British churches believe in heat pumps

In many churches, which are often closed for cash, a switch to a heat pump may be necessary. Staff at St Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich, who already had solar panels, decided to jump into a heat pump system when one of their old gas boilers failed.

“The church decided this was a good time to try and commit to it,” says Nicholas Jackson, of architectural design firm Nicholas Vanburgh Ltd. Jackson is also a vestry officer for the church. Last year, two table-like, upward-facing air source heat pumps were installed in a small courtyard next to the 15th-century building. These connect to an Edwardian cast iron radiator system and the heat pumps currently operate at COP 4.

The church also opted for a battery storage system. Jackson says he’s not yet sure exactly how heat pumps will fare during a particularly cold period—a gas boiler remains a backup.

“We were very happy to be one of the first adopters of some of these items,” says Rev. Edward Carter, vice president. He adds that within the church there is an “earth church” that aims to focus the minds of Christians on the importance of the environment. “We’re trying to say something to the city of Norwich here, and maybe to the wider world,” says Carter.

Churches are not the only community-based buildings in the UK currently re-engineering the way things are done. Village halls, covered markets, and public transportation hubs are also installing solar panels, LED lighting, and electric heating systems in some cases.

For some believers, however, the spiritual component of decarbonization is key. Something deeper is at work here, and perhaps such enthusiasm can catalyze a broader societal transition to cleaner technologies. Nat’s view is that Christians should be motivated to care for the planet through the Bible itself.

“We’re not jumping,” he says. “It’s been a message for 2,000 years.”