Property

Climate controls

Will your school be able to absorb the costs from the new requirement for a return on sustainable investment in education of the Climate Change Act 2008? Sarah Daly outlines the likely impact on your utility budgets

There are two issues that are at the forefront of everyone’s mind at the moment: the credit crunch and sustainability. It is no surprise that the sustainability agenda is finally achieving credence at a time when the developed world has never felt more vulnerable to cost.

The Climate Change Act 2008 will soon come into force, with the Government due to announce its first action plans by June 2009:
• legally binding targets: greenhouse gas emission reductions through action in the UK and abroad of at least 80 per cent by 2050, and reductions in CO2 emissions of at least 26 per cent by 2020, against a 1990 baseline. The 2020 target will be reviewed soon after Royal Assent to reflect the move to all greenhouse gases and the increase in the 2050 target to 80 per cent; and
• a carbon budgeting system that caps emissions over five-year periods, with three budgets set at a time, to set out the trajectory to 2050. The first three carbon budgets will run from 2008-12, 2013-17 and 2018-22, and must be set by 1 June 2009. The Government must report to parliament its policies and proposals to meet the budgets as soon as practical after that.

Greener is better
These actions will have serious implications for independent schools, especially those with large estates, because the first stage is likely to be a carbon tax (effectively per tonne of emissions, based on energy usage). This tax could cost schools tens of thousands per year and will go on top of the usual energy costs, which are predicted to rise as we emerge from the credit crunch and demand rises again. In 2008, energy costs more than doubled; but we have had a short-term reprieve while demand has dipped. This is no time for complacency: schools need to take urgent action to mitigate rising costs.

For bursars, the priority lies in the immediate evaluation and upgrading of existing building stock to mitigate rising operational costs. As ever, the independent sector can expect little Government support as that is likely to be directed to homeowners and SMEs.

There is no doubt that the greener, leaner schools will flourish as they will be able to direct optimal funding into new facilities, rather than seeing hundreds of thousands of pounds per year disappearing into utility and taxation black holes.

But it’s not all about cost reduction; in fact, the message from experts in sustainable education is that the agenda in schools should be driven by non-financial factors while schools prioritise healthier buildings and practices. The evidence is compelling that less artificial heat, light and ventilation creates significantly healthier pupils and staff: consequently, increasing learning outcomes:
• drastic reductions in asthma;
• significant reductions in sick days as more natural environments lead to less viral spread;
• concentration levels are greatly improved, with SATS results increasing by 5 per cent in green schools; and
• staff turnover is reduced by 17 per cent in green schools as staff and pupils feel happier, healthier and more productive.

Change your habits
It isn’t all about direct cost to improve facilities; a considerable amount can be saved by behaviour. Running taps, burning lights and heating in unoccupied rooms, leaving equipment running or on standby overnight... these everyday habits will soon be unthinkable. It isn’t just about cost reduction; it’s about creating a level of responsibility and citizenship that permeates every organisation and home. Schools are well-placed to act as inspiration to young people and the hundreds of other stakeholders that feed into the educational network.

The next step for governors and the SMT is to bring in experts to carry out sustainable audits. This should take a holistic approach to eight key areas: management, energy, health and wellbeing, people/behaviour, transport, water, ecology and waste. This will establish the short, medium and long-term understanding of the school’s priorities with a clearer indication of paybacks – both financial and non-financial – to secure the future of the school.

Sarah Daly is managing director of Heath Avery Architects in Cheltenham.

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