10 Key Tips For Managing Energy Expenses In Schools

July 19, 2024 by Admin

It’s no secret that the education sector is a major energy consumer. With astronomical-scale consumption across heating, lighting, electricals and water, as well as the carbon footprint of staff and students arriving and leaving the premises, there’s a substantial array of elements to consider when we look at the energy budget for a school.

Tight budgets and even tighter regulations around net-zero have those in education – especially so the decision makers – scrambling for solutions, and ways to slash the costs that have long since plagued schools. That’s the impetus behind our latest article here at Tariff: saving schools money.

Join us as we explore 10 key tips on how your educational institution can make a saving when it comes to your energy bills, why it’s crucial we look to make those savings sooner rather than later, and exactly what you can do to make that leap today.

 

Why There’s No Better Time To Sort Your School’s Energy Consumption

Regardless of where you’ve seen it, whether that’s through more conventional news or social media, you’ll no doubt have been exposed to the changing demands of the energy industry. From renewable energy options for businesses, to changing governmental legislation, there’s a constantly evolving landscape to navigate.

That’s particularly true for schools, who – alongside those ever-present and ever-changing demands of the energy sector – need to adapt to encompass the changing demands of students and staff alike. That could be something as simple as updating technology, but also spans to adapting the school for students who might have additional needs.

Of course, you’ll be made well aware of those adaptations far in advance, but there’s also the political climate to consider. New budgets and changes in stances and positions often tug at the purse strings far more than most realise, and can often come with little to no warning of their drastic impact.

There’s also the environmental impact to consider. While you’re undoubtedly aware of the global, concerted effort to push for net-zero by 2050, it also bears mentioning just how much of a bearing schools can and do have in that.

The latest figures make for grim reading for all involved in the budgeting process for any school or academy. Using the latest report from the Department for Education, we’ve sourced the statistics for both primary (an average student costs 192 kWh in electricity) and secondary (an average student costs 313 kWh in electricity) schools.

With the average number of students being 281 in primary schools, and 986 in secondary schools, average energy costs start to become clear. With 2024’s figures sitting at around 26 pence per kWh, we’ve done the maths and found that:

• Primary schools can expect an average bill of around £14,027.52 per year.
• Secondary schools will usually pay more, equating to around £80,240.68 per year.

Of course, these figures are naturally dependent on the building materials, and the era during which it was constructed. More modern schools and academies will naturally be more energy-efficient in their heating costs, but will expend more in their electricity usage, while older schools will spend more to keep in the heat, but less on their electricity bills.

With energy costs still spiralling for commercial premises, and changing levels of funding eating into budgets with minimal warning, schools have felt the strain in recent months and years, and that’s only set to continue. There are options, though, and we’ve compiled 10 key tips to claw back some of your budget, and make your school more energy efficient.

 

10 Crucial Tips To Manage Energy Expenses In Schools

Let’s delve into a few key pieces of advice for ensuring your school is as effective and efficient in its energy usage as possible.

 

1. Consider Switching Your Energy Supplier

Arguably the most impactful change a school can make with regards to their energy bills, and indeed for anyone regardless of their circumstances, is exploring the market for a better, cheaper and ultimately more appropriate deal.

That’s never been a more pressing concern than it currently is. With energy prices still in a volatile state given both national and international concerns, and homeowners afforded more stability than businesses and other institutions, it’s led to a scramble to switch suppliers and to source the best deal possible.

There’s good reasoning behind that. It’s thought that around 70% of homeowners could save upwards of £200 per year on their energy bills simply by changing providers. That’s only set to rise if you’re a business or premises, or if you’ve been tied into a contract for a significant length of time.

Of course, it’s not always as simple as that. While homeowners might have an easier time in sourcing a deal, business energy is a much more complex process, and can often be daunting for schools especially, given the already packed schedule that financial teams have.

That’s where a dedicated switching service like Tariff comes to the fore. We’ve got extensive experience in helping businesses from all sectors – and particularly those in education – to secure a better, cheaper deal on their energy. It’s an arduous process, but it’s one that we’re well-versed in, and that we’re more than capable of organising for you.

We’ll begin by analysing your school’s current energy usage, before making suggestions on adjustments and changes you can make (including some of the ones we’ve listed here) to streamline the energy you use, and to best optimise the way forward.

We’ll then undertake all the legwork for you – sourcing a deal that’s right for you, making those initial enquiries, and even liaising with the company on your behalf to ensure that you’ve got exactly what you need to succeed. It’s all part of our all-encompassing package here at Tariff, and it’s designed to guarantee an exceptional deal.

