A Busy First Year
It may help the reader to have a short update on what has been accomplished in our first year!
The Net Zero Churches Project is only 11 months old and already:
Is totally volunteer-led and free to congregations of any denomination or faith group.
Is organized on a regional or diocesan basis, and customized to their local needs, climate, theology and political jurisdiction.
Has involvement from 9 dioceses (5 have named coordinators, 4 are preparing) of the Anglican Church, and congregations from at least two other Anglican dioceses, 1 Lutheran Synod and the Roman Catholic Diocèse de Montréal have requested information.
Is in discussions with Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Alliance Church, United Church and Muslim groups about participating.
Operates in English and French; a French web site will follow as soon as our first francophone region joins.
We have participation from over 30 congregations in our energy or building surveys or our thermal imaging, with 10 more expected per year from each active diocese; as part of this, we are continuously improving our assessment tools and finding new ways to present our findings.
What are the results?
We recently reported to the Diocese of Niagara on the preliminary results of the first 14 congregations, who together emit approximately 195 tonnes of GHG, with a range from 2 tonnes to 50 tonnes.
Meanwhile, we have already:
Helped or encouraged 5 congregations to change their heating and cooling systems, representing some 50-100 tonnes of GHG reductions.
Provided technical support to one case study congregation in Halifax (replacing or repairing their existing ASHP system, which had some problems),
Initiated a study by Concordia University Master’s students of a Montréal congregation (old stone building with hot water heating), and
Provided a training ground for Humber College students who will assess 5 Niagara churches in depth.
Because of our unique role, we have begun discussions with a national service provider to encourage and share their turnkey “heating and cooling as a service” for churches and residences; we are studying this to see if it is financially or technically advantageous to congregations (which generally have limited technical expertise).
There has been some positive media coverage, which has solicited more involvement from congregational leaders. We are beginning to influence diocesan policy in dioceses, based on best practices that we observe from across Canadian church.
Finally, we have provided an extensive page of Practical Solutions and guidance to congregations considering changing their heating systems.
Our biggest challenge
We are currently having trouble finding a financial “home”: we need a diocese or other charitable organisation which will sponsor this ministry and receive donations on our behalf to cover our minimal costs for publicity and training.
What is next?
We will continue to coordinate with the Creation Matters Working Group (Anglican), the Green Churches Network (ecumenical), and keep in communication with Faith and the Common Good, Faithful Footprints, Greening Sacred Spaces, the Laudato Si Movement, A Rocha and other initiatives in the same “market”.
We will continually focus on encouraging action rather than discussion as a practical response to the Climate Emergency.
We hope this gives you a sense of what we are doing, and how we are trying to do it.
Please tell us how we can to assist you in your work and cooperate fruitfully together. Please contact us!
We hope you will be as delighted as we are with what has been accomplished in our first year!
Mark Gibson and Sue Carson, Co-founders.
