PSS AWARDS
making it one of the largest arrays on a public building in the country.
Evidence shows that, on average, SCoRE schools reduce their consumption by 8% during their active phase, through behaviour change. Average benefits from the programmed investments are in the order of 10%.
To date, the SCoRE officers have trained over 500 school pupils to be Lincolnshire Carbon Ambassadors, who benefit from improved awareness of environmental issues, and the development of new skills. They have told us that they are more confident, and better at team working, persuasive language and public speaking. However, the results of the programme can be seen by the whole school. The total number of students in schools that have completed the SCoRE programme is over 46,000, and members of staff in each school will also benefit from financial savings. The success of the behavioural change element of the programme is measured by electricity AMR data. Recent analysis comparing SCoRE schools to non-SCoRE schools indicate a 4.5% decrease in electricity consumption. Schools who have successfully completed the programme and reduced their carbon footprint have saved 39 tonnes of CO2 in just the few weeks of the active phase. In the year since they took part, the schools have saved a further 100 tonnes of CO2, which is significant against a backdrop trend of increasing electricity consumption in UK schools. The investment in boiler room improvements involves two technologies; valve and flange insulation, which has a payback of around 3 years, and boiler optimisation units, which has a 4 year payback. After this 3 or 4 years, schools will see financial benefits of around 15% savings on their gas bills. School S saw a large reduction in their gas consumption over the
winter compared to the year before the unit was installed: A snapshot taken of schools whose boiler optimisation units have been installed for more than a year, shows savings of 11.1% for school SF (3.8 tonnes CO2), and 8.4% for school KM (21 tonnes CO2). In total, work to implement SCoRE action plans to date have saved over 900 tonnes of CO2, through access to national Salix funding and the LCC revolving fund. The SCoRE team regularly communicate with schools who have taken part in the project, through the form of a newsletter. There is a dedicated email address, managed by the team, which schools can use for queries and advice.
The programme has been developed using feedback from schools at Celebration events. The team really values this feedback, because it means that they are able to develop the programme to better suit the needs of schools. For example, secondary schools have told us that it can be difficult to affect change in school given the size of some of the schools. As a result, a secondary schools guide has been developed, to encourage LCAs to tackle these difficulties step by step. Motivation is increased as each step is accomplished. SCoRE is a far-reaching programme, working with key stakeholders to ensure effectiveness at all stages of implementation. During the pilot phase of the programme, we worked with the Carbon Trust, Climate East Midlands and other East Midlands councils to develop activities. Since then, SCoRE has worked with a number of organisations, including Salix Finance, who we facilitated a workshop with, for business managers in schools to learn more about their funding options; the Education Funding Agency (EFA) have assisted in supporting schools to give EFA approved loans; and local and national suppliers have
installed energy efficiency upgrades in schools.
Our SCoRE newsletter communicates with SCoRE schools on a regular basis, and press coverage several times a year ensures the general public keep up to date with developments and achievements. An invaluable method of communication is the conversations that LCAs have with their family and friends after they’ve been trained, prompting discussions about tackling climate change in the home and beyond. Throughout the programme, we have
worked with Inspiring Outdoors, a sustainability education consultancy, to deliver effective events and ensure the high quality of the programme is maintained as it is developed. As a result of this wide range of communication, the SCoRE brand is widely recognised in Lincolnshire; among schools, local businesses and the general public. Until recently, LCC has been within the scope of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC). Reducing the energy consumption of schools has reduced the annual CRC fee. Although the Council are no longer in scope of the CRC, it is estimated that by the end of the programme, over £3 million of energy savings will be realised through the reduction of schools’ energy consumption. In addition, the SCoRE team support and advise schools on how to access funding for further energy efficiency improvements such as LED lighting upgrades, and renewable technology such as solar PV. In some schools, these improvements have halved the electricity demand within school. LCC has a £1 million Salix revolving fund, offering 0% interest loans to schools; to date, over £700,000 has been spent on energy efficiency schemes, including 35 lighting schemes. Although the SCoRE programme is working to reduce the energy consumption of schools, with a range of environmental benefits, the delivery of the programme itself takes into consideration its impact on the environment. Face to face visits with schools entail travelling around the county; however, schools are visited in
geographical clusters to reduce the need to travel, and carbon emissions from travel are offset. Resources are designed to last, and schools are encouraged to view resources digitally before printing them out. Email and phone communications also reduce the need for face to face visits. The range of energy efficiency technologies we provide, or can support schools in accessing, has proven to be effective in reducing the energy consumption of schools, and this innovative way of combining technological upgrades with behavioural change has been at the heart of Gas consumption of School S, showing a reduction in consumption over the success of the programme. winter compared to the year before.
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2016 13
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