Three vicarages across the Diocese of Worcester have been fitted with solar panels following an environmental audit. The vicarages at St. Mark’s in the Cherry Orchard, Lindridge and Amblecote have all had the panels installed, along with new energy efficient boilers, hot water cylinders and additional cavity wall and loft insulation wherever appropriate.

The audit was completed by Marches Energy Agency and the work co-sponsored by Worcester Bosch, Knauf Insulation and the Energy Saving Trust. It is part of a national trial to gather data on the benefits of energy improvements in vicarages. It is hoped that the changes will enable vicars to significantly reduce their energy bills as well as saving a considerable amount of CO2. 

The Revd Duncan Ballard, Vicar of St. Mark’s in the Cherry Orchard in Worcester is one of those benefiting from the changes. He said: “The solar panels were installed in early August together with the new boiler – it took just a couple of days without any disruption in the house. We’re already saving about a third on our bills from this time last year and the savings should increase during the winter months. The best thing is that we can have hot showers in the mornings and evenings and know that it hasn’t cost anything because the water is heated by the sun. We could just do with a bit more sunshine!”

On a really hot day, the temperature of the water will be around 45°C, when it’s more cloudy it’s around 20°C so needs a bit of support from the boiler, which happens automatically. This is just the first of a series of changes being made to clergy housing as part of the diocese’s commitment to reducing the carbon. It is hoped that solar panels will shortly be installed in vicarage in Clifton, which will also be the first vicarage to be heated by a wood pellet boiler (the vicarage is in a conservation area so planning permission is currently being sought).

ENDS

The Diocese of Worcester is one of 44 dioceses in the Church of England. It covers an area of 671 square miles and includes parishes in the County of Worcestershire, the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, and a few parishes in northern Gloucestershire, south east Wolverhampton and Sandwell.