Net Zero Carbon 2030: Planning Heating Ahead

One of the most important challenges facing churches today is providing sufficient comfort for the many different users of the building, from worshippers to staff to visitors. Achieving this whilst striving for net zero by 2030 and conserving historic interiors creates specific technical challenges for church buildings.

A church's heating system affects its fabric, its contents, its congregation and its mission. Heating makes up the vast majority – over 80% – of its energy use and carbon footprint. Heating costs money to run, maintain and replace.

There is no universal solution to making a church comfortable, and the key to arriving at a solution that provides reasonable comfort at a reasonable cost and reasonable environmental impact is to devote sufficient time and effort to understanding the particular needs of your own church.

Boiler failure

Every autumn, some churches turn on their heating for the first time only to find that their boiler has ceased to function.

By testing your boiler early on, you will give yourself time to explore possible solutions and prepare your works permissions.

This is important now that the Church of England no longer permits the installation of a gas or oil boiler without a faculty – and then only where other non-fossil fuel options have been fully considered.

Planning ahead

When a church's heating system breaks, rushing to replace a broken gas boiler with a new gas boiler may appear to solve the immediate problem, but it is often a missed opportunity to improve the way a building is heated.

The PCC will need time to think ahead about how the building is used, how it should be heated, and whether there is scope for reducing the building's carbon emissions.

It is recommended to:

• Book your boiler service in good time (annually)
• Consult Church of England web resources on church heating
• View Church of England case studies and webinars on church heating
• Complete the Heating Checklist and Heating Options Appraisal (see below)

Due regard

The Faculty Jurisdiction Rules (from 2022) require parishes and the Lichfield Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) to have 'due regard' to guidance on net zero carbon issued by the Church of England, and this includes all heating applications. This requirement is applicable to both List B and faculty schemes.

From these Rules, the Church of England has directed that the following key pieces of guidance must be given due regard for heating proposals (including boiler replacement). This guidance was updated and reissued in 2025, as follows:

• Practical Guide to Net Zero Carbon for Churches
• Heating Principles
• Heating Checklist (editable Word file)
• Heating Options Appraisals

The Practical Guide to Net Zero Carbon for Churches (previously the 'Practical Path', in a different format) is included in the guidance and this must be given due regard for all proposals, as it provides the context to show that the proposal is part of a wider understanding by the parish of its route to net zero carbon.

Making your case

In the case of all submitted faculty applications – including for emergency boiler works (see below) – the DAC is required to determine whether or not:

• the parish's explanation for the heating system choice, in relation to net zero guidance, is adequate
• and, if not, to clearly state the reasons why it is not adequate

The PCC should therefore take time to carefully consider its proposal and submission ahead.

Application triage

When a parish applies for permission for a new boiler, or a wider heating system, the submitted faculty application will be considered in accordance with the following 'triage' process, as previously agreed by the DAC and Diocesan Chancellor (decision-maker).

Please note that a DAC Heating Adviser is required to give formal (statutory) advice internally in every case, prior to the grant of faculty:

1. Emergency boiler works

Where a boiler – but not including the wider heating system (e.g. radiators) – has completely failed and there is no heat in church, parishes can apply for an interim faculty for emergency works permission. This application process automatically dispenses with the standard 28-day public notice period (required for a faculty).

2. Failed heating system

Where the wider heating system – beyond just the boiler – has failed, the submitted faculty application will be processed under the delegated authority faculty procedure, not requiring it to go to a DAC meeting. This application process allows parishes to seek dispensation from the standard 28-day public notice period.

3. Operational heating system

Where the wider heating system – beyond just the boiler – is still operational, the submitted faculty application will be processed under the delegated authority faculty procedure, not requiring it to go to a DAC meeting. However, this application process requires the standard 28-day public notice period.

Triage summary

* Unless shortened or dispensed with on application

Please note: If a PCC proposes to replace the heating system with a new installation that is deemed to affect the character of a listed church building, then a full faculty will be required, rather than any of the triage routes outlined above. Such applications should be made in accordance with the faculty application process web page of this website.