Good Practice Case Study: Energy efficiency in churches, Sweden

Website: www.etikochenergi.se

Case Study (409 Kb PDF)

Summary

Etik & Energi (Ethics & Energy) is a Swedish interfaith non-profit association working with congregations, church organizations, and people of faith in the local community. The organization was founded in 2004 and inspired by the American "The Regeneration Project" (Interfaith, Power & Light). The goal of Ethics & Energy is to help congregations conserve energy and become more energy efficient. In this way, a sustainable lifestyle will be attained, as well a sustainable management of church property. Ethics & Energy creates a national network of religious entities in response to global warming with education and promotion of alternatives such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy conservation. With energy prices steadily increasing, these alternatives provide an opportunity for reducing energy costs. This money could then be used for charity and activities, rather than wasting energy. Ethics & Energy gives people of faith a chance to put their faith into action and reduce the devastating effects of global warming.

One of the members is Karlstad diocese. Karlstad consists of 156 parishes which almost all now have been evaluated regarding energy consumption and efficiency potential. The total amounts of heated buildings are approximately 600 of which 180 are churches. About 75% of the buildings are heated by oil or electricity. The efficiency potential is between 20 and 50%, and in average about 30%. The energy costs can also be reduced with the same figures (>30%). Almost all oil, which getting more expensive for every year, can rather easily be converted to other energy sources such as pellets or heat pump. The total payback time for all recommended measures is about 6 year in average.

Efficiency measures:

• A combination of low temperature and moister control regulation between the divine services is to prefer. This measure combines low energy consumption levels with good protection of cultural treasures. The RH humidistat decides which base temperature that is suitable for the actual indoor conditions. The guideline is about 60%.
  
  
  
  Control system for regulation of indoor temperature
  
  
• Change the use pattern; with few divines in the winter, some of them easy can be moved from the church to the nearby parish hall with cheaper heating costs.
• Adjustment of heating and ventilation systems
• Changing from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescents.
• Additional insulation
• Windows restoration and modernisation
• Changing from oil and electricity to other heating sources

Lessons learned and repeatability

In Sweden the church discharge over 5 million square meter distributed on 18 700 buildings. The total amount of energy consumption is 1,3 TWh/year to a cost of 1-1,3 billion Swedish crowns.

Climate change is, in addition to its environmental implications, a matter of social injustice. Global warming is one of the biggest threats facing humanity today. The very existence of life - life that religious people are called to protect - is endangered by our continued dependency on fossil fuels for energy. As temperatures rise and the supply of fossil fuels are depleted, the scarcity and burden of climate change will primarily impact the poor, and eventually come home to us all. However, the poor countries will suffer the most from these consequences, even if they are the ones least responsible for the problem (e.g. emissions of greenhouse gases).

This project has also potential to be spread to other countries as well. The energy consumption concerns us all and the church may play an important role in changing the way of how we use our energy sources.

Important lesson so far:

• Invest in energy and environmental educations, this is absolutely necessary for success
• Aim always at low temperatures
• Big savings can be achieved just by using existing techniques in a more efficient way
• Focus on how to decrease the "used" energy before you dealing with the supply

To find similar reports, click on a keyword below:
Appliances : Biomass & Bioenergy : Buildings : Citizens : Education : Emissions : Energy Efficiency : Heat Pumps : Heat/Heating : Lighting : ManagEnergy : Pellets & Pelleting : Promotional Activities : Property Owners : Refurbishment of Buildings : Renewable Energy Sources & Systems : Solid Biofuels : User behaviour : Utilities

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Etik & Energi Ethics and Energy