 

2. Invest In Energy-Efficient Lighting Options

Lighting is one of the largest cost-sinks for schools. While closed over the lengthy summer period, and scarcely occupied over the weekends, schools still operate constantly for around 2,000 hours every year. That’s time where students, staff and visitors all need proper illumination.

Naturally, this leads to astronomical contributions towards the overall electricity bill, with some schools thought to be paying more than triple what they should be paying for their lights. There are solutions, however, with some more obvious than others.

The ideal option is one that does require some investment. While local council schemes like this one in Oxfordshire do absorb some of that unavoidable expense, the benefits often far outweigh the costs, and ultimately save you a significant amount in both the short- and long-term.

By making the switch to more energy-efficient LED lighting – often cited as a much-needed replacement for incandescent or fluorescent lights – the savings can be north of around 17,500kWh per year, equating to an average saving of around £4,550 over the course of the year.

You might also choose to install motion sensors for your classrooms, as many modern schools have already started to do. These have long since been posited as an ideal option, with savings being in the region of 30% of the lighting bill for a classroom. Plus, as the technology has become more widespread, it’s only become more convenient for schools to access.

 

3. Light Switch Labels Spell Out Savings

Of course, while LED lights and motion sensors are ideal, they aren’t immediately actionable. Most schools will need to wait for a half-term break or the summer holidays to ensure that the premises is unoccupied, and that any necessary works can take place without disruption. Even then, there’s likely to be changes as staff come and go.

In the short-term, though, there are things you can do to ensure that your lighting bills stay at a manageable level. One of the more popular ways – and one you may have already seen if you’ve worked in multiple schools – is to colour-code your light switches, so it’s clear which need to stay on, and which can be switched off when finished with.

It’s an age-old tactic, but it’s one that’s been proven to work, with an estimated saving of around 12% of your yearly electricity bill. The more visual approach to what does and, crucially, doesn’t need to switched on ensures that you’re always in control of the energy your classrooms expend.

It also functions as a great way to get students involved with a hands-on approach to saving energy. Ultimately, if your students are aware of what needs to be turned off and why, as well as what needs to stay on to create a more welcoming learning environment, they’re more likely to be supportive in helping the school cut costs.

 

4. Make Proactive Use Of Natural Lighting

Switching the lights of your classroom on each morning can be a difficult habit to get out of. That’s particularly true after the long winter months, which mean lights need to be on more regularly – and for longer periods – than they might otherwise be.

As you start to gear up for the spring and summer, and especially so after the Easter half-term, it’s crucial you make good use of the natural lighting your classroom gets. There’s a particular importance on this if you’re lucky enough to have a south-facing classroom, or one that’s on the outskirts of your building and is able to capture that natural light.

Utilising sunlight as much as possible is essentially one of the most effective ways for schools to manage their energy expenses. While British weather might not necessarily allow for this as often as we’d like, those sunny days can mean savings north of 10% across your bills.

Natural light also has proven health benefits, and the sunshine can boost student confidence, concentration levels and even their engagement with your lessons. It’s also gentler on eyes, meaning there’s less strain on your students, alongside less strain on your budget.

 

5. Check In On Your Out-Of-Hours Usage

As we touched on earlier, schools are only in operation for around 3000 hours over the course of the year. That means that, for the remaining 5000 hours of the year, the premises is likely to be unoccupied, or only have a handful of staff members in at any one time.

Of course, you’ll do everything you can to ensure that those periods of limited or no foot traffic don’t impact your energy usage. You might already have routines in place, such as instructing cleaning or maintenance staff to check switches and lights as they conduct their usual duties. Some schools even opt to involve students in this, particularly younger children.

However, while you’ll be taking every precaution possible, it’s incredibly difficult to encompass every aspect of your school or educational establishment. That could an errant light inside a stock cupboard, or a printer in a seldom-used office, but every electrical device will doubtless contribute towards your overall bill.

You can perform a quick check of your out-of-hours usage in a few different ways. Arguably the most convenient method is to opt for an external energy switching service like Tariff, where we’ll take into consideration every aspect of your unique circumstances, as well as operating hours and term times.

Alternatively, you can conduct the audit yourself by taking meter readings before and after a period of closure, such as over the weekend, or during the half-term. While this doesn’t provide specifics like a more professional audit might do, you can gain a good indicator of what might be costing you and when.

You will, however, need to bear in mind that you’ll have certain electricals that can’t be switched off, and will therefore still factor into the bills you pay. That includes things like server rooms and other technology that needs to stay running, as well as freezers, fridges and storage facilities for perishable items.

 

6. Triple Check Your Heating Times

Often going hand-in-hand with checking your out-of-hours electricity usage, your heating is a huge, huge portion of the money you spend on energy. Think about it this way – you’ll no doubt have multiple buildings that all need to be heated, as well as certain areas (like laboratories) that perhaps need specific temperatures.

