Education Business

“Reduce your carbon footprint” has become the mantra of the end of this first decade of the 21st century. It is quite rightly a concern for all, but the question arises as to how to do this in a way that will not impact adversely on a schools core objective. If you can see how much energy is being used and wasted and where, then you can turn it into a benefit for the whole school.
    
There is increasing pressure financially and through legislation to reduce a school’s carbon emissions and, as we all know, to just “switch off the light” is not always wise, convenient or even efficient. Action needs to be taken but in a measured way bringing real benefits. The impact of the growing awareness of energy wastage needs to be harnessed, which then can be turned into constructive results.
    
Playing your part
Everyone involved in running a school or college should be concerned about energy management, from the governors through to the maintenance staff and ultimately the students. Everyone has to have a part to play, in one way or another, if any carbon reduction policies are to have any long-term results. But how do you get everyone involved and interested? Generally, if they can see the effects and the benefits people will then act.
    
“If you can measure it, you can manage it,” is a basic truth and is particularly apt when dealing with energy use. There is plenty of sound advice for schools from many organisations, encouraging meter reading and cataloguing of the results. This is not as easy in practice as may be apparent, involving time and effort and, despite suggestions from some, generally it can only practically and safely involve one or two individuals. Accordingly, it is important to make the measuring of energy use easy to accomplish and hence to provide solutions that are straightforward to implement.
    
Advance metering, particularly over a network and the internet, is a major advantage for any business and particularly for schools and colleges. Being able to conveniently see the amount of electricity being used on a whole site, an area of a site or even an individual piece of equipment means targeted action can be taken plus those involved can see the effect of their actions.
    
For instance a bursar sat in his office can analyse historical data and see what the base usage of electricity is, even when the school is unoccupied. A headmaster can check the real-time energy use night and day. Governors can plan for the future, knowing what energy is currently costing, by studying historical data, but it can go even further.
    
If the energy use data can be analysed over a network and the web, then a class also would be able to study that data and see the impact made by energy saving measures. This can then be used within the curriculum to teach the importance of reducing carbon emissions, the impact of climate change on a sustainable future, while at the same time visually displaying the effect of different energy saving measures and efforts made throughout the school.
    
Making a difference
Suddenly through using the right advance metering technology the invisible is visible, an aim of many science lessons, and all those involved can see how they can change what energy is being used or wasted. Now turning off that light can be measured, managed and effective decisions made on how to employ processes for further carbon reduction.
    
The bursar can manage and reduce his ever-rising fuel bill; the teaching staff can show their charges the steps they take will truly make a difference and the whole school will become a cleaner and more efficient environment.
    
At Enigin we have developed a turnkey EnergyMaps programme that will enable schools and colleges to overcome the problems they face in reducing their carbon footprint.  Our programme includes networked advance metering, whole school awareness, energy saving products and guaranteed energy savings based on a full energy audit.
    
Reducing your carbon footprint is a lot more than a mantra; it is a reality that is here to stay. Schools and colleges need to act now to make sure their carbon reducing efforts are actually positive steps for the whole school, influencing teaching, running costs, the environment and sustaining the future for generations to come.

For more information
To discover how Enigin can cut your schools energy wastage contact us on 01726 871040 or visit www.enigin.com/greenschools.
To register for a free energy waste reduction seminar please e-mail Mark Sinden at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .