Getting your Building down to Net Zero

As Christians, we are called to be stewards of God's creation. There are many ways to do this, from protecting biodiversity to making lifestyle changes. You can find more about on our Action for Hope pages.

One way we care for creation is through our work to reduce carbon emissions and reach Net Zero. But what does Net Zero mean? It means the amount of greenhouse gas emissions added to the atmosphere is no more than the amount removed. This is reached by significantly reducing the emissions from our buildings & travel and removing any residual emissions, through purchasing renewable energy and offsetting.

In response to the climate change emergency, the Methodist Church set the aspirational target to reach Net Zero by 2030. We are aware that this can be a daunting task and so a set of practical steps and recommendations have been created with the aim of helping churches reduce their energy use and associated carbon emissions.

The guidance is divided up into four phases, which a church can work through at their own pace. The phases are;

1. Assess Your Building and Energy Usage
2. Take First Steps
3. Make a Bigger Impact
4. Down to Net Zero

Phases 3 and 4 may not be feasible in their entirety for every church, but there may be ideas you can use. As more and more churches work on reducing their energy use and emissions, it will cumulatively make a difference.  Paired up with the four phases is the Net Zero Checklist for Churches, designed to help your church identify what you're already doing and what actions to prioritise next.

As well as the four steps on getting your church building down to net zero, there is also guidance on Net Zero for Manses, information on Fundraising for Net Zero Projects and guidance on Energy Audits available. The Glossary of Net Zero terms covers commonly used acronyms and terminology, to help make both church and secular guidance clear. For those ready to take action, the Net Zero Contractor Directory provides details of companies who have worked with churches previously on net zero projects.

As new resources are developed, links will be added to this page, so check back regularly.

Case Study: Baildon Methodist Church
A managing trustee from Baildon Methodist Church in Bradford tells the story of how their church got down to net carbon zero.