BRE IP2/11 PDF

INTRODUCTION

The UK Climate Change Act (2008) requires the UK to reduce CO₂ emissions by at least 26% by 2020, and greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, with reference to the 1990 baseline. UK schools are estimated to emit 15.6 million tones of CO₂ (MtCO₂) each year, with energy use in school buildings accounting for approximately 37% of this, a total of 5.7 MtCO₂ per annum. Effective energy management in schools will help the UK to reduce this carbon emission figure and to achieve the UK's carbon reduction objectives. It will also reduce school's energy costs, which average £60, 000 per annum per school and are rising.

Until now, there has been much focus on energy-efficient building design and procurement practices for new schools, but little direct guidance about best practice in operational energy management for school managers. This information Paper, therefore, is aimed at those willing and able to take a lead in reducing their schools' carbon emissions and seeks to outline a step-by-step energy management framework that can be easily integrated into the daily school regime. It also discusses low- to medium-cost ways in which the main sources of high energy use and cost can be tackled.