"They gathered together on a sunny July evening, between the churchyard's trees and leaning tombstones, to give thanks for the heat pump. Facing the newly installed system, in its large green metal box, they sang hymns and said prayers. "To thank God, really, for being able to work His wonders in mysterious ways," says Karen Crowhurst, who is part of a committee that helps to run St. Mary's Church in Lawford, Essex, in the United Kingdom."
"'It's about caring for other people,' says Kat Jones, from a committee that plans ecofriendly initiatives at the parish church in Milton of Campsie, a village north of Glasgow in Scotland. Many of those currently suffering the worst effects of climate change live in countries that are not responsible for the vast majority of emissions, she explains. Milton of Campsie's new-build church has triple glazing and an air source heat pump."
"The previous month, a flatbed truck carrying a hefty new heat pump system had eased itself onto the church grounds. By late July, the device was fully installed, and soon followed an outdoor thanksgiving service. Parts of St. Mary's date back to the 13th century. In more recent times, the building was heated by a wood chip boiler that had become expensive to run and sometimes clogged up."
Historic churches across Britain are replacing oil, gas, or aging wood-chip heating systems with electric heat pumps to reduce costs and carbon emissions. Congregations and parish committees often frame installations as acts of Christian stewardship and community care. Projects range from new-build churches with triple glazing and air-source pumps to centuries-old stone buildings requiring sensitive retrofits. Installations can be technically and logistically challenging because many places of worship are large, uninsulated, or subject to heritage constraints. Successful retrofits include community fundraising, planning, and adapted systems that deliver reliable warmth and lower operating expenses.
Read at WIRED
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