What are the top energy saving actions for most schools?
The biggest savings in energy consumption can be made by making sure heating and hot water are turned off during weekends and holidays, by turning thermostats down (every 1C reduction in the temperature in a schools should reduce gas consumption by about 10%) and by making sure the heating doesn’t come on too early in the morning.
If the school’s boiler has frost protection there is no need to leave the heating on outside of school hours, unless there are external lettings or events.
Schools should look to minimise weekend and holiday gas usage to zero. Generally the only justifiable reason for using gas at the weekend or during the holidays is for frost protection, which should only come on when the outside temperature drops below about 4C, when there is a risk of water pipes bursting.
If the school is to be occupied during the holidays by a few members of staff only, it is better to provide those staff with electric fan heaters, rather than heating the whole school, or if the school’s heating is zoned just leave the occupied zone on. Some schools have an egg-timer type boost control which allows staff who come in outside normal hours to turn the heating on for between 30 minutes and 2 hours
Hot water systems can be turned off to save energy during the holidays and weekends. After longer holidays, please remember to flush the system before the school is occupied again to reduce Legionella risk – you need to do this whether or not you have turned the heating off over a holiday.
