St Andrew’s School becomes carbon neutral with pupils at the heart of vision for sustainable future
Over the course of 2021, St Andrew’s School in Gloucestershire has implemented a myriad of decarbonisation measures as a result of funding totalling £114,051, provided by the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS). The grant, provided by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and delivered by Salix Finance, has enabled the school to become net zero 29 years ahead of schedule of the UK’s 2050 net zero target.
The infrastructure strategy was holistic, with works including wall insulation, upgrading to double-glazed units and insulating under the timber suspended ground floors in the old Victorian-built area of the school. A suspended ceiling was also introduced to significantly reduce heating required in two of the school’s classrooms.
The building work enabled the installation of an air source heat pump (ASHP). In upgrading the insulation, the lower temperature levels produced by the pump were sufficient for heating the school, saving money on radiator replacements.
The installation of Solar PV has helped generate enough energy to meet the school's power demands, in addition to 25% of the ASHP, with additional power stored in a battery for other needs. Implementing LED lighting, which is controlled by movement sensors, has also reduced energy usage.
We wouldn’t have been able to undertake the projects without the funding. It helped develop our previous work and fulfil our vision, having now achieved net zero carbon emissions.
Estimated savings for St Andrew’s School
- Annual savings: £4,503
- Total grant value: £114,100
- Annual carbon savings: 15.49 tonnes per carbon
Technical breakdown
- Oil boiler replaced with air source heat pump (air to water)
- Installation of Solar PV on south facing hall roof
- Double glazing with metal or plastic frames
- Cavity wall insulation into walls of 3 classrooms
- Floor insulation – suspended timber floor
- New LED fittings
- Roof insulation
Sustainable initiatives
The children are included in the school’s sustainability vision, from their inclusion in projects to their understanding of the environment. Their eco-council and after school eco-club provide spaces for sustainable initiatives such as upgrading to refillable glue sticks and collecting plastic bottles to create a greenhouse.
Sustainability is also weaved into school’s curriculum with teachings on the climate crisis and an emphasis on implementing changes individually to instil a sense of accountability. Moving forward, the school are hoping to streamline their systems and paper usage and adapt their teaching and learning to keep waste to a minimum.
The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme
The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is funded by The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and delivered by Salix Finance.
The scheme was made available for capital energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation projects within public sector non-domestic buildings, including central government departments and non-departmental public bodies in England only, to deliver the following objectives.
- Deliver stimulus to the energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation sectors, supporting jobs.
- Deliver significant carbon savings within the public sector.
Click here to download the case study.
