07/06/2026
The URC has made a commitment to reduce its emissions to zero by 2030 - we can do this by reducing our use of fossil fuels and offsetting the CO2 emissions where this has not been possible.
If you haven’t tried calculating your emissions yet, here are some worked examples, so you can see how to make a start. The largest source of CO2 emissions at present is the burning of gas to heat our churches (at least one church still has an oil fired boiler). So for a simple calculation, let’s just focus on the gas consumption for a few churches in our Synod. I’m using the Climate Stewards calculator which can be found online, simply type in the following web address: 360carbon.org
2025 carbon footprint for Trinity-Henleaze URC, Bristol
Gas consumption = 100,616 kWh this equates to 21.45 tCO2
to offset this will cost £526.23
2025 carbon footprint for Tavistock URC
Gas consumption = 36941 kWh this equates to 7.88 tCO2
to offset this will cost £196.88
2025 carbon footprint for Lavington URC, Bideford
Gas consumption = 18860.2 kWh.
Hall electricity = 4887.0 kWh. Church electricity = 3665.8 kWh
Gas only equates to 4.02 tCO2
to offset this will cost £100.53
2025 carbon footprint for Muddiford URC, near Barnstaple
During the year we ordered 10 cylinders of propane gas each containing 47kg. Gas consumption equates to 1.55 tCO2
to offset this will cost £38.63
You can see that the size of your buildings and the amount of use, really affects the amount of heating required and the amount of carbon emissions (measured in tonnes of tCO2). Trinity-Henleaze has a church sanctuary and two other premises that are in regular use by the community, one of our largest churches in the Synod. Tavistock has a church hall underneath the sanctuary area, both spaces are used throughout the week for church and community activities (6 or 7 days a week). Lavington has a church hall which has gas fired heating but is smaller than the sanctuary and has secondary glazing, in the winter months we hold our worship in the church hall to reduce the electricity bill for the church (which only has electric heaters). Muddiford is a small chapel and is predominantly used for worship on Sundays, it is not on mains gas but as it only has a small space to heat, the CO2 emissions are lower than many churches.
I should make it clear that Climate Stewards would recommend that you also calculate the carbon emissions from your Minister’s travel (this will be less if they have an electric car), from your church activities. I have chosen to focus on the area of highest impact as this is a good starting point for us all.
https://www.urcsouthwest.org.uk/net-zero-calculations-making-a-start/
