A commitment to utilising green fuel across the Archdiocese of Birmingham is set to have saved thousands of pounds.

British Gas Trading Limited has presented the Archdiocese with a Green Gas for Business Certificate.

It certifies that 59 per cent of the gas supplied to the Archdiocese was generated by renewable sources, for the period 1 October 2017 to 30 September 2018.

The Archdiocese is one of many dioceses across the country signed up to the pioneering scheme, which was launched in the summer of 2016.

Interdiocesan Fuel Management Ltd (IFM) entered into an alliance with Churchmarketplace Ltd (CMP) to bring renewable energy to Catholic dioceses across England and Wales.

Their collaboration means that nationally more than 2,000 parishes (and a number of Catholic schools) are in tune with the wishes expressed in Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si – published in 2015 and with a focus on the environment.

Approximately 160 parishes across the Archdiocese of Birmingham are currently involved in the scheme.

Steve Roche, Head of Finance at the Archdiocese and an unpaid director of both IFM and CMP, said: “This is good news for the Church in both environmental and cost terms, the IFM deal is one of the biggest which British Gas have.

“The expert service provided by IFM and CMP means that where parishes run into problems, for example with meters, there is friendly, expert help on hand - which in turn has relieved pressure on curial office staff and ultimately benefited the parishes involved.”

If your parish/school is not already signed up to the IFM deal, please contact them on 0345 257 9739 or [email protected]