Results of the 2023 Warmth Survey

In heating the Cathedral, we work to ensure a comfortable environment for worshipper and visitor alike whilst making every effort to reduce our carbon emissions and heating bills. All are important aspects of our work and witness.

Our first annual Warmth Survey conducted in 2022 asked you how it felt in the Cathedral and how the heating might be adjusted to lower our energy use (and bills). In response to that survey, the Cathedral reduced the heating setting by 2 degrees to 16 degrees and delayed turning on the heating until 1 November. Both actions made a significant contribution to containing our energy bills in a very difficult market.

Over the past 10 years, the Cathedral has reduced its carbon emissions by 55% (39% weather adjusted). Chapter continues to make small, but effective interventions to decrease this further. Last year, in addition to lowering the temperature we: sealed all and added temporary secondary glazing to some windows in the Nave; trialled some electrically heated cushions; completed the LED fitting for all lighting in Cathedral House and generally continued to monitor our energy use to maximise efficiency.

And to the results of the 2023 survey …. this year saw even more of you returning completed questionnaires – thank you so much for taking the time to do this.

No one was in favour of returning the temperature back up to 18 degrees with 62% of respondent reported adding more layers of clothing during the winter months and 35% reporting that they felt no difference. 19% reported at least trying the heated cushions during the year with 17% saying that the Cathedral might think about deploying more such cushions in the future.

One respondent reported that even with the reductions “… compared to other cathedrals - this is without doubt the warmest!" While another respondent felt that any decrease in temperature was a “minor inconvenience … in efforts to save money and go "green."

Only 12% of respondents noticed a reduction in draughtiness over the year. We will continue to look at steps we can take to improve on that.

For 2023/24 we will again delay turning on the heating until 1 November and continue to set the thermostat at 16 degrees. Our Heating Feasibility Study, made possible by support from the Friends of Portsmouth Cathedral, will be completed in October 2023. The results of this report will help to inform options for replacing the ageing and inefficient Cathedral boilers.