of worship keep that building comfortable for services and warm at all other times, so the building doesn't suffer from damp. That's where heating timers can help.

Set your heating timers to come on before your gatherings for however long it takes to bring the place of worship to a comfortable room temperature. Gatherings are usually predictable, so you can set them to turn off at a particular time, too; when the room gets colder, it's also a good indicator of the time.

Install energy-efficient lights

Lighting is often overlooked as a source of energy consumption, partly because the lights are out of sight and they don't seem to consume much electricity. However, LED lights consume as much as 75% less electricity than incandescent bulbs - switching bulbs could save a substantial amount on your monthly bill.

Switching your lighting from incandescent bulbs to LED lighting is simpler than you might imagine; you don't have to change your lighting infrastructure at all - just invest in screw-in LED bulbs that fit the same sockets as the traditional incandescent ones.

Improve building insulation

Creating an energy-efficient place of worship is not only about finding the best energy plan to reduce your overall heating costs; it's also about improving the infrastructure of your building so that less heat is lost. Around 25-35% of the building's heat is lost through the walls and the roof.

If the insulation in your building has not been improved for some time, it's likely that your insulation will need updating. Nowadays, the most efficient and cost-effective insulation for commercial buildings and places of worship is spray-foam insulation that insulates cavity walls and closes gaps.

Clean out the ventilation system

It might surprise you to know that the ventilation system in your place of worship can also help you save on your energy costs and your Co2 emissions. Sometimes, a ventilation system is designed to channel air out of the building; other times, it recycles air and heat.

Find out what kind of ventilation system you have and research ways to make it more efficient. Heat naturally rises, it also transfers naturally into colder spaces, so if you have vents on the ceilings that transfer the warm air back to the basement viaducts, it is effectively recycled.

Look out for damp issues

It is not only the energy bills you need to look out for when attempting to create an efficient low-carbon place of worship; unless you look after the basic infrastructure of the building, you could face unforeseen costs and issues relating to mould and damp which occurs with excess moisture.

Damp issues start to occur when the building becomes cold for long periods. That's because the moisture created in the building isn't evaporated and instead gets into the walls and materials, making them mouldy. Mould is not only a sight for sore eyes, but it's also a health hazard so keep your heating on low.

Frequently Asked Questions

Improving the energy efficiency of a building doesn't have to be expensive! If you want to improve the efficiency of the building's infrastructure such as the insulation, gas systems, or water system, you may think there is a hefty price tag - but there is an easier way.

One of the first things you can do is to compare energy suppliers and use one with renewable energy that provides power for less. Following this, consider investing in smart meters and eco-appliances that help you save money on your everyday energy costs and reduce your carbon footprint.

One of the primary issues for places of worship is heating. The building needs to be warm for worship times, but even when unoccupied, it needs to be heated to prevent damp and the building deteriorating. Lighting, ventilation, and cooling are also key issues in a place of worship.

Firstly, a place of worship needs to consider its hours of operation to optimise its gas and electricity arrangements for better efficiency. Switching to eco-friendly appliances and LED lighting to reduce energy costs further and improve energy efficiency is a great way to tackle these issues.

Places of worship are vital to community health and cohesion; unfortunately, the buildings can be expensive to maintain, especially when it comes to energy bills. The good news is that we can help you take that first step towards reducing your energy bills - all it takes is a few clicks!

A place of worship must get the best deal for its power - this will help reduce overall running costs and make money go further in the community. For great savings in seconds, look into switching energy contracts with Business Energy UK today!