As part of a national Demonstrator Project, one of our churches in the Huddersfield area will be sharing all that they have learned about reaching net zero at a Demonstrator Day on Saturday, September 19.
Christ Church New Mill has had solar panels installed on its grade II listed roof and had its 45-year-old gas boiler replaced with electric infrared heaters, as part of the church’s work to make their building fit for the future.
On their Demonstrator Day the church hopes to share learning from their projects, and support other churches looking to complete similar work of their own.
All churches interested are welcome to attend, with no booking needed.
Between October 2025 and March 2026, the church’s solar panels generated some £900 for the church, producing more electricity than the building uses.
The new heaters, including overhead infrared heaters and under-pew heaters in the choir stalls, have made heating the church more effective, more efficient and cheaper to do, with the church able to be warmer than before at a much-reduced cost thanks to the more controllable heating options.
Thanks to this work the church have effectively reduced their carbon footprint from over 16 tonnes CO2 per annum to around zero.
The church has produced a comprehensive booklet detailing the journey of their work, including the choices they made and why, the trials and triumphs, and what they have learned.
This booklet may be read here.
The national Demonstrator Project from the Church of England provides funding and technical support to churches across the country to help create a network of churches which demonstrate good net zero carbon practice for churches of different types.