Diocese of Oxford to invest £10m in clergy housing
Oxford Diocesan Synod members debate the proposals, 11 June 2022 The Diocese of Oxford has approved £10 million expenditure on environmental works to improve the carbon footprint of vicarages and better care for its clergy. The investment is part of an ambitious plan by the diocese to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2035. The diocese surveyed 427 clergy houses during the last year to establish a carbon baseline for the properties. A net zero retrofit housing strategy will now set about improving the energy and heating efficiency of vicarages. Solar panels have already been fitted to over 50 properties, but the diocese now plans to do significantly more by addressing the energy loss from its vicarages and prepare for improvements in heat pump technology. Project implementation starts in late 2022, ramping up in 2023, with environmental works to clergy housing in the diocese. This will include the installation of long-term heat demand reduction measures including wall, floor and roof insulation, and improved window and door draft proofing. By 2024 the programme accelerates significantly again to see major improvements to vicarages across the diocesan portfolio including solar panels and additional insulation. As heat pump technology improves, fossil fuel boilers will be replaced with heat pumps. Speaking at Oxford Diocesan Synod, where the plan was approved at the weekend, The Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford, said; “The target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees is already slipping away from us. Society has only a limited time to act but we should be in no doubt whatsoever that there is a strong and deep possibility of change if we act now. The Church of England can play a key part in the journey to net zero through example and leadership, but this must be through actions as well as through our words. This is a major investment by the Diocese of Oxford towards achieving our net zero carbon emissions target. The investment we are making is also vital to the credibility of our other environmental programmes. We hope that many others will take notice of such a major investment and the need to care for creation now. Parishes will not need to raise new funds for the Net Zero Housing Strategy. Listen to Bishop Steven talking about the investment on United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) Radio Notes for editors
What has the Diocese of Oxford done so far?
For media enquiries, please contact the press office on 01865 208 277 (out of hours 07824 906 839) or email communications@oxford.anglican.org. |