The Environmental Benefits of Switching Your Church to Infrared

Across the UK, churches and places of worship are under increasing pressure to reduce their environmental impact. Rising energy bills, stricter building regulations, and growing awareness of climate change have pushed many congregations to rethink how they heat their sacred spaces.

The truth is, most traditional church heating systems are incredibly inefficient. Gas boilers, oil heaters, and warm air blowers consume large amounts of energy and often deliver poor results. For buildings that are only used part-time, this adds up to a high environmental cost with little practical benefit.

Infrared heating offers a much cleaner, smarter alternative. In this article, we explore how switching to infrared can help your church cut emissions, improve energy efficiency, and protect both people and the planet.

Why Traditional Church Heating Is Unsustainable

Most churches in the UK still rely on conventional heating systems. These include:

• Gas-fired boilers with radiators

• Oil-based systems

• Fan heaters and warm air blowers

• Electric convection heaters

While familiar, these systems come with major drawbacks for the environment:

1. High Carbon Emissions

Gas and oil systems release carbon dioxide directly into the atmosphere. Even electricity-powered convection heaters require a lot of energy to heat large volumes of air, especially in spaces with high ceilings and no insulation.

2. Energy Waste

Convection heating warms the air, which rises quickly. In a church, most of the heated air escapes to the ceiling or out through large windows and doors. You end up heating empty space instead of people, which leads to unnecessary energy use and increased emissions.

3. Poor Zoning Control

Older systems are difficult to control or schedule accurately. Heating the entire church for a short midweek service or choir rehearsal means energy is used when it is not needed, adding to your carbon footprint.

How Infrared Heating Reduces Environmental Impact

Infrared heating works very differently. It emits radiant energy that directly warms people, furniture, and surfaces. This mimics the way the sun warms objects and skin, without relying on air movement.

This leads to several clear environmental benefits:

1. Lower Energy Consumption

Because infrared heats only what is needed and does not waste energy heating the air, it uses significantly less power. This means:

• Less electricity demand

• Lower carbon footprint from energy generation

• Shorter running times per event or service

Churches that switch to infrared typically see energy savings of 30 to 60 percent compared to traditional heating systems.

2. Targeted Zoning

Infrared systems allow you to heat only the occupied areas of the church. This includes:

• The pews

• The altar

• The chapel or side rooms

• The choir area

By heating specific zones instead of the entire building, you reduce your energy usage even further. This approach aligns perfectly with the needs of churches, where full capacity is rarely required outside of major events or holidays.

3. Quick Heat-Up Time

Infrared heaters reach full temperature within minutes. This fast response reduces the time the system needs to be on and eliminates the need for preheating.

In contrast, convection systems often need to run for one to two hours before the church becomes comfortable. That is energy wasted just waiting for results.

4. No Combustion or Fossil Fuels

Infrared heaters are fully electric and do not require burning fuel. This means:

• Zero on-site emissions

• No risk of gas leaks or carbon monoxide

• Future compatibility with renewable energy sources like solar PV

As the grid continues to decarbonise, electric systems like infrared will become even cleaner over time.

5. Less Maintenance and Resource Use

Gas and oil systems require regular servicing, replacement parts, and sometimes fuel deliveries. This adds to their overall environmental impact through vehicle emissions, resource consumption, and waste.

Infrared heaters, on the other hand, are:

• Maintenance-free

• Long-lasting

• Fully recyclable at end-of-life

This reduces the need for additional service visits or equipment replacement, lowering the carbon footprint over the lifespan of the system.

Ideal for Heritage Buildings and Conservation Areas

One of the challenges in upgrading church heating is the need to preserve historical architecture. Many churches are listed buildings, which restricts the type of systems that can be installed.

Infrared heating is ideal because:

• No pipes or vents are required

• Units can be wall- or ceiling-mounted

• Systems are visually discreet and unobtrusive

• They comply with most conservation area regulations

By avoiding alterations to walls, floors, or ceilings, infrared protects both the heritage of the building and the environment.

Compatibility with Solar PV and Sustainable Energy

Electric infrared heating works seamlessly with renewable energy systems. If your church is investing in solar panels or has access to green electricity tariffs, infrared makes even more sense.

By pairing infrared heating with solar PV, your church can:

• Generate heat using clean, renewable energy

• Offset electricity use during daylight hours

• Reduce reliance on fossil fuels

• Move closer to net-zero energy targets

This combination is increasingly popular among churches aiming to become more eco-friendly and financially self-sufficient.

Supporting Your Church's Sustainability Goals

Many churches in the UK are part of initiatives such as:

• Eco Church 

• Church of England’s Net Zero by 2030 target

• Green Church initiatives across Scotland and Wales

Switching to infrared heating is one of the most effective and immediate changes your church can make to align with these goals. It supports:

• Carbon reduction commitments

• Grant applications for energy improvements

• Public awareness of sustainability action

• Long-term financial and environmental stewardship

Cost vs Environmental Benefit

Some churches worry about the initial cost of switching to a new system. However, the long-term savings and environmental gains far outweigh the upfront investment.

With infrared heating, you benefit from:

• Lower electricity bills

• No servicing or fuel delivery costs

• Minimal infrastructure changes

• Long lifespan and reliability

• A measurable drop in carbon emissions

Over time, this not only helps the environment but also protects the financial future of your parish.

Summary: Why Infrared Heating Is the Greener Choice

Let’s review how infrared heating helps your church reduce its environmental impact:

By choosing infrared, your church embraces a cleaner, simpler, and more sustainable way to stay warm without compromising on comfort or architectural integrity.

Next Steps

If you are considering making your church more sustainable, infrared heating is a powerful way to take action today.

• Explore our Eco-Friendly Heating Collection

• Use our Wattage Calculator to size your system correctly

• Contact our support team for advice on design, zoning, and funding eligibility