Thousands of pupils in Lincolnshire are now benefitting from green upgrades

How green upgrades at five academies in Lincolnshire are being used to inform future works and educate the next generation.

A large decarbonisation project in Lincolnshire is being praised for acting as both a feasibility study for energy experts whilst also educating staff and pupils about the impacts of climate change.

Supporting more than 8,600 pupils across a total of 13 academies located in the counties of Lincolnshire and Leicestershire, the Priory Federation of Academies Trust is working towards a net zero 2040 target.

Key to achieving this, say trust experts, is upgrading its estate to reduce its 3,000-tonne annual carbon footprint. Also important, they add, is leading by example to demonstrate the importance of climate action through sustainability initiatives shared with staff and pupils. 

Jim Kirby, internal energy consultant at the trust, said: “The trust’s sole aim is to educate the pupils and students entrusted to our care for six hours a day, as it is to them we will pass on the energy baton. It is in all our interests to do the best we can.”

Supplemented by self-funded energy efficiency works that ensured trustee confidence in the outcomes of green projects, the trust prepared a heat decarbonisation plan to provide actionable steps on how this target might be achieved. This plan was, in part, informed by an energy audit enabled through the Low Carbon Skills Fund, with capital works aided by grant funding delivered via the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

We deliver funding for both these schemes on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Jim added: “Integral to the plan was developing the funding because it quickly became apparent the trust could not solely fund the transformation itself.”

The capital works programme focused on upgrades to five academies within its portfolio: Lincoln, LSST, Ruskin, Waddington Redwood and Witham. 

To complete the works, the trust was awarded £1,700,422 in funding through Phase 3a of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Funding enabled the replacement of multiple fossil fuel boilers with air source heat pumps, plus accompanying energy efficiency measures such as heat recovery, building management systems and insulation measures. Also incorporated was solar PV, which now generates clean, renewable energy to supplement the increased electrical demand resulting from the shift away from gas.

Now complete, project outcomes are being used to inform the next phase of works for the trust, with low-carbon technologies embedded into the sustainability curriculum for the students. Pupils have actively engaged in the conversation to learn about the purpose of the new technology installed at their schools, with one group of students even leading a submission to highlight this at a local community event. 

Jim added: “This has resulted in questions and queries from individual pupils. Additionally, in a recent project submission by students to the Lincolnshire Show, the site buildings were shown with solar panels.”

The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme project is anticipated to save the trust £125,162 in annual energy bills and 161 tonnes of carbon emissions every year. A 161 tonne reduction in carbon emissions is equivalent to driving 402,500 miles in an average car – a distance that could get you from London to Cape Town 48 times*.

Next for the trust is to build confidence and competence with the new technology; and to monitor the results and use the data to inform their next steps. 

Jim added: “As we have invested in new technology, we need to give ourselves time to adjust and ensure it is doing what we expect it to do.”

The trust is determined to sustain momentum towards its net zero targets, with works completed through Salix-delivered schemes supplemented by additional funding streams including the trust’s own capital and internal resources. Its strong sustainability focus means that nothing is viewed in isolation, and accompanying measures have been employed to reduce waste, recycle and ultimately care for the planet in every way it possibly can. 

Ned Jordan, programme coordinator at Salix, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the trust on its Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme project.

“The trust’s strong ambition to achieve its net zero aims, coupled with its sense of community social responsibility, is truly moving and, certainly, the only way forward if we’re to ensure we reach net zero as a society as a whole.”

In addition to this success, the trust’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme project was shortlisted for the local and public sector net zero transformation of the year at the 2024 Green Energy Awards. Although it didn’t come away with the win, the shortlist achievement acknowledges the leadership demonstrated by the trust and its commitment to driving impactful change on our journey to a net zero future.

To delve into further detail on the project, technologies installed at each site and the role of the Low Carbon Skills Fund in informing the plans that acted as a blueprint for the works, read our case study.

* Carbon calculations have been generated through a tool created by our carbon and technical experts here at Salix. The intention is to provide carbon savings estimates to aid with a common understanding of emission data and statistics. These estimates are approximate; it is not recommended to use this tool for formal carbon emissions analysis. The tool uses UK government conversion factors alongside emissions estimates sourced from various studies, but it is possible a margin of error may exist. For more information about the formulas and justifications used in this tool, please contact us at [email protected].