19 October 2011

Scheme for schools to cut energy bills
Hundreds of schools across England are set to take part in a new national scheme to reduce carbon emissions and cut energy bills.

Schemes will be piloted in 52 local authorities and almost 500 schools will take part in a ten month programme in which the Carbon Trust will offer free expert advice, new initiatives and cost effective measures, including the installation of more efficient heating and lighting.

The pilot could save up to 40m in energy bills and 270,000 tonnes of carbon. UK schools currently account for over half of local authorities carbon emissions.

The councils taking part include Cumbria, Bedford and Walsall, as well as a group of councils in the East Midlands on the Carbon Trusts tailored School Collaboration on Resource Efficiency (SCoRE) scheme.

Richard Rugg, director of Carbon Trust Programmes, said: The Carbon Trusts work with local authorities shows that schools can play a pivotal role in helping the public sector to save millions of pounds while slashing carbon emissions.

With a squeeze on budgets, our focus is on helping local authorities in collaboration with their schools estate to identify low cost opportunities that deliver high financial savings.

Whether a pupil, a teacher or a school site manager, every member of the school community must play its part in saving energy.

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