Major Changes in Heating and Lighting at Holy Trinity Church in Stroud
Dear Editor,
Holy Trinity, the church at the top of the town, next to the hospital in Stroud has recently undertaken major changes to its heating and lighting.
It is the first step to reducing their carbon emissions, which started by ditching the gas fuelled boiler that ran a wet central heating system through archaic pipes and radiators.
The installation of their new, innovative all-electric arrangement, has immediately shrunk their carbon footprint.
Embracing the Sustainable Development Goals
In 2020, the Church of England set a goal to achieve net-zero by 2030, and the PCC of Holy Trinity church not only embraced that challenge but were determined to be ahead of the game.
To begin with, advice was taken from the Sustainability Officer at Gloucester Diocese and, with his encouragement, previous traditional views on how to keep a church warm and comfortable took a radical turn. By thinking differently, it became clear that modern technologies offer alternative ways and the idea of heating the people not the church became the objective. Insulating the undercroft to stop draughts coming up through the floorboards was the first tactic.
Then it was decided to adopt three different electric heating technologies, all designed to be efficient and cost-effective for use in a traditional church building.
The result has transformed the heating system, providing a fit-for-purpose, flexible solution. The congregation will be kept warm by under-pew convection heaters mounted directly beneath their seats; the eight infrared panel heaters installed overhead below the gallery provide an inviting, cosy entrance, and at the front of the church, a bespoke Halo far infrared heater that looks like a sleek, contemporary chandelier hangs above the minister and choir.
All these elements can be zoned to cater for varying sizes of assemblies, and the heat is almost instant at the flick of a switch, with no waste residual heat left heating an empty building after an event. Benefits will include savings in both running costs as well as for the environment.
Financial Support and Commitment to Sustainability
A legacy left by a former Treasurer to the church, Malcolm Tarling, was the catalyst to explore ways in how to make a lasting difference to Holy Trinity church, and the focus on committing to becoming net zero seemed the right and proper approach. Before the heating re-ordering, Holy Trinity was among the top 20 carbon emitters in the Gloucester Diocese, a disreputable fact the PCC is more than happy to shake off.
In the summer of 2023, Falconer & Gilbert Scott Architects took the vision and turned it into a plan of action, although there was still a funding gap to fill.
Fortunately, three grant funding bodies who viewed the scheme deemed it worthy of their support, and it is important to say that without their financial backing, the scheme would not have been possible. The people of Holy Trinity give grateful thanks to The Congregational and General Charitable Trust for their allocation of £15,000; the Garfield Weston Foundation for awarding £10,000, and The Benefact Trust who granted £3,900.
Thanks also go out to the congregation and visitors to Holy Trinity who have continued to come to church services and concerts throughout the refurbishment, which regrettably took place over two of the colder months of the year, so hats, gloves, and scarves were appropriate dress on a few occasions.
However, this staunch determination is not in vain as the assurance of a comfortable church, efficiently managed at low cost to the environment will be the reward.
Sharing the Experience and Encouraging Others
The folk at Holy Trinity church would be more than happy to share their experience of this project and welcome enquiries from other churches or groups wishing to explore alternative ways of heating that are environmentally friendly. Holy Trinity is one of nine churches within the Stroud Team, and contact can be made via this website: https://stroudparishchurches.org.uk
Mrs Jai Carr,
Treasurer, PCC Holy Trinity
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix | – |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | – |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning | – |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth, and local and marginalized communities | – |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources | – |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
- Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
- Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning
- Target 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth, and local and marginalized communities
- Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
No specific indicators are mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.
Note: The article primarily focuses on the actions taken by Holy Trinity church to reduce their carbon emissions and adopt more sustainable heating technologies. While it aligns with the broader goals of SDG 7, SDG 13, and SDG 17, it does not provide specific indicators to measure progress towards the targets under these goals.
4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix | – |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | – |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning | – |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth, and local and marginalized communities | – |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources | – |
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Fuente: stroudtimes.com
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