Scotland’s bishops have said parishes should use LED lights and get energy from renewable sources in a document released on the 7th anniversary of Pope Francis’ Laudato si encyclical.
The Scottish Bishops’ Conference’s Care of Creation new Practical Programme document gives a plan for how parishes can improve their carbon footprint, such as fitting smart metres.
Within 30 months, parishes will plan to ‘survey all buildings to establish what can be done to install renewable energy sources and reduce energy usage and prioritise the outcome’ and ‘obtain quotations for window replacements’.
In the long term, defined as within 60 months, parishes are set to replace all energy supplies to renewable options and fit solar panels and replacement windows.
The announcement is part of a larger move to make the Church more renewable, which last year divested all of its carbon investments.