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Top tips to improve your school’s energy efficiency and reduce energy costs


Rob Clark Energy Category Manager at YPO


Usage


Track your usage. Do you know how much electricity or gas your school consumes daily, weekly or monthly? By tracking where and when you use energy, you can then analyse and replace inefficient products, insulation or behaviours. Contact your energy provider for access to online portals that store your data, these are usually free to utilise.


Heating


The Carbon Trust states that 45% of a school’s energy cost is through heating. DfES guidance recommends temperatures for schools by activity: 18°C for normal teaching, 15°C for corridors and sports halls and 21°C for areas of low activity or where there are very young children. How does your school compare?


Lighting


Between 20–25% of a school’s energy costs can comprise of lighting. Simply by making better use of natural daylight through blinds, cleaning windows and removing obstructions can see a reduction of 19% in lighting costs.


LED lighting


When upgrading LED lighting check with installers what option provides the best long–term solution for your school. Quality LEDs have an expected lifespan of 30,000– 50,000 hours, or even longer! This compares to around 8,000–10,000 hours for a comparable fluorescent light.


Water


Hot water accounts for 12% of a school’s energy cost. To reduce this try: fitting non–concussive or self– closing taps which turn off automatically, install time switches to ensure water is only heated when it is needed and insulate hot water storage tanks and pipework.


Energy champions


Invite pupils and staff to be energy champions. Schools that involve everyone in the energy efficiency journey see the most positive, long–term results. Put up posters to celebrate both the £ and CO2 savings made by the school’s united effort.


Share


Share best practice with other neighbouring schools and benchmark your school’s costs against others to see where you are in your energy efficiency journey.


To find out more about how the YPO energy team can help your school with all aspects of energy use and management, visit: ypo.co.uk/energyforschools


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