Client: Church of England
Services: Carbon Management | Heat Decarbonisation | Energy Modelling | Sustainability Strategy
Overview
In 2020, the Church of England announced its commitment to achieving net zero carbon by 2030. QODA was appointed to develop a roadmap for decarbonising operations across a portfolio of 39 cathedrals and 30 See (Bishop’s) houses, representing some of the most historically significant and sensitive buildings in the UK.
Project vision
The aim was to dramatically reduce operational carbon emissions while preserving the heritage value of these iconic buildings. QODA’s strategy focused on practical, phased interventions that balance sustainability with conservation.
Key features
QODA applied a hierarchical approach to net zero, prioritising:
- Energy Demand Reduction – improving building fabric performance.
- Low Carbon Heating Systems – replacing fossil fuel systems with heat pumps.
- Efficient Lighting & Appliances – reducing energy consumption.
- On-Site Renewables – installing solar PV where feasible.
- Carbon Offsets – as a last resort for residual emissions.
QODA applied a hierarchical approach to net zero, prioritising:
- Surveys & Data Analysis: Documented existing building fabric, services, and energy use.
- Improvement Options: Identified measures such as airtightness upgrades, insulation, glazing improvements, and low-carbon heating technologies (air, ground, and water source heat pumps).
- Renewable Integration: Assessed feasibility of solar PV installations.
- Performance Modelling: Used in-house tools to calculate energy and carbon savings, rank options by cost-effectiveness, and evaluate cumulative emissions over 20 years.
QODA’s role
As part of our appointment, QODA conducted a comprehensive assessment of operational carbon across the Church of England’s estate, totalling 9,067 tonnes CO₂e per annum. We produced detailed Heat Decarbonisation Plans and carbon reduction studies for both cathedral buildings and See Houses, identifying practical measures that could deliver up to 75% on-site carbon reduction for cathedrals and up to 92% for See Houses—without relying on offsets. Our recommendations directly supported successful Salix funding applications for capital works, and we provided energy modelling and retrofit strategies to guide long-term sustainability planning.
Impact
The study equips the Church of England with a clear, evidence-based roadmap to achieve its 2030 net zero target. It demonstrates how heritage buildings can transition to low-carbon operation through sensitive, technically robust interventions.
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