- Tips for Schools

You can cut your school's energy bills by up to 20% for free. Just employ the measures we list below and you will make a real difference to your running costs.

Heating

Heating accounts for more than half of a school’s annual fuel use. Keep this spend under control with the following measures:

• Keep it closed. Keep windows and doors closed when the heating is on. If it gets too hot, adjust the thermostat or individual radiator controls rather than opening windows and losing the heat.
• Know your building. Find out how long it takes for your school to heat up in the morning and cool down in the evening. Then adjust your heating so it doesn't come on too early or turn off too late.
• Lower the temperature. Did you know that children have higher metabolisms and require lower temperatures to keep warm? The DCSF requires classrooms to be heated to at least 18°C. However reducing temperature by 1°C can save 8% on heating bills, so keep the temperature down.

Lighting

Electric lighting accounts for 20-25% of a school's total energy bill. So it makes sense to make the most of natural daylight:

• Daylight is free. Don’t light areas where daylight is sufficient or rooms that are empty. Studies show pupils are more productive working in natural daylight. Encourage pupils and staff to turn off lights when leaving a room - this could reduce the lighting bill by up to 15%.
• Fit energy saving lightbulbs. Lighting costs can be reduced by up to 75% by replacing standard lightbulbs with energy saving compact fluorescent bulbs. See our selection here.
• Get pupil’s involved. Appoint pupils as ‘energy monitors’ to inspect rooms and switch off lights at the end of lessons and break times.

Electrical Equipment

In many cases electricity accounts for 20% of the energy used in schools, but 50% of the energy costs. To reduce these costs:

• Switch monitors off. When computer monitors aren’t in use, switch them off. PC monitors account for almost two-thirds of a computer’s energy consumption. If left on 24 hours a day, a computer can cost £25 a year to run. Multiply that by the number of PCs in your school - it soon adds up! Better still, use standby saver products to turn off the peripherals when the PC is turned off. Ask us for an energy audit to see how much you can save.
• Turn vending machines off. When they are not in use, turn off your vending machines for non-perishable items. Leaving them on 24 hours a day could cost around £120 a year. If they are only on during school hours you could save around £85, a 70% saving! We can offer a Bye Bye Standby Professional system that will control an unlimited number of devices remotely to ensure they are powered down when they should be.

Swimming Pools

If your school has a swimming pool, fuel costs increase substantially. Follow these tips to manage this cost:

• Control temperatures. The temperature of the pool should be maintained at around 29°C, while the air temperature should be kept at ± 1°C of pool temperature. This reduces evaporation and the need for ventilation.
• Cover it up. When it is not in use, covering your pool will considerably reduce evaporation and the need for ventilation. If you do not have a pool cover, this investment will have a large payback.