SEEP-2 -
SEEP-2
SCHOOLS ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECT
The Schools Energy Efficiency Project (SEEP-2) ran from January 2008 to January 2009. The purpose of SEEP-2 was firstly to improve energy efficiency in 20 secondary schools in Oxfordshire and secondly to develop an effective methodology for turning energy efficiency advice for schools into actions leading to identifiable financial and environmental savings. SEEP-2 was run by the Environmental Information Exchange (EiE), based at Oxford Brookes University.
Context
The Carbon Trust estimates the cost of energy used within all UK schools at £350M per annum and predicts this will rise despite reduction targets set at the Local Authority level. Schools are responsible for over 5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, around 15% of the total UK public sector emissions (Source: Carbon Trust, 2009).
As the result of a pilot project carried out in 2006, EiE was commissioned by the Hamilton Trust (HT) and the Oxfordshire Independent and State Schools Partnership (OISSP) to run SEEP-2 in 2008. The 20 schools in the project were drawn from both the independent and state sectors in Oxfordshire. As there are already pupil education programmes for energy efficiency available from most local authorities and educational trusts, the project focused on supporting site managers and bursars to help them turn energy saving advice into action.
Estimated Savings to be Achieved in 2009 and 2010
Total annual spend on energy for 20 SEEP-2 schools: £2 135 000*
(*an aggregation of the most recent data supplied by each school in 2008)
|
Energy Saving in £ |
Saving as a % of energy bill |
CO2 saving in tones |
Energy saving in kWh |
Year 1 (2009) |
£120 426 |
5.6% |
813 |
2 143 491 |
Year 2 (2010) |
£182 021 |
8.6% |
1 195 |
3 223 937 |
Year 1 - Some actions are expected to be implemented during 2009, for these only partial savings were calculated
Year 2 – This represents a full year of savings from implemented actions
* Financial savings could prove significantly higher over the next 5 years if BERR energy price increase projections of between 33% and 98% prove correct.
Methodology
The methodology used for SEEP-2 in Oxfordshire was:
Recruitment of participants – through letter and e-mail to head teachers
Carbon Trust Initial Assessment Survey and report for each school
EiE site visit to each school to discuss each report and develop a more specific Action Plan to improve uptake of the Carbon Trust recommendations. The Action Plans broke down recommendations into more precise and detailed actions using both EiE’s experience in energy saving and ‘best practice’ seen in other schools in the project
Workshops/network meetings were provided quarterly throughout the year to discuss energy actions in greater detail and to share solutions. Workshop topics were chosen based on the need for implementation support indicated by each school contact. The meetings ensured that regular contact was maintained with the schools to keep the momentum going on their planned actions.
Bespoke advice was provided by phone and e-mail throughout the year
Savings from achieved actions were calculated using robust methodology similar to that used by national programmes such as the Carbon Trust and Envirowise.
Estimated Savings to be achieved in 2009 by action (from highest to lowest)
Recommendations |
Details |
Saving in £ |
Switch off IT equipment |
Use of shut-down software |
48 147 |
Improve lighting and lighting control |
Energy efficient lights Movement sensors |
19 731 |
Raise awareness |
Pupils and staff |
17 560 |
Improve heating and heating control |
Boiler efficiency |
13 735 |
Improve Insulation |
Boiler house pipe work and valves |
7 029 |
Miscellaneous |
Server room temperatures |
6 395 |
Improve energy management |
Energy management policy |
5 209 |
Control Appliances |
Automatic shut-down of photocopiers etc. |
2 656 |
|
Total |
120 462 |
The majority of these savings will be achieved with little or no financial investment. Over time larger savings will be made, particularly on heating and heating control, as investment finance is available.
Conclusion
SEEP-2 has delivered measurable savings of CO2 and costs for each school, and has defined a successful method of transforming energy saving advice into every day practice in schools. Additionally, it has helped develop an ethos of energy efficiency and review within the schools that will result in savings well beyond the project. As CO2 reduction targets are raised and carbon management becomes increasingly important, this model could be replicated to good effect to improve energy efficiency in other school groupings throughout the country.
For additional details contact:
contact Moira Dorey on 01865 484153 or mdorey@brookes.ac.uk.
The SEEP-2 project has been very successful and an average drop in energy use was estimated at 7.3% for the year – a significant saving at a time when energy prices continue to rise. In most cases the savings have been made by simple adjustments to lighting and heating, and by changing behaviour. Peter Robinson of Sibford School explained how better insulation and a daily switch off routine for ICT equipment has lowered energy consumption, and Kevin Heritage of Wheatley Park said that the school’s Building Management System gives them much more control and flexibility over temperature settings. Martin Richardson of Chipping Norton found that a move to low energy lighting and insulating valves in the boiler room saved energy, and Steve Evans at D’Overbroecks showed that by just reducing room temperatures a notch or two saved energy with surprisingly no complaints.
As part of the project, Energy Conservation workshops led by Lynn Hughes of Wild Knowledge involved school students in the quest to save energy. Ninety-one students from six schools took part in the workshops where Lynn turned them into ‘energy detectives,’ and sent them roving around their schools, equipped with PDA’s to spot energy crimes and figure out solutions to deal with them.
“What’s refreshing about this project is how willing the schools are to get involved, share their ideas and take action,” says Moira Dorey who has led the SEEP-2 Project with her team. “We have learnt a lot over the past year, and it has been a real eye-opener about how effective simple measures can be.
“There’s no doubt that with rising energy costs and our need to reduce carbon emissions, these types of measures can make a big difference while the longer term changes to infrastructure are put in place.”
SEEP-2 Project Background - By Moira Dorey (EiE Project Co-ordinator)
The Schools Energy Efficiency Project (SEEP) began in late 2005 funded by the Hamilton Trust in association with the OISSP. Two secondary schools agreed to take steps to improve their energy efficiency. SEEP-2 is running under the umbrella of the OISSP and in conjunction with the Environmental Information Exchange (EiE) at Oxford Brookes University. There are 20 participating schools, drawn from both the maintained and independent sectors. The project’s aims are to help each participating school to achieve a significant reduction in its energy use and therefore its energy costs, without the need for any significant financial investments. EiE has arranged a Carbon Trust Initial Assessment Survey to be carried out for each school following which EiE is providing a range of support to follow up the survey reports. Support will help schools to implement actions to reduce energy use and costs.
Support includes:
1. An initial action plan
2. Workshops, meetings, networking events
3. Implementation Services
4. Calculation of savings and final report
Workshops/networking events have been run for the schools in February, April, July and October. Between these events, EiE have been making personal visits to all schools to develop Action Plans with them, which will lead to low cost energy savings.
SEEP-2 Goal
Goal: To reduce annual energy spend in 20 schools Jan 2008 to Jan 2009
What can SEEP-2 Energy audits tell us
SEEP-2 Energy Audits achieved cost savings by surveying the schools to identify areas of savings then guiding actions to improve implementation. With support from Briar Associates (on behalf of the Carbon Trust and the Environmental Information Exchange (EiE), one school was able to save a value of £7000 / yr primarily on energy by reducing usage when the building was unoccupied. The other school saved over £11000 / yr largely through increasing the efficiency of heating and appliance use, and arranging lower energy tariffs. Both staff and pupils were presented with details of the project and advice on how their actions could further reduce energy use. Further, both schools pursued opportunities to use project outcomes in curriculum development.
For more information about SEEP-2 or contact Moira Dorey on 01865 484153 or mdorey@brookes.ac.uk.