UK Churches Shift Support To Renewable Energy Sources

It is not surprising that there is ongoing support from people to see changes that will benefit the environment. After all, you only need to look at plastic as an example and see how public mood is changing towards it and businesses are switching to biodegradable substitutes. No matter where you live in the UK – from Surrey to Cumbria – renewable energy is being readily adopted by different organisations.

The BBC reports that over 5,500 churches in the UK are making a switch to more sustainable forms of power. The Church of England suggested that different places of worship were now using 100 per cent renewable electricity.

You will find that the significant reduction in fossil fuels is not only a friendlier option that many people would support, but also a benefit for services that specialise in renewable energy. In fact, it is believed that the electricity bill for an average church in the country is around £1,000, with the change to renewables sources providing £5m to energy providers.

Bishop of Salisbury Nicholas Holtam, who is the lead bishop for the Church of England on the environment, commented: “It’s fantastic to see churches doing their bit to ensure they reduce their impact on the environment. They are also giving a boost to clean energy, which is essential to reduce harmful carbon emissions.

“Switching to responsible sources of electricity may seem like a small thing on its own, but when joined together it can make a real difference.”

You might find it interesting that a religious institution has changed the way it is being powered, especially as the spotlight can usually fall on how people and businesses can do more to improve the environment. There are many people that will openly welcome the change and hope that more religious organisations consider taking a similar route.

You will know that there is an interest for more businesses to adopt different forms of energy, whether it is solar and wind power or hydroelectricity and biomass. However, the UK is not the only place in the world that is introducing plans that will have both a short and long-term impact.

According to the Guardian, a $1bn plan has been launched in Australia to support more sustainable forms of power. UK billionaire and Liberty House Group founder Sanjeev Gupta is spearheading the initiative, which will introduce 780,000 solar panels with enough power to produce electricity for 96,000 homes.

Mr Gupta commented: “We believe the world is undergoing a momentous transition to renewable power as the cost of renewables drops dramatically and quickly.”

What is interesting about the project is that it has many branches to it, specifically for how Mr Gupta plans to introduce expanded solar farms and lithium-ion battery. The initiative will be used in his own business, too, with the Whyalla Steelworks to have a co-generation scheme that will use waste gas.

There is no doubt that both the changes introduced to churches in the UK and the initiative launched in Australia highlight that more forms of renewable energy are being embraced and integrated in a way that could see fossil fuel usage drop significantly in no time.