The UK’s net zero targets have been in the news again with Prime Minister Kier Starmer committing to the green agenda at the Future of Energy Security summit. In order to hit the target of 2050, every industry in the UK will need to do their part. Independent schools will be no exception.
As more and more schools look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint, the ISC has developed a paper on the road to net zero. In it, they explain the key barriers facing independent schools:
- Cost
- Outdated Infrastructure
- Stretched Resources
- Difficulties gathering and accessing data
- Skills and Understanding
- Unclear regulation / requirements
In this article, we consider some of the ways you can reduce your school’s carbon footprint, and how you can overcome some of these barriers.
Funding & Budgets for Net Zero Goals
Any significant changes to your school buildings are going to come at a cost. In recent times, independent schools have faced new commercial challenges, meaning careful managing of budgets is more important than ever. That’s why you need to be sure that projects are not only carried out to the highest standard, but that they make financial sense.
With limited resources, when it comes to funding building projects, choices can be difficult. Exciting new sports facilities might be a more attractive proposition to prospective parents and students. It may be far harder to get people excited about upgrading the lighting system. However, in the long run, projects that improve energy efficiency and the life span of your school buildings are likely to save you money.
Unfortunately, independent schools are often excluded from government funding for sustainability projects available to similar SMEs and non-profits. This means you’re likely to be funding these works yourself, therefore you want to ensure you’re getting value for money whilst delivering a safe and secure learning environment for your students and staff.
Measurement for Net Zero
Understanding how your building performs is the first step to improvement. Identifying areas where you can improve and gain quick wins is a good place to start.
For example, monitoring and optimising energy performance can reduce costs by around 30%.
Quick Win Solutions
Take a look at energy efficiency – lighting is an area many schools are focussing on, by installing LED and low energy lighting and movement sensors in areas which don’t already have them. Upgrading and renewing windows is an area Chawton Hill have seen many schools take advantage of, to reduce energy bills and improve the quality of learning spaces.
Another area which may be a slightly more long-term capital project is the installation of PV / solar panels. We’ve done some great work for a number of schools and colleges on this with our friends at Powercor. Take a look at this article for more detail on the benefits of PV for schools and colleges.
The Trickier Bits
Independent schools are often likely to be dealing with legacy and heritage buildings. These can provide their own unique challenges. Our work with listed buildings has given us the knowledge and experience needed to help deliver positive solutions for schools.
Another challenge facing schools is the term periods. Working to challenging schedules can make project programmes more complicated. This is amplified with boarding schools, which might have even more limited time frames. As a team, Chawton Hill have experience of tackling these scheduling risks to ensure projects are delivered within challenging timescales.
The ISC reports that “Many schools indicated that their decision not to go ahead with sustainability initiatives was because they were not persuaded that the solutions available were indeed the most appropriate for their operation or budget, whilst others shared horror stories of losing significant time and money on novel solutions that proved to be ineffective or were delivered by an unreliable supplier.”
Take a look at our article on dealing with supply chain challenges and delivering value for more information on how to deal with such matters.
Need some help?
School staff often lack the time or expertise to independently research and establish the credibility of sustainability and net zero solutions. This is particularly true in smaller schools where a dedicated estate manager role may not exist.
This is where Chawton Hill can support you. Our expertise and experience ensure we can guide you through the process. With extensive experience in the education sector, we understand the pressures on your time and resources. Allow us to help you establish the most sustainable solutions, whilst being mindful of your budgets and the unique requirements of buildings designed for learning and development. Get in touch today to discover how we can help you.