Contents
- How does the EFT work and why should I do it?
- What benefit is it?
- What information you will need.
- Is the cost of the electricity and Gas per kWh or the total bill charge (which would include daily standing charge and VAT) required?
- Who looks at the data?
- Once we know our carbon footprint, what next?
- Cutting energy costs:
How does the EFT work and why should I do it?
The EFT is a national database used to record energy use and to calculate the in-scope carbon emissions of our activities. To find out how it works, read the instructions sheet here, or watch a short instructional video, created in 2025 by Matt Lockwood from the Diocese of Portsmouth. For background information, watch the Eco Church webinar on Net Zero Carbon at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbXYnqGUmzo
When you input your energy use, the Energy Footprint Tool will tell you the amount of carbon produced annually by heating and lighting around your church buildings. There are two useful graphs that show you your efficiency scores: one for energy efficiency based on building size and one based on attendance/use. It can take account of separate buildings such as church halls, as long as you have the utility bills for them.
What benefit is it?
The EFT helps reduce your church’s contribution to climate change and demonstrates care for Creation, as part of the Fifth Mark of Mission of the Anglican Communion. Across the world, people are being affected by drought, flood and fire and we are seeing this more and more, even in the UK. Every little bit we can do helps, and it also changes the tide of public opinion.
Here is a link to the Church of England's perspective.
What information do you need?
You will need your utility bills for the year before; electricity, gas, oil, or whichever other fuel you use.
For example, if you are completing it in 2025, you need your 2024 bills (from around 1st Jan 2024 to 31st Dec 2024). If you have solar panels, please input information on their generation over 2024.
If you want to include a separately metered church hall or other building, then you need the bills for this too. If you want to exclude an area which is permanently rented out to tenants and sub-metered, you will want this information to hand.
You can find a paper copy of the questions here.
You will also need a sensible estimate of the number of person-hours that the church is used throughout the year. Please remember when entering this data that a good estimate is fine – these numbers do not need to be 100% accurate, and as long as they are in a relevant 'ball park'.
Yes! On the form, you will have to enter the name of the supplier, as well as the kWh of electricity purchased for 2024 and the cost of the electricity.
Similarly, for gas or oil, enter the name of the supplier, the amount purchased, specifying the units (whether kWh or cu metres or 100s cu feet or litres of oil) and the cost of the gas/oil.
These can be done by recording the values at the start of the year and at the end from your meters, OR from your bills OR by submitting how much you paid. If you submit your bill charge, the amount you actually use will be taken into account. NB. In order to save money, please check - did you pay VAT at the reduced rate for churches/charities and were you mistakenly charged the Climate Change levy?
Who looks at the data?
Data is analysed by the Research and Statistics unit of the Church of England. We also look at many of the local EFT parish returns. This helps the diocese to see what progress we are making towards our 2030 target. It also helps us as we try to identify and offer support and other resources to our churches right across the diocese, to help you identify appropriate energy savings measures and to cut your carbon emissions.
Once we know our carbon footprint, what next?
The tool also offers some helpful tips to reduce your carbon emissions. Using the tool each year will help you to track the impact of the different steps you are taking to reduce your carbon footprint.
You can use the Practical Path to Net Zero Carbon to plan your action, and the Net Zero Carbon church webpage to get information. Refer to the Church of England's net-zero carbon webinar programme and see how Parish Buying can support you. You might want to contact the Net Zero Carbon - Project Officer for support and ideas.
You may find this page on the Church of England website useful to share with your parishes this winter: Heating your church this winter | The Church of England. We have also produced local resources which you can find here: Coventry Diocese's Net Zero Resources.