Why you need an energy efficiency survey today

October 12, 2022 Adam Richards

With energy bills going through the roof, your school can’t afford to be burning money.

But that’s just what too many academies and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) are doing by wasting heat, relying on old boilers, using inefficient lighting and neglecting insulation.

The first step to cutting back on energy to save money and reduce CO2 emissions to protect the planet is to commission an energy efficiency survey.

Costs doubling and teaching cut

The situation is drastic for many.

A recent poll found headteachers anticipate a 106% rise in energy costs over 2022, according to FE News. Some schools are even reducing spending on teaching staff and cutting school hours to combat costs.

And it is a double-edged sword. Academies and MATs have limited budgets to spread across multiple areas – including sustainability. As inflation and energy bills increase, smaller amounts can be spent on improvements to energy efficiency for carbon reduction – yet this is exactly what is needed if the UK is to meet vital environmental goals.

Why is an energy efficiency survey so important?

Because the Carbon Trust has estimated that with a few simple measures, the UK’s academic sector could reduce its energy costs by around 20% while preventing 625,000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

Benefits of an energy efficiency survey

An energy efficiency survey highlights where energy is being wasted and how savings can be made to:

Cut down on soaring energy bills
Provide a more comfortable learning environment for students and staff
Reduce harm to the environment
Raise environmental awareness among students.

An energy assessment will identify the most cost-effective measures you can take, from replacing inefficient fossil-fuel boilers with heat pumps to installing automatic lighting and making better use of daylight in classrooms. Some schools even opt to invest in renewables and generate their own energy onsite.

Funding for your energy-saving improvements

Of course, these measures come with a cost, which is where the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) comes in.

The latest round (Phase 3b) of this flagship Government decarbonisation scheme is about to open, and schools, academies and colleges are eligible for £220 million (37%) of the funds to be allocated.

Grants can be spent on installing lower-carbon heating and energy-efficiency improvements in your buildings – exactly what so many need right now.

Act quickly

The scheme will close as soon as it is fully subscribed so it is essential to act quickly and make the strongest possible case.

Specialist chartered surveyors for education such as Surveyors for Education (S2e) can both carry out a comprehensive energy efficiency survey for your premises, and help compile your PSDS application to give you the best chance of success.

When results for Phase 3a were announced earlier this year, S2e achieved a 100% funding success rate for more than 30 schools and academies.