Creating Value In Schools
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With volatile energy prices and the challenge of negotiating contracts, DfE initiatives such as the energy service for schools and solar panel investment provide opportunities for saving on energy costs. Schools can also take practical action for themselves, such as scrutinising and reducing out of hours energy use and getting pupils involved.
The DfE has been running a research and pilot project to investigate how they can help schools in negotiating better energy contracts. They considered pain points, such as the volatility of the energy market, the difficulty in renegotiating contracts and comparing different deals.
They aimed to come up with an offer which would:
1500 schools from 50 MATs took part in the project, which basically involved the schools joining the DfE’s existing energy contract. The DfE becomes the ‘contracting authority’, while schools pay their own bills direct to the supplier, and continue to get their own energy usage data.
For more details around contract terms and how to get involved, see A new way to buy energy for your school or trust.
The DfE is also part of a project to provide 200 schools with solar panels, an £80 million investment and one of the first projects for Great British Energy – a new body working to provide better, cleaner energy deals.
Estimates suggest that schools can save £25,000 with the installation of solar panels.
Most of the panels are going to schools in the West Midlands, North West and North East. For a breakdown of the allocations, see this Schools Week article.
‘On average, 50% of schools’ electricity is consumed out of hours.’ (Energy Sparks: Switched off lights and IT equipment after school)
A practical action all schools can take to reduce energy usage is to look at their out of hours usage, or their electricity baseload. Are devices being switched off at the end of the school day? Computers left charging? Lights staying on?
Simple actions such as labelling light switches so it’s clear what does or doesn’t need to stay on, or unplugging vending machines (as long as they don’t contact perishables, of course), can make a difference.
As suggested in the Greener Schools Index Report:
Begin with comprehensive data collection across energy, water, waste – anywhere that efficiencies might be achieved. Go from big picture into the detail: move from annual to monthly monitoring, then look for finer, even hourly patterns that reveal opportunities for change.
For more suggestions, see 10 Ways to Immediately Cut Electricity Bills in Your School
In the Greener Schools Index Report, both of the case study trusts talk about the importance of getting pupils on board. It can be a way to channel concerns around climate change into constructive action, and also leads to learning opportunities.
Involving students in the school’s own sustainability projects creates hope while building the critical thinking and leadership skills that are crucial to future progress.
