INSIGHTS & GUIDES
The Environmental Benefits of Switching Your Church to Infrared Heating
For churches and places of worship, reducing heating energy use is particularly challenging. Large internal volumes, high ceilings, historic construction and intermittent occupancy can make conventional whole-building heating difficult to manage efficiently.
At the same time, churches are increasingly considering how their buildings can reduce reliance on fossil fuels and use energy more carefully without compromising the comfort of congregations or the character of historic interiors.
Infrared heating offers a different approach. Instead of relying primarily on warming large volumes of air, radiant heaters can be designed around the people and occupied areas that actually require warmth.
Quick Answer
Can Infrared Heating Make Church Heating More Sustainable?
Infrared heating can form part of a lower-energy, lower-carbon church heating strategy where it allows heat to be targeted and controlled more effectively.
Because the system is electric, there is no combustion at the heater itself. Individual areas can also be divided into heating zones, allowing a church to match heating more closely to occupancy rather than automatically treating the entire building as one space.
The environmental result depends on the building, electricity supply, system design, controls and the heating system being replaced.
Why Church Heating Presents an Environmental Challenge
Many churches use conventional systems such as gas-fired boilers and radiators, oil heating, warm-air systems or electric convection heaters.
The challenge is not simply the type of heater. The size and usage pattern of the building can make heating inherently demanding.
01
Large Internal Volumes
High ceilings and substantial open spaces can make whole-building heating energy intensive.
02
Intermittent Occupancy
A church may be occupied for services and events but remain largely unused for substantial periods.
03
Historic Buildings
Traditional construction and heritage considerations can limit straightforward building and heating alterations.
Fossil-Fuel Heating
Gas and oil heating systems burn fuel at the property and therefore produce emissions during operation.
Churches considering a move away from fossil-fuel heating may therefore look towards electric alternatives as part of a wider decarbonisation strategy.
Heating Large Volumes of Air
Conventional convection-based systems primarily heat the surrounding air. Warm air rises, which can be problematic in buildings with particularly high ceilings where the occupied area is at floor level.
This makes the method used to deliver warmth an important consideration when designing a church heating system.
Whole-Building Control
Heating an entire church for a small weekday service, choir rehearsal or meeting may use more energy than necessary where only a limited area is occupied.
This is one reason zoning can be particularly valuable in places of worship.
How Infrared Heating Can Reduce Environmental Impact
Far infrared heating uses radiant energy to warm people and surrounding surfaces rather than relying primarily on circulating heated air.
For a church, the environmental opportunity comes from combining that heating method with appropriate positioning, zoning and control.
01
Targeted Heating
Rather than automatically heating the entire internal volume of the church to the same level, infrared heaters can be positioned according to the areas where warmth is required.
Where this allows unnecessary heating to be reduced, overall energy demand may also be reduced.
02
Heating Zones
A church can be divided into appropriate heating zones so that different areas are controlled according to how they are used.
Depending on the layout, these might include:
- Congregational seating areas
- The sanctuary or chancel
- Side chapels
- Choir areas
- Meeting or community rooms
Each zone requires appropriate heaters and controls; one thermostat should not be assumed to control multiple independently managed areas.
03
Heating Around Occupancy
Churches often have highly variable occupancy patterns.
A Sunday service, weekday meeting, choir rehearsal and major event may each use different parts of the building.
Designing heating around those patterns can help avoid operating heating in areas that are not required.
04
Electric Heating Without On-Site Combustion
Infrared heaters operate using electricity and do not burn gas or oil at the heater itself.
This removes combustion at the point of heating and can form part of a church's move away from an on-site fossil-fuel heating system.
It is important to distinguish this from claiming that electric heating is automatically zero-carbon. The operational carbon impact also depends on how the electricity is generated and how much is consumed.
05
Simpler Heating Infrastructure
Electric infrared heating does not require the same boiler, fuel-storage or wet central-heating infrastructure associated with some traditional systems.
The installation requirements will depend on the heaters selected, electrical design and the particular church building.
Church Heating
Planning a new system? Learn more about our dedicated church heating solutions, including infrared heating designed for places of worship and heritage environments.
Infrared Heating for Heritage and Listed Churches
Heating a historic church requires more than choosing the correct wattage. The appearance of the installation, mounting positions, electrical routes and impact on historic fabric can all be important considerations.
Infrared heating can offer useful design flexibility because systems can be planned without the pipework and wet heating infrastructure associated with conventional radiator systems.
Discreet Heating Design
Heater type and positioning can be selected with the character and sightlines of the church in mind.
No Wet Pipework
Electric infrared heating does not require a conventional network of hot-water pipes and radiators.
Zoned Installation
Heating can be designed around individual areas instead of assuming the entire building must operate as one zone.
