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Following the success of the Green Journey across the Diocese, PCC Treasurers from the Huddersfield Episcopal area have been invited by Bishop Jonathan to hear about the scheme on 27th February.
The Diocese has been working in partnership with Green Energy Consulting to offer good value 100% renewably generated electricity and natural gas to churches, who after an initial pilot in the Leeds Archdeaconry have offered their service, area by area, across the Diocese. It is now Huddersfield’s turn, so soon the whole Diocese will soon be covered by the scheme.
109 churches have now switched either their gas or electricity, or both, through Green Energy Consulting, with an average annual saving of £775.
See the detailed figures.
Over 250 churches have been visited by one of Green Energy Consulting’s energy auditors who have conducted a complementary energy survey of the buildings and written a report for the PCC which shows where the opportunities are to better manage their energy. This service is available to all churches whether they switch supplier or not.
“The whole process is very easy, as Green Energy Consulting do everything for you.” Lynne Johnson, Treasurer at St John the Evangelist, Greengates, Bradford explains,
“They assess your buildings, go away and then tell you how much money you could save per year by changing to another provider. My church will be saving in excess of £600 per year for the next 2 years and then Green Energy will check around for new contracts and make sure we carry on getting the best of the deals out there.”
Read more of Lynne’s experience.
Green Energy Consulting have also been checking that churches are on the correct VAT rate. They found 40 churches that were being charged at 20% rather than 5% and have reclaimed over £35,000.
Switching to renewably generated electricity is a simple way to reduce the carbon emissions of the church. On average each church that has switched is making an annual carbon reduction of 2 tonnes that’s equivalent to 6,000 car miles or a return flight to Sydney.
“I have been delighted with how the Green Journey has benefited churches in so many different ways.” says Jemima Parker, Diocesan Environment Officer, who set up the scheme with Ven Paul Hooper, former Archdeacon of Leeds and Ian Fletcher, former Church in the World Chair, Bradford.
“It’s so important that we start the journey to decarbonising our churches as we all move to a low carbon economy to combat climatic change. It’s a simple loving act that we can do for our local, global and generational neighbours, such as our link Diocese of Mara, Tanzania, who are already suffering from the impacts of climatic change."
Of course some churches can’t switch their supplier until their current contract comes to an end. We would then advise that they get a quote from Green Energy Consulting and compare it with what their current supplier and other companies can offer them at that point for 100% renewable electricity.
The Green Journey is a unique scheme pioneered in the Leeds Diocese which is now attracting attention in the church nationally.
Anyone from across the Diocese is welcome to come and hear more about the Green Journey at the meeting on 27th February 7.30pm at Huddersfield Parish Church, please contact Brenda Malcolm to help us know numbers.
If you have any further questions about the scheme not answered in the FAQ document do please get in touch with either
Jamie Daniels, Green Energy Consulting 0191 3006161
Jemima Parker, Diocesan Environment Officer 01423 569121