Dresden (dpa/sn) - The diocese of Dresden-Meißen and the Evangelical Lutheran Church (EVLKS) have called on the Saxon parishes to save energy. "Events are happening almost every day and especially the task of saving energy calls on us all to act," said the EVLKS in a recommendation sent to the communities, which is available to the German Press Agency (dpa). For example, heaters should only be switched on when the room temperature is more than two degrees below the target temperature. In addition, events are to be bundled in time in order to reduce consumption.
The Diocese of Dresden-Meissen also wants to reduce energy consumption in its own public buildings and has therefore ordered four measures. For example, common areas should not be heated if several people are staying there. Maximum temperatures also apply in church work rooms, warm water for washing hands and outdoor lighting should be switched off.
The recommendations of the EVLKS are "nothing new," said press spokeswoman Tabea Koebsch of the dpa. For example, the concept of a "winter church" recommended by the regional church in view of the energy crisis, i.e. the use of the parish halls for church services, has been common practice in many parishes for years. The EVLKS is assuming that the individual congregations were already thinking about ways of saving energy before the recommendations were issued: "Of course, this also has to do with the fact that the churches are no longer needed due to the declining number of members."
However, not heating a church is associated with a number of considerations, Köbsch added: "So that organs and wood remain in good condition, savings measures must be carefully examined beforehand." Among other things, the temperature should not be lowered if the humidity is relatively high, according to the recommendation of the regional church.
The EVLKS represents over 628,000 members from 338 parishes with 1,600 churches in Saxony. The much smaller diocese of Dresden-Meissen has 37 parishes.
