Energy scheme saves Cambridgeshire schools thousands

Schools across Cambridgeshire are collectively saving £600,000 per year as part of Cambridgeshire County Council’s energy generation programme.

Having opened in 2014, the programme of energy efficiency and energy generation projects in schools provides loans or managed service arrangements from its Local Energy Investment Fund, with the aim of helping schools plan for the future, upgrade their energy assets and manage their energy bills.

The programme now has more than 40 schools signed up, reducing their energy use by 7,547MWh per year. Of this, 23 have already completed their installation and are reaping the benefits of reduced energy costs.

Measures include LED lighting upgrades, solar panels for electricity and heat generation, biomass boilers, combined heat and power systems, various improvements to heating systems and controls and various types of insulation. Schools have saved an average of 20 per cent on their energy bills.

Josh Schumann, Commercial & Investment Committee chairman, said: “Schools have made significant savings on their energy bills through joining this programme. It means they get much more control over their energy usage whilst reducing their carbon footprint – and can even generate income. I am thrilled to see so many have already signed up to the scheme but we want to encourage even more schools to sign up, and see the benefits of guaranteed energy savings.”