Eco Cathedral for Climate Resilient Somerset

Eco Cathedral drives down its carbon footprint for a climate resilient Somerset

Our story

Somerset County Council is committed to tackling climate change and is working towards a carbon neutral Somerset by 2030. But we can’t do it alone and we need everyone in Somerset to do their bit.

Wells Cathedral is committed to becoming carbon neutral and environmentally friendly. Over the past year, they have been looking at all areas of Cathedral life including our energy usage, the products we use and how the outside areas could be used to promote biodiversity.

In August 2020, Wells Cathedral received the Silver Eco Church Award from the Charity A Rocha. The Cathedral has also developed a 60 step guide towards being green to encourage others to look at their own carbon footprint.

The Cathedral is engaging with local environmental groups such as the Somerset Wildlife Trust and encouraging the congregation and visitors to the Cathedral to become aware how they can make a difference.

All packing in the the Cathedral café is now plastic free and biodegradable, and the surrounding land is used to encourage wildlife with bird boxes and bug hotels.

Our advice

Somerset County Council and the four District Councils are working together towards a climate resilient Somerset.

A huge number of measures have been carried out over the last few years including retrofitting the building with new loft insulation and double glazing on all the windows where possible.

A switch to renewable energy and looking at further ways to reduce the energy demand of the building.

Our metrics

Eco Cathedral retrofit reducing carbon emissions
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Somerset Wells Cathedral
Inside the cathedral