Installation of insulation in a community village church hall
Posted by Sarah, Celtic Sustainables on 27th Apr 2022
A project to insulate the wooden cavity walls of the Holy Trinity Church Hall in Nailsea following an energy efficiency survey.
Reverend Kevan, who helps to run the Holy Trinity Church Hall in Nailsea near Bristol, explains how he secured a grant from the Thrive Renewables Community Benefit Programme through the Centre of Sustainable Energy. We got in contact with Reverend Kevan so he could explain the project to insulate the wooden cavity walls of the church hall and make it more energy efficient.
The Hall is no longer used by the church for its activities, it is now made available for community use. Running regular classes and offering a space for pre-school activities for young children. It is also regularly hired by the Girl Guides and Brownies, Jazz and Tap-dancing and ballet groups. A ballroom and Flamenco class also enjoys the sprung wooden floor which has a high-gloss finish. At the weekends it is available for hire and is becoming popular for children's parties. The hall is a vital ‘hub’ for the whole community and it’s paramount that sustainable, energy efficient improvements are carried out routinely to sustain the longevity of the building.
Insulat
“We undertook an energy efficiency survey as part of our commitment to Eco-Church and to make grant applications easier and to see how we might save energy long term.” Reverend Kevan
After searching online for sustainable energy grants, Reverend Kevan found The Centre of Sustainable Energy. The process was simple, and after completing the survey, the form and application was complete.
The Centre of Sustainable Energy is a Bristol-based national charity, founded in 1979, that helps people change the way they think and act on energy. They help thousands of people a year cut their bills and make their home more energy efficient. There are grants available towards the cost of making your home more energy efficient. You may be able to get a grant towards the cost of a new boiler, heating system, low carbon heating system or insulation. To benefit from the ECO grants, visit the CSE website and fill out their online form, your first step to save on energy and cut bills.
“Insulating your cavity walls is a simple and effective way to reduce your heating bills – and have a warmer home, you'll very quickly recover the costs" CSE*
Once the grant was confirmed, Reverend Kevan set out on ordering natural sheep’s wool insulation which is perfect for the wooden community hall’s cavity walls. Cosywool insulation offers better all-round performance compared to conventional insulation. It can be handled and cut to size easily. He ordered the 75 x 570mm size to fit snuggly between the wooden wall studs. After the insulation rolls where delivered it was a simple and quick process to fit them into position.
Choosing natural fibre insulation is the perfect choice for the community hall because it also has fantastic acoustic values. The insulation is easy to handle, fully treated to be fire safe and is manufactured here in the UK.
Reverend Kevan liked the idea of using a sustainable material, with natural fibres rather than products using chemicals or oil based. The whole structure is made of timber, with wood cladding and is carbon negative. The hall committee hope to make further improvements to the building in 2022 including improvements to protect it from rainstorms.
More info about Cavity Wall Insulation
“About a third of all the heat lost in an uninsulated home escape through the walls. By properly insulating cavity walls, you will save energy and cut costs off your heating bill” – Energy Saving Trust
The Energy Saving trust is working to address the climate emergency. They are a British organization devoted to promoting energy efficiency, energy conservation, and the sustainable use of energy, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and helping to prevent manmade climate change. Their website has an abundance of helpful guides to help you if you are experiencing issues with your cavity wall insulation, they have tips on how to help you identify what wall type you have and how insulation can help.
In general, houses built from the 1990s onwards have wall insulation to keep the heat in, but if your house is older than that, it may not have any wall insulation at all.
The Centre for Sustainable Energy says that your home will be suitable for cavity wall insulation if:
- The external walls are unfilled cavity walls
- The masonry and/or brick work is in good condition
- Your cavity is at least 35mm wide (or 50mm for some forms of insulation)
* But where the following situations apply, and where no remedial action is appropriate, cavity wall insulation should not be installed .
- Poor maintenance or structural issues like cracks in the walls
- Non-traditional construction
- Cavity widths of less than 50mm. These are often categorised as ‘hard-to-treat’ cavities for which insulation systems do exist
- Dirty cavities, dirty wall-ties, or builder’s rubble in the cavity
- Exposed locations, particularly where the outside walls are exposed to extreme weather and driving rain
- Overflowing or blocked guttering
To read more about cavity wall insulation on the CSE website.
What is an Eco Church?
Eco church is a practical tool for Christian communities to embark on a process of ecological conversion, you can learn more here: https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/frequently-asked-questions/ Essentially, the Eco Church scheme is run by A Rochas UK’s to help Churches in England and Wales identify ways to improve the how they are caring for the Earth. It is a a non-profit organization based in England and provides an award scheme for churches when they reach required standards covered by the Eco Survey (an online tool).
Advice about Insulation Grants and Loans
The Centre of Sustainable Energy is just one charity that can help you with energy saving grants, there are many more nationwide. Follow Reverend Kevan’s example and do a quick online search of the type of help you need and your location to find out what is available near you.
The Energy Saving trust can also help direct you to grants and loans to help make your home more energy efficient, reduce your carbon emissions and lower your energy bills. https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/energy-at-home/
Confused about the spring budget and who is eligible for the zero VAT on insulation? You’re not alone! We’ve put together a helpful guide to help you understand the details about the budget plan. Read the article here.
The company that Reverend Kevan obtained the community grant from - Thrive Renewables - is an energy investment company which connects people to sustainable energy. They offer accessible opportunities for individuals and businesses to have a meaningful stake in clean energy projects. They’ve been building and operating renewable energy projects in the UK since 1994. Their website is full of useful information https://www.thriverenewables.co.uk
To learn more about the Holy Trinity Nailsea and how to hire rooms visit their page https://www.htnailsea.org.uk/rooms-for-hire/