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Last updated 2nd August 2024

Energy Footprint Tool

The Church of England's Energy Footprint Tool has closed for churches to enter fuel and power use from 2023.

Thank you to those from the 176 churches (67% of the diocese) that had completed their 2023 EFT by the 31st July 2024 deadline

The data provided will be used to inform the diocesan net zero action plan, an update of which will be shared at October's Diocesan Synod

The collection of 2024 energy use data collection is expected to open in Janaury 2025 

The data collected from the tool will help your church understand its carbon footprint and will mean you may be eligible for grants to help kickstart your net zero projects.

The work is an essential part of caring for God's creation by helping to combat global heating and climate change.

The easy-to-use online tool will tell your church what your carbon footprint is, based on the energy you use to heat and light your buildings. 

What do I have to do?

Simply enter your church's energy figures from the year before.  Once you have entered all the data, you will immediately receive a report and results onyour computer or smartphone.

This includes:

  • The church's carbon footprint in CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent)
  • A simple assessment of your buildings' efficiency in graphical form

What do I need to get started?

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 2024, you will need your 2023 bills.  If you have solar panels, find information on their generation over the preceding year.

If you have a separate church hall you will need to add this building and enter the bills for this too.  If you want to exclude an area which is permanently rented out to tenants and sub-meretered, you will want this information to hand.

For most churches, we already know the floor area.  If we don't already hold this information, you will need a sensible estimate of the m2 floor area of the church and any other associated buildings you are inputting such as the church hall.

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 as long as they are in a relevant ball park.

The system is open until 31 July and you can find it on the online Parish Returns System: Parish Returns Online (churchofengland.org)

67% of churches had completed their 2023 EFT by 31st July 2024

Where can I find Resources to Help?

The following are resources to help you complete your return:

If you need any help filling in the EFT, please contact Joy Rushton: joy.rushton@blackburn.anglican.org

At Diocese and national level a high completion rate helps us know our carbon baseline - where we are starting from - and how much progress we are making.

58% of churches provided their EFT data for 2022

Completing your EFT helps to unlock national church funding for eco-projects in your church

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