Salisbury Cathedral has just replaced lighting inside the Cathedral with a more efficient LED system which will give the visitor a better experience and has revealed medieval paint and even a blocked doorway never before seen.
Salisbury Cathedral on the Road to Net Zero
Salisbury was the first cathedral to achieve Gold Eco Church status in 2021 awarded by the Christian conservation charity A Rocha UK for its ongoing commitment to good environmental stewardship and this latest major project is part of its journey to net zero.
The project was completed with a generous grant from the Friends of Salisbury Cathedral and saw them working with Yeovil-based Spectrum Electrical Group and using fittings made by industry-leading architectural lighting manufacturer ERCO to create a more sustainable lighting system that will provide an improved experience for visitors and those attending services and events.
The lights were first used during Advent and enabled the cathedrals tour guides to show off parts of the building never before seen, particularly high up, where medieval paint has been revealed in the arches, and a blocked doorway to the former glazing workshop above the Trinity Chapel near the High Altar.
The greatest impact of the new lighting, as well as reducing fire risk and improving the visitor experience, is the lowering of the cathedral’s carbon footprint – it will achieve an energy saving of over 80% on the previous system and reduce carbon emissions by around 25 tonnes per year.
The cathedral had already replaced the lighting of the exterior of the building in 2023 and installed hidden solar panels on the roof of the South Cloister in 2020.
Revd Kenneth Padley, Canon Treasurer at Salisbury Cathedral, said:
“Responding to climate change is an essential part of our responsibility to safeguard God’s creation. With the previous halogen lamps coming to the end of their natural life, our aim has been to reduce the Cathedral’s carbon footprint and provide high quality discreet lighting to showcase the building’s heritage. Christians know Jesus as light in our hearts and world. We are delighted with how our new installation symbolises this good news.”
The Cathedral’s work to achieve carbon net zero continues. There are plans to install similar LED lighting in the Cloisters and Chapter House, as well as explore the scope for a ground source heat pump to greatly reduce the carbon footprint of heating the Cathedral.
Further information about Salisbury Cathedral’s commitment to caring for the environment can be found here.
Photo : Martin Cook
