Completed by: Rebecca Oliver, Facilities Manager
What is the context of the church?
St Wilfrid Harrogate is a major parish church with a busy parish hall in central Harrogate.
What was your project?
Replacing old lighting with LED lighting.
Why did you do your project?
Our current lighting system is old and there are mixture of bulbs and fittings dating back many decades. Many of the bulbs are halogen or incandescant and very energy inefficient. We wanted to improve lighting levels, make the lighting more consistent throughout the buildings and save money and energy.
How did you do the project? Please tell us a bit about the works.
The works required a List B permission, we liaised with the DAC and the Archdeacon and submitted a plan on the portal which showed existing fittings and locations and then what we were proposing to replace them with. We contracted with our electricians for the works who provided us with a quote, this enabled us to then apply for funding.
How did you fund your project?
We funded the project through a combination of Net Zero Carbon funding following our energy audit and Quick Wins from the Church of England.
What support did you get for your project? Who did you speak to about it?
We received support and advice from the DAC and the NZC funding team.
What went well with your project? What difference is it making?
The project is currently ongoing as it is extremely complicated with light fittings across the site being updated. We have completed the works in the parish hall though and the lighting looks much smarter and brighter, we are hoping to see the difference in our electricity bill soon!
What did you learn during your project? What would you do differently?
We learnt that is important to supply as much information as possible to the funders about the detail of the project in terms of what you are replacing, what you are proposing to replace them with and how this will make a difference. Also it is vital to sort out permissions first before applying for the funding.