Development Fund 2022/23: British mosques & energy consumption
Dr Davide Pettinato (Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, HASS) - British mosques & energy consumption
Overview
Mosques tend to have high levels of energy consumption because they:
- are large, open-space structures that are difficult to efficiently light and heat/cool.
- must ensure thermal/visual comfort and provide hot water (for ritual ablutions) for worshippers at least five times a day, every day.
- run energy-consuming educational activities daily/several times a week.
This has negative environmental and economic impacts, which are only amplified by the high number of mosques and their rapid growth.
It is therefore important to identify good practice regarding these buildings’ energy consumption, thereby reducing such negative consequences.
Aims and activities
This interdisciplinary HASS-STEMM project aims to start identifying good practice in energy use within the British mosque sector.
Led by an expert on Muslims and environmental sustainability and Muslim charitable organisations (Dr Pettinato), this pilot project fosters interdisciplinary collaboration with expertise in energy use of the built environment (Dr Eames), and will involve working closely with British mosques, their communities, and with project partner The British Board of Scholars & Imams (BBSI).
The evidence base and networks developed through this project will facilitate pursuing external funding to conduct further interdisciplinary research in this area.
