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Simple Church Building Energy AuditTo fulfil criteria 1 of the Five Leaf Eco-Awards Basic CertificateInitial QuestionsPlease attach a copy of your church’s electricity and gas bills for the last 12 months (specify if these are for just the church building, or the church building and manse). How big is your church building (m2)? Do you have solar power ? or solar water heating ?How often is the church building used? Do you purchase GreenPower? ?Who monitors your energy use? Do you have a smart meter installed? ?How will your energy use and progress in improving your energy efficiency be communicated to the congregation?Total Energy Use and Carbon FootprintWhat is your total church electricity use? (This is written on your electricity bill) What is your total gas use? This is equivalent to Kg of carbon dioxide. CHURCH ELECTRICITY USE HOT SPOTSHeating and CoolingHeating makes up the vast majority of church energy use. When you look at your bill, which 3 months do you use the most energy?Click or tap here to enter text.If it is in winter or summer, you know it is important to look at the energy efficiency of your heating and cooling. What style/s of heating does your church use? What style/s of cooling does your church use? How much energy does this system use in operation? How much energy does this system use in operation?How often is it used?How often is it used?Does your heating/cooling focus on people or spaces? Can you section off spaces so only those being used are heated/cooled?Can your heating/cooling be placed on timers so people don’t forget to turn them off?Is there a sign explaining the most efficient temperature ranges for the heating (eg. 18 -20 degrees for a heater. 22-24 degrees for air conditioning). Every 1 degree higher adds around 10% to your heating bill. Insulation and ventilationWhat insulation does your church building have? Do you have double glazing (or alternatives) on the windows? What are the biggest areas of draughts? Do you have ventilation for summer? Hot Water UrnAnother large use of energy in churches is hot water. Does your church heat water in:a kettle ?or instant hot water urn ?How much energy does this device use?If using an urn, has a timer been installed? ?Hot tip: Your hot water urn does not need to be running at 2am in the morning! Nobody will be in the building then to need a cuppa! Instant hot water urns boil repeatedly so that hot water is available at any time – this uses a lot of energy! Make sure you install a timer so that the urn is only on when absolutely needed, in consultation your church booking calendar. If you are concerned about unexpected one-off calls for hot water, you can also make a kettle available. What kind of hot water system provides hot water for hand washing etc. in the kitchen and/or bathrooms? Is this on a timer or demand based? Fridges/FreezersHow old are your fridge/s? yearsAt the time of the audit, how full are they? % Is this typical? How much energy does your fridge use? How many energy efficiency stars does it have? Is it worth replacing with a more efficient model? Hot tip: One of the easiest ways many churches can save energy is by turning off an unused or little used fridge. It may seem that a fridge doesn’t use much energy, but keep in mind they operate 24/7 – which makes them energy guzzlers. Other EquipmentWhat other equipment do you use? In your church office (computers, printers, photocopiers), audio-visual equipment (speakers, amplifiers, sound desk, computers), hand dryers in the toilets? Do you know how much energy they use? (Part of the purpose of the energy audit is to identify any energy drains you are unaware of) Pick at least 3 pieces of equipment you are unsure about and measure their energy use:Other EquipmentAppliances:How much energy do they use?VampiresWhich appliances do you have that draw power even when not in use (for example, a TV on standby):Are they fitted with timers as appropriate????GAS USEWhich appliances use gas (eg. cooktops)?How much gas do they use?BEHAVIOUREnergy efficiency is not just about the products and appliances we install, it is also about our behaviour. Are there signs on all light switches and appliances reminding people to turn them off??Have you included your energy efficiency goals in the information for those making booking to use your building??Have you made an effort to get building users on board with what you are trying to achieve??Is there a checklist at the door to remind people to turn everything off on their way out? ?CONCLUSIONNext StepsBased on this audit, what three things are you going to do to reduce your church energy (electricity or gas) use?In what two ways will you encourage your congregation and other building users to improve their energy efficiency behaviour?Going FurtherIf you have been inspired by this process to investigate how you can save further money and energy, here are two good places to start: ? Encourage the manse occupiers to fill out a home energy audit. ? Get a professional audit: they have the tools to help you plan how to become the most energy efficient possible church building. Additional Notes or Comments ................
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