Around 450 churches, vicarages and Church of England (CofE) schools in the South West have seen the light and switched to green energy tariffs, after the Church of England named Ecotricity as its preferred supplier.

Over 100 CofE sites have also installed solar panels through Ecotricity since December following a court decision which – subject to an on-going government appeal – extended the higher level 43p/kWh feed-in tariff rate for systems smaller than 4kW completed before March 3.

After focusing on the diocese of Gloucester, Exeter, and Bath and Wells, Ecotricity is now set to expand its offering to every parish in the UK under the Church’s Parish Buying collaborative procurement scheme.

The Church is challenging its 44 dioceses and 16,000 buildings to cut their carbon footprint as part of a campaign to reduce its overall emissions 42 per cent by the end of the decade and 80 per cent by 2050.

Church of England procurement officer Russell Stables said making greener purchasing choices is one way of achieving carbon cuts while also benefiting parishes.

“This is far more than a cost saving exercise,” he said. “It is a means of demonstrating good stewardship and releasing money which can be directed towards mission and ministry.”

Ecotricity founder Dale Vince said businesses and public organisations could learn from the Church’s policy.

“The Church of England is setting a great example for others to follow,” he said. “They are looking right across their organisation and making it as sustainable as possible.”