Aside from salaries and maintenance, the energy bill is one of the biggest expenses for schools and universities. According to the government, a school that uses 10 MW of electricity and 22 MW of gas per month would pay around £10,000.
To keep energy costs from rising, many schools are considering implementing energy-saving measures. Energy efficiency saves money, so it’s a great way to fund curricular resources. What energy conservation strategies can schools use to reduce costs and save money?
Switch Supplier
Ensure you are on a suitable energy contract for your school, college, academy, or other educational building. Even though it may seem like the last thing you want to think about, sorting out your energy is essential, as you may be spending more on your energy bill than you need to. Switching energy providers is one of the best ways to save money on your energy bills.
Using a comparison site, compare energy tariffs to find the best deal when your contract expires. You can find fixed rates by switching suppliers, preventing your school from fluctuating energy prices and focusing on what is most important: teaching your students. Get more information and learn more about switching energy suppliers and using a comparison site.
Conduct an Energy Audit
The energy performance of a school is determined through an energy audit. By definition, conducting an energy audit represents energy efficiency and looking for ways to use less gas and electricity to accomplish the same amount of work. An overall assessment of gas and electricity consumption and energy efficiency can be obtained by conducting an energy audit.
Energy audits are usually provided free of charge by energy suppliers. Contact your supplier; they will help you determine where you are wasting energy and take practical steps to reduce your use. Your school will save money and become more energy efficient as a result.
Improve Heating Efficiency
Simple, inexpensive measures to reduce your school’s heating energy costs can make a big difference. A 1-degree Celcius reduction in building temperature can reduce your heating costs by 5-10 percent. You can save by reducing the heating operation of your school by one hour per day. Should you have a smart boiler, you can program your boiler to run only when you need it, saving you money and energy throughout the year.
The term boiler efficiency aims to reduce the number of boiler cycles, which reduces the time it takes to burn the fuel. Boiler efficiency eliminates wasted energy, improves effectiveness, and does not affect building temperatures.
Consider the Efficiency of Voltage Technology
You may not be aware that the voltage of the power supply that feeds your school may be higher than necessary. This is because the old distribution network was designed for higher voltage levels and required all buildings to be supplied with the lowest voltage from the electricity supplier.
If the voltage supplied to older school buildings is too high, it will unnecessarily consume a lot of energy and the electricity bill will increase accordingly. Overvoltage increases wear and tear on electrical equipment and causes damage.
By implementing voltage technology between the main switchboard and the grid, the voltage supplied to your facility can be regulated and improved, so you only pay for what you use.
Tips for Energy-Efficiency
To reduce energy consumption, many schools are installing LED lighting, but if you take a more organic approach, you can also install smart lighting solutions, motion light sensors, and energy-rated equipment as part of the energy-efficiency strategy. Consider adding systems, insulation and low-carbon heating.
A building energy management system (BEMS) effectively manages various building functions. BEMS is a computer-based system that controls and monitors mechanical and electrical equipment in buildings. This system can control your heating, ventilation and air conditioning simultaneously by monitoring your building systems, and improving building efficiency and reliability, delivering significant savings.
Additionally, renewable energy sources such as solar power and heat pumps can benefit your school with better future-proofing when switching to renewable energy sources. Solar power is now much cheaper, making it an excellent option for schools looking to reduce their carbon footprint and energy bills. Solar power systems are another popular way to educate children and communities about environmental issues.
Final Thoughts
Energy conservation is an important role that your school can teach and play. Energy-saving measures significantly reduce energy consumption while also contributing to environmental protection. Besides lowering energy bills, schools can create a more sustainable learning environment through its energy conservation efforts. Your school can positively impact the environment by reducing energy consumption and promoting energy-saving practices.
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