Project-Specific Planning
Mounting and electrical arrangements can be considered around the particular architecture and restrictions of the building.
Heritage Buildings
Listed and historic churches can be subject to specific permissions and restrictions. Heating proposals should therefore be considered on a project-by-project basis rather than assuming that any particular installation method will automatically be suitable.
Infrared Church Heating and Renewable Electricity
Because infrared heating is electric, it can form part of a wider energy strategy that incorporates renewable electricity.
For a church with solar PV, electricity generated on site may contribute towards the building's electrical demand when generation and heating demand coincide.
This does not mean solar PV will automatically provide all of the electricity required for heating. The relationship between generation, building demand, heating schedules and any energy storage needs to be considered as part of the overall project.
Nevertheless, moving heating demand to electricity creates the opportunity for that demand to be supplied increasingly from renewable sources.
Supporting a Wider Church Sustainability Strategy
Heating is only one part of making a church building more sustainable.
A strong energy strategy may also consider building heat loss, controls, renewable generation, electricity use and how frequently different areas of the church are occupied.
Infrared heating can fit into that strategy by allowing the heating design to focus more closely on where warmth is needed and when it is needed.
Think Beyond the Heater
A Sustainable Church Heating Project Starts with the Building
Changing heating technology alone does not guarantee a particular reduction in energy consumption or carbon emissions.
Before specifying a system, consider:
- The dimensions and construction of the church
- Existing heat loss and insulation
- Ceiling height and internal volume
- Which areas are actually occupied
- How often services and events take place
- Whether separate heating zones are appropriate
- The electrical supply available
- Heritage and installation restrictions
- Any existing or planned renewable generation
The aim is to design the heating around the way the church actually operates rather than simply replacing one heater with another.
Balancing Cost and Environmental Performance
Environmental performance and financial performance are closely connected because unnecessary energy consumption affects both.
The initial cost of moving to infrared heating needs to be considered alongside the electrical installation, controls, expected operating pattern and any work required by the building.
Potential advantages of an appropriately designed system include:
- Heating individual areas or zones according to occupancy
- Reducing reliance on on-site fossil-fuel heating
- Electric operation that can work alongside renewable generation
- Avoiding conventional boiler and wet radiator infrastructure
- Flexible system design for intermittently occupied buildings
Actual running costs and environmental outcomes will vary between churches, which is why accurate system sizing is essential.
Church Infrared Heating FAQs
Is infrared heating environmentally friendly for churches?
Infrared heating can support a lower-energy and lower-carbon strategy where targeted heating, zoning and appropriate controls reduce unnecessary energy use. The overall environmental impact depends on electricity source, consumption and the system being replaced.
Can infrared heating replace a church gas boiler?
Infrared can be designed as an electric heating solution for churches, but the appropriate system depends on the building, heating requirement, electrical supply, occupancy and installation constraints. Larger projects should be assessed individually.
Can we heat only part of the church?
One of the useful features of infrared heating is the ability to design separate heating zones where the building layout and installation allow it. This can be particularly relevant for smaller services, meetings and rehearsals.
Is infrared heating suitable for listed churches?
It can be considered for listed and historic buildings, but installation must take account of the individual church and any applicable permissions or heritage restrictions.
Can church infrared heating work with solar panels?
Yes. Infrared heating uses electricity, so on-site solar generation can contribute towards the church's electrical demand when available. The solar system and heating requirement should be considered together rather than assuming solar generation will cover the complete heating load.
How do we calculate how much infrared heating our church needs?
Heating requirements depend on the size, height, construction and use of the building. Our Wattage Calculator provides a useful starting point, while larger church projects may benefit from a project-specific assessment.
Church & Heritage Heating
Planning a More Sustainable Heating System for Your Church?
Start with the heating requirement and how the church is actually used. From there, the system can be designed around suitable heater outputs, positioning, zones and controls.
- Explore church heaters: Explore our eco friendly church heating range.
- Estimate the heating requirement: Use our Wattage Calculator to size your system accurately.
- Discuss your church: Contact our team for advice on zoning, design and your project requirements.
A Different Approach to Sustainable Church Heating
Infrared heating gives churches an alternative to heating large internal spaces primarily through warmed air.
Its environmental potential comes from the ability to combine electric heating with targeted radiant warmth, appropriate zoning and controls that reflect how the church is actually occupied.
For historic and heritage buildings, the flexibility of the system can also be valuable when developing a heating design around the architecture and character of the church.
The right solution will depend on the individual building. Begin with the heating requirement, consider the areas that genuinely need warmth, and design the system around those needs rather than treating the whole church as a single heating zone.
NEED HELP WITH YOUR PROJECT?
Find the right infrared heating setup for your space.
Use our wattage calculator to estimate your heating requirement, or speak to our team for product and project guidance.