RETROFIT FOR ST. MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS CHURCH

Our client sought to understand decarbonisation options available for the St Michael and All Angels Church. Cook & Cardenas considered both the original building that contains a main church hall, vestry and sanctuary plus the New Narthex, a contemporary addition to the site.

We guided the client through the options available and helped them identify the best solution. A key priority was to ensure that the decarbonisation solutions developed were sensitive to the heritage context of the site. The work is currently under review from heritage bodies.

TECHNICAL SERVICES PROVIDED

ASSET PORTFOLIO & DECARBONISATION STRATEGIES

CONCEPT SOLAR DESIGN

BUILDING ASSESSMENT

LIFE-CYCLE COSTING, PAYBACK, VALUE & ROP ANALYSIS 

  • Key Insights

    After understanding the building fabric and heating dynamics of the site, we identified three potential solutions that would all lower carbon emissions.

  • Key Insights

    Amongst the options available, we found that the setting of the old church building meant that it would be very costly to maintain a constant internal temperature in the building.

  • Key Insights

    Instead, we developed an option to use infrared chandelier heatings that serve as a flexible and effective supplemental heating system, while heap pumps, underfloor heating and trench heaters can provide comfort while reducing the sites operational costs and carbon emissions. To complement this, a solar PV system was designed to further reduce carbon footprints and complement the site’s new heating system.

  • Key Insights

    The project showed that the most cost-effective project can sometimes be the best one. It highlights the value and benefit that is often obtained from having expert advice shape a solution that is tailored to your specific context, aims, and building.

Infrared radiant heaters were proposed as a cost-effective heating system that can adapt to the church’s intermittent use pattern.
A large and inconspicuous PV array can be installed on the south-facing roof.
PVs can be mounted to the tiled roof for a well integrated and aesthetic solution.