View of a power plant with smoke emissions under a cloudy sky, depicting industrial energy production.

February 2025 Eco Church Update

Beaminster ECO Church Report on the Carbon Zero Project for St Mary’s Church building for 2024.

Figures proved very difficult to work out from the Octopus website data. One problem being the commercial gas meter which cannot be replaced by a smart meter until we have a Gas Safe Registered Engineer assess the peak flow gas demand. We may then be able to have a smart meter.

January started with having to rely on the gas boiler as a part failure in one ASHP needed replacing (fortunately under guarantee). This increase January gas to 6299kWh. Since then, our ASHPs have been working well.

Winter heating around 18 degrees enables the church to be a warm space for the community and groups during the week as well as for services.

2024 Octopus figures showed we imported 17230 kWh electricity and 16183 kWh gas (both on a green tariff) totalling 33413 kWh. The cost was £4439.5 electricity and £1525.41 gas totalling £5,964.91.

Our export to the grid for 2024 was 8298 kWh for which we received £1167.48. Accounting for this, energy cost us £4797.43.

Our solar panels produced 12860 kWh for the year, of which some was used by our ASHPs. The 2024 total CO2 emissions saved 5801.03 kg equalling 351 trees planted.

Good news, we have been awarded the grant of £200 by BAEG towards the Top Bar Beehive to go in the churchyard.

Please support Fair Trade farmers struggling with climate change by buying their goods. Fair Trade Coffee Morning with stalls at St Mary’s Church, Beaminster Saturday 8 March, 10:00 – 12:00.

Gillian Perrott