Energy upgrades

Starting with energy efficiency

Before investing in energy upgrades, you should look at opportunities to reduce energy demand in your school. Read through our tips on how to save energy at no cost.

Ways to save

Energy factsheets

The next step is to look at investing in energy efficiency measures that will remove the need to use so much energy in the first place. Energy efficiency measures can include upgrades to:

• Building fabric and insulation
• Heating systems
• Lighting
• Windows and doors

Building fabric and insulation

Improving building fabric saves energy by reducing heat loss. Gaps around windows and doors should be addressed to avoid heat escaping and will make the building less draughty. Consider investing in fabric improvement with increased amounts of attic and wall insulation, as funding programmes become available under summer works schemes. 

Lighting

Replace older inefficient fittings (eg T8) with LED fittings. If the school’s complete lighting system cannot be upgraded, one or two rooms could be done at a time. The old lamps and fittings could be used for spare parts in other parts of the school until all the lighting has been upgraded.

Heating

There are no and low cost measures to improve the central heating system such as adjusting time clocks and thermostats, monitoring the Building Management System (BMS), adjusting radiators which remain cold, replacing missing pipe or valve insulation and regularly servicing the boiler. School offices could consider installing thermostatic radiator valves, however these should be avoided in the general school area as they can be easily damaged.

Grant aid for energy upgrades

Grants and financial supports can support your school to make effective energy and insulation upgrades.