This year, Bradford Cathedral became the first cathedral in the country to generate its own power by means of solar roof panels.

And across the district the greening-up of places of worship is gathering pace, with churches implementing their own green agendas to reduce CO2 emissions and cut costs.

Steps taken by Baildon Methodist Church are reaping rewards, and despite the building and its community centre being used by around 700,000 people, its carbon footprint is shrinking.

Grants of more than £9,000 from Shipley Area panel and Bradford Environment Action Trust enabled the church to install energy-saving equipment including the fitting of weather compensation controls on the two outdated and inefficient boilers. Ceilings have also been insulated, cutting out draughts.

“We have reduced the use of gas and electricity extensively,” says says local preacher Dr Mervyn Flecknoe, who is also the church’s eco-officer.

Old light fittings have been replaced by more robust light-emitting diodes (LEDs) which have a lower energy consumption and longer lifespan. “We recently replaced them in a dimly-lit area that serves as a creche. The bulbs are now five-watt instead of 22-watt – it looks twice as bright for a quarter of the cost, and we never have to replace them.”

They are now looking at other lights that can be replaced. “It will benefit us, and create a better planet for future generations,” says Mervyn.

The church has transferred its electricity account to a green tariff which feeds into the grid an equivalent amount of renewably-generated electricity to that used by the church.

It also has a certified ‘eco-congregation’ – part of an ecumenical programme helping churches make the link between environmental issues and the Christian faith. They are involved in practical action in the church, the lives of individuals and the local and global community.

A few miles away in Harden, St Saviour’s is hoping to install underfloor heating. Says priest-in-charge of the parish the Reverend Bob Evans: “It is a new system and is laid on top of the existing floor as blocks of foam into which the water pipes are laid.

“We are told that it is much more energy-efficient than radiators, so much so that the boiler size can be reduced by two-thirds, and the energy consumption will also be two-thirds that of a conventional central heating system.”

He adds: “We are desperate to have a warm building. We thought it would be unaffordable to run as it is so expensive to heat a Victorian building built without roof insulation and with such large windows – but we think we have found the solution and are really excited about being warm and hopefully not spending a fortune to keep it so.”

Members of Christ Church in Oakworth are looking into the possibility of changing their lighting system to save energy. “Whatever we consider, we think along environmental lines,” says the Reverend John Rogers.

Outside, a wildflife garden in the churchyard attracts animals, birds and insects. Its management is carried out through a joint project with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. “It was covered in brambles, so we have cleared them and encourage different species of wildflowers.”

Children from Oakworth Primary School help to tend the area as part of a community project. “They have done a really good job,” says John. “The graveyard is very wildlife-friendly and generates a lot of interest.”

St John’s in Ben Rhydding, Ilkley, has an active environment group whose members help everyone to recognise the impact of CO2 emissions.

“The group keeps aware of enviornmental issues, and one member of the group is part of a diocese-wide network doing the same,” says Reverend Peter Willox.

The age of the building and funding dictate what they are able to do, but, “we do as much as possible,” says Peter.

“The church is a century old, so we are always trying to think of ways to reduce our carbon footprint.”

Electricty and gas usage are monitored and two new boilers have been installed. “We are half way towards changing the system,” he says. “We recycle anything we can and encourage people to do it at home.”

Part of the church’s land is given over for allotments which are rented out to the public. As a designated Fairtrade Church, goods to help third-world farmers are sold in the building.

“It is a learning curve for all of us. We have no experts here, but we try to do more. It is God’s world which we have been given as a gift and should look after as best we can.”