Making Your Church Sustainable

A practical guide to getting to net zero

This book was published in 2024 by Canterbury Press. Like the earlier Buildings for Mission, the aim was to demystify church buildings, this time with respect how to respond to the climate crisis. Back in 2020, the Church of England set a really ambitious target of reaching net zero by 2030, and other denominations have followed with their own commitments.

This book aims to help local churches embrace this challenge. It is broken into three sections:

• 1. Principles, including theology, mission, and how to develop a plan;
• 2. Technologies – a basic explanation of how they work, and also which to avoid;
• 3. Process, including both how to appoint the professionals you will need, and how to sustainability fits with the permissions process.

The Blurb from the back cover:

With pressure on budgets, soaring energy costs and an environmental crisis, this small book will be worth its weight in gold to local churches everywhere. It offers expert advice on making church buildings more sustainable, equipping non-professionals to understand sustainability technologies, make informed changes, save time and money, and take meaningful steps towards net zero carbon.

This book demystifies the topic of sustainability and provides a wealth of practical advice both for affordable quick-wins and for more complex projects. It includes guidance on

• developing a plan to suit your church
• improving your maintenance practices
• choosing the right option for heating your church
• where and how to get professional help
• navigating permission processes
• a helpful resources section lists numerous sources of specialist advice and guidance.

This book is relevant for all church buildings, of whatever age. It is comprehensive in scope, authoritative in content, practical in outlook and written in lively, accessible language. No church should be without a copy.