That equates to a substantial sum, and one that could increase at an alarming rate if left unchecked. Your buildings are likely to have their own separate heating systems, all with individually set timers, and there won’t necessarily be a central control system in place.

It pays off hugely to double and even triple check any timings you have on your heating systems. It’s thought that even an extra few hours with the heating left on, even just in one or two of your classrooms, could equate to a cost in the hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

The solutions for this often fall in line with monitoring your electricity usage. While most school heating systems still run on fossil fuels (such as gas central heating systems), it’s still a good idea to check timers and devices attached to your boilers to make sure that these aren’t operating when you don’t need them to be.

That’s particularly true when your school is likely to be unoccupied for a longer period of time, such as over a half-term, or during the summer.

 

7. Ensure Doors & Windows Are Closed

A basic tip, but one that many schools don’t take full advantage of, closing windows and doors to keep heat in your classrooms is an essential consideration, especially during colder winter months.

The latest research shows that causing your heating systems to overwork by even 1°C can increase your heating costs – which are no doubt already your main expense – by up to 10%. Couple that with colder outdoor temperatures, and it’s easy to see how the costs can rise exponentially.

Of course, not all schools will be able to keep their doors closed. Open door policies are now commonplace in many modern schools, and promote a more open and engaging environment for students and staff alike, meaning that doors will often be propped open outside of exam times.

It’s still a very good idea to check windows and any other entry points (like store cupboard access) thoroughly, especially as these can all contribute towards effective and proactive usage of your heating. Even just a vented window in the winter can force your heating systems to work harder, and cost you more money in the process.

 

8. Create A Bespoke Energy Policy

While all the ideas we’ve presented so far go a long way towards creating a more energy-efficient and savvy school, they only go so far. An ideal step is to create a policy surrounding your school’s energy usage, and distribute this to staff digitally.

Not only does it bring to light the measures you’re implementing to ensure that your school is sustainable, it’ll also help with some of the things that might be out of your control, such as turning off devices and lights before leaving for the day.

If staff members can see the efforts you’re going to to ensure that you’re taking energy as seriously as possible, they’re far more likely to do their part. That’s why we’d recommend distributing it digitally – you’re already taking the step towards less energy waste and less resource consumption.

Of course, creating an energy policy isn’t a simple task. While examples and templates do exist online, it’s a time-consuming process, and can mean you’re not tailoring it to your specific circumstances.

With a tailormade energy service like the one we provide here at Tariff, we’ll take that out of your hands, offering bespoke suggestions for how you can make the most of energy initiatives to truly take your school’s eco-credentials to the next level.

 

9. Encourage Students To Continue Those Initiatives At Home

Your responsibility as a school very rarely stops as soon as students leave the premises. Whether that’s in staples like homework or mock exam papers, or even in the pastoral care you deliver, school is far more than just somewhere for young people to spend their days.

That responsibility should also naturally extend to the information you pass onto students relating to energy efficiency. Your school is no doubt something you’re incredibly passionate about, and by passing that enthusiasm onto your students they’re more likely to make sustainable changes at home, too.

That could be something as simple as turning off lights and electronics when they’re not needed or in use, or even attaching their own stickers to plug sockets and switches at home. All of this is a good indicator for the future, and helps young people to better understand the importance of saving energy.

It’s also a good way to endear yourself and your fellow teachers to parents and carers at home. As we touched on earlier, a school plays a massive role in a young person’s life, and to instil those habits in them is conducive to a brighter, more eco-friendly future.

 

10. Consider Your Renewable Energy Options

While you’re undoubtedly doing all you can to ensure that your school is as environmentally friendly as possible, the unavoidable truth is that some schools need to upgrade their heating and electrical systems.

That’s especially true for older schools – namely those designed before the Second World War – but even more modern buildings could do with a freshen-up in terms of their renewable options. Fortunately, as technology has progressed, and new initiatives have sprung up, we’re starting to see this already happen on a much larger scale.

While we might be more familiar with the energy grants available for homes, there’s also some excellent opportunities for those in the education sector. Although the shifting political climate may change this, a £230 million initiative introduced under the previous Conservative government set out to improve electrics, heating and energy infrastructure in schools.

That includes substantial funding towards low-carbon heating (such as air source heat pumps), renewables (like solar panelling) and energy efficiency options (including better, more robust insulation).

Outside of that, there’s also options available through independent energy advisors like Tariff, such as innovative heating solutions that utilise more energy-efficient radiators and boilers to ensure your school is always at the right temperature.

Ultimately, whether you opt for government funding – an ideal option given tight budgets – or to streamline the process with independent services like Tariff’s, your renewables are the ideal step in the right direction to clear, brighter future for all involved.