About us > Carbon Footprint > Energy Carbon Footprint

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Energy Carbon Footprint

Since 2015 we have been actively recording our energy carbon footprint and taking measures to reduce it in support of both Church of England's initiatives and our own Eco Church pledge.

 
 

Currently the footprint includes gas and electricity use at our two main buildings, the Cathedral and Cathedral House, that together make up the bulk of our energy consumption. Our initial target of a 20% weather-adjusted energy carbon emissions reduction by 2020 against a 2013 base year was achieved a year early in 2019, and as the table below shows, that reduction is now close to 40%.

We aim from 2025 to include emissions for clergy housing energy use and all Cathedral related reimbursable travel, to align with the Church of England net zero carbon 2030 scope. We intend to also adopt a new 2030 target for weather-adjusted emissions against a base year footprint of 2019 for the enlarged scope to ensure a continued focus on energy efficiency in a warming climate.

Energy carbon emissions and energy expenditure/income: Cathedral and Cathedral House

Energy carbon emissions and energy spend 2013-2023: Cathedral and Cathedral House

 

2023

2022

2021

2019

2013

Scope 1 – Gas consumption tCO2e 

59.59

66.91

87.08

92.51

120.87

Scope 2+3 – Purchased grid electricity tCO2e

11.23

9.21

10.33

16.72

46.68

Total energy GHG emissions tCO2e (1)

70.82

76.11

97.41

109.23

167.55

Actual change v 2013 base year

-58%

-55%

-42%

-35%

 

Carbon intensity tCO2/m2 floorspace occupied

0.023

0.024

0.031

0.035

0.054

Total weather-adjusted GHG emissions tCO2e (2)

83.62

92.98

99.03

119.46

151.30

Weather-adjusted change v 2013 base year

-45%

-39%

-35%

-21%

 

Onsite low carbon electricity generation kWh

 

18,598

18,745

18,679

0

Purchased energy expenditure gross 

£37,105

£23,016

£22,820

£30,761

£37,868

FIT income from onsite electricity generation (3)

£1,687

£2,812

£2,576

£2,668

£0

Energy expenditure net of FIT income 

£35,418

£20,204

£20,244

£28,093

£37,868

(1) Applying the relevant UK Government GHG reporting conversion factors to kWh of energy consumed

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2021

(2) Applying also the relevant annual weather adjustment using the Stark heating degree day dataset

https://www.stark.co.uk/degree-days-for-free/

(3) Feed-in tariff (FIT) income earned under the UK microgeneration framework

 

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