Sustainable heating is key to sustaining our heritage

by Paul Trew of MTA Associates

St Michael and All Angels Church, Berwick (left) and Leicester Cathedral (right)

[ECCLESIASTICAL BUILDINGS have been the ‘warm hearth’ in the centre of our communities for generations. The oftentimes awe-inspiring architecture engenders a deep emotional connection to our past while simultaneously helping us to appreciate and understand more of our present. Providing the stable foundations of reliable dependability and holding us upright in times of uncertainty, those buildings provide a space for us to come together, to share our faith and our hopes for the future.

Our responsibility as the custodians of that heritage is to ensure those buildings remain useful and functional, so that future generations can benefit from that same sense of enhanced wellbeing and improved quality of life.

To ensure those buildings do not fall into disrepair and become derelict, thermal improvements should always be considered when major works are planned. Heating them is energy intensive; and with the drive towards net-zero at the forefront of the building services industry the unique challenges of aesthetics and the conflict between comfort heating, conservation and environmental control requires a compassionate understanding.

As aging technologies fade out of use as either too expensive or high in energy consumption and carbon emissions, how can we provide a solution that is both sustainable and affordable – yet preserves the historical fabric which is so important?

The main objectives are reducing upfront energy use, reducing carbon emissions, improving comfort levels for the congregation and complying with statutory requirements. In order to do that, we must reduce base energy use as much as practicable through correct zoning, using smart technologies and controls to tailor the energy use and using renewable energy as sources for heating as often as possible.

As each building has its own unique personality, each project has its own objectives which must be considered before any design work can take place. There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. We must consider the size of the building and the frequency of use. Is there a large congregation or a small congregation? Are services daily, weekly or bi-weekly?

There can be a building fabric conservation benefit to maintaining a background temperature within buildings to preserve sensitive finishes or furniture; however, an ‘energy penalty’ may be inadvertently created in a building only used once a week. Alternatives can be to use ‘fast response’ methods such as hot air blowers or heated pews; however, they can become expensive if left on for too long.

We must ask if there are any existing aspects that can be utilised? Are there any areas where the draft-proofing can be improved, or where