Savvy schools save cash and carbon

Savvy schools have saved around £81,000 on their energy bills after taking part in a scheme to reduce their carbon footprints.

A total of 20 Leicestershire schools have saved the cash between them after working with the County Council to limit their environmental impact.

The SCoRE (Schools Collaboration on Resource Efficiency) scheme has resulted in the schools reducing their bills by an average of nine per cent.

A total of 482 tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of the carbon footprint of 60 Leicestershire residents during a year – were also saved thanks to the initiative.

Richard Blunt, County Council Cabinet Member for Climate Action, said: The schools we have worked with have been enthusiastic and keen to reduce their environmental impact, and we are delighted with the progress and savings they have made.”

Schools underwent energy, waste and water audits and received support in developing action plans to reduce their energy use, water use and the amount of waste they send to landfill.

Wreake Valley Academy in Syston took part in the scheme and has reduced its electricity consumption by 24 per cent and its gas consumption by six per cent* since April 2011, saving itself £23,449 in bills.

Site manager Martin Budd said: Our experience in participating in the SCoRE Project has led to warmer classrooms, more effective lighting, a lighter carbon footprint and significant financial savings.”

Following on from the success of the scheme the council will be rolling the service out to other schools and academies across the county.

For more information on the SCoRE programme visit: www.leics.gov.uk/score

Glen Hills Primary, Glen Parva

Huncote Community Primary

Winstanley Community College, Braunstone Town

St Bartholomews Primary, Quorn

Wreake Valley Community College, Syston

Fleckney C of E Primary

Foxton Primary

Sherrier C of E Primary, Lutterworth

Kibworth High School

Westfield Infant School, Hinckley

Westfield Junior School, Hinckley

Bosworth Community College

South Charnwood High School, Markfield

Buckminster Primary

Castle Donington Community College

New Swannington Primary

Orchard Community Primary, Castle Donington

Guthlaxton High School

Gartree High

Brookside Primary

*figures for the gas consumption are weather corrected

Schools Collaboration on Resource Efficiency (SCoRE) is a project developed by Climate East Midlands to help local authorities in the East Midlands work with a pilot group of schools to deliver carbon reductions.  

Whilst carbon reduction is the key focus of the programme, opportunities to consider wider resource, waste and water efficiency will also be considered, particularly in relation to their carbon impact.

SCoRE is one strand of activity in the Climate East Midlands Skills Programme which is funded by the Department of Communities and Local Government.  The project is being managed by the Carbon Trust. One of the aims of the programme is to support local authorities more generally in achieving reductions in carbon emissions.  

For further information please contact: Dan Fernbank, Project Manager at the Carbon Trust, T: 01865 887 584 E: daniel.fernbank@carbontrust.co.uk  or Anne Gayfer, Climate East Midlands, T: 0755 4439 131 E: anne.gayfer@nottscc.gov.uk.  Or look online: www.climate-em.org.uk/projects/skills-programme