There's no point spending out on a fantastic renewable heating system if your building is uninsulated and leaking heat through the walls, roof and windows.
If you invest in energy efficiency first, the money you spend on a renewable energy system will go further.
So what can you do?
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Make sure the building is insulated; schools can apply to the Commuity Sustainable Energy Programme on 0845 3 671 671 for a grant towards energy efficiency measures as part of a project that includes a renewable energy system installation. |
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Use low energy lighting; switching one 100W tungsten bulb for its low energy alternative (20W) will save abound £9 a year. How many bulbs do you need to change? |
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Use efficient equipment and appliances; whether you are choosing a new dishwasher for the canteen or a heat recovery unit for your the school, you will have a choice of products that consume varying amounts of electricity to do the same job. On domestic appliances and white goods you can look for the Energy Saving Recomended logo. On all other equipment, make sure you look at the manufacturers data on energy consumption. |
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Control your heating system; it doesn't matter what type of building you are heating it is always worth investing in a good control system. Think about when you want the building to be warm, and how long the building takes to warm up and cool down. Can you install zoning, so individual classrooms can control their own heating? Make use of natural ventilation before air switching conditioning on. But don't open windows when the heating is on! |
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Know how much energy you use; read the meter regularly and check whether the estimated readings on the bills are accurate. When you know how much energy you use it is much easier to identify where you can save it. |
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BE energy efficient; start thinking about what you do that uses energy and how you could change it. Switch off lights in areas they are not being used, switch off TV's, stereos and computers rather than leaving on standby. Make sure appliances and equipment are kept in good running order. Make sure eveyone who uses the building is aware of the project to use less energy, have a meeting and let people know what they can do. The Carbon Trust can provide free stickers and posters for you to display. There are lots of organisations who can run class-based activities to teach students and teachers how to use the buildign more efficiently. |
Your RE4D mentor will be able to give you some energy efficiency advice, but for more detailed information and energy audits you will need to contact Andy Seaman at NPS on 01392 382319 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Organisations who offer school activities include:
Sustainable Learning website: A useful tool to use to help save water and energy, schools get certificates they can display and can compare themselves to national benchmarks. It was put together by DFES and BRE
