Work has been completed on the Diocese of Carlisle’s second net zero carbon vicarage.
The diocese bought the four-bedroom property in 2022, as a replacement for Grasmere’s former vicarage.
In recent months work has been undertaken to remove the old electric-only heating system, install underfloor heating and insulated floors, insulate external timber cladding, and install an air source heat pump, solar panels to the southern elevation and a battery storage unit.
Nick Paxman, the diocesan property manager, has overseen the work. He said: “The diocese has committed £250,000 a year for the next five years for Net Zero Carbon work to vicarages.
“That goes towards the cost of the air source heat pumps and the solar panels and batteries. It is estimated that because of the old electric-only heating system that was in place in this property originally, the building had a carbon footprint of about 20 tonnes a year.
“With all the work that we have undertaken that has been reduced to 1.2 tonnes a year which will be further offset by the air source heating and the solar panel installations, meaning this is a net zero carbon vicarage.”
The work took six months to complete and also includes a conversion of a double garage into a new study for the Lake District village’s new vicar.
The Rev Lawrence Basham will take up the post of rector of Grasmere, vicar of Rydal and chaplain to Rydal Hall, from Tuesday November 5.
He and his family – wife Jemma and their four children aged between six and 13 – are now busy moving into the new eco vicarage from their present vicarage home in Staveley.
Lawrence said: “For us a family we are very excited to be living in the second eco vicarage in the diocese. We are bringing up a family and a major concern for our children is creation and the environment, so this house is a witness to my family and to the wider village.
“A major theme of the county‘s God for All ecumenical vision and strategy is to Tread Gently. This is a good example of us Treading Gently at home and as a family this will be a big part of who we are while living here.
“This is a vicarage and, as much as it will be our family home, it will also be a centre for mission and so the village will be able to connect with this eco property as we look to serve the whole community.”
Another benefit for Lawrence and his family is that they expect to see their monthly energy bills slashed in comparison to what they’ve previously paid.
This is the second eco vicarage to be completed in the diocese, with work on Natland vicarage finished in January. Net Zero Carbon status for the property will be monitored using a national Church of England energy footprint tool, which is also used for church buildings, schools and the diocesan head office in Penrith.
It follows last October’s Diocesan Synod – the local general assembly made up of bishops, archdeacons and elected clergy and laity – at which members formally endorsed the Diocesan Net Zero Action Plan in line with the national Church of England’s 2030 Net Zero target date.
Meanwhile work is ongoing to upgrade a property in Wigton to create a third Net Zero Carbon vicarage. That is expected to be completed by Christmas. Work is also programmed for a vicarage in Plumpton as well as a new-build property in Maryport.
