The Caretakers' Forum

I have been asked to prepare a decarbonisation plan for the school.

As always we are given tasks that we have not necessarily been trained to do, but i have made a start detailing where we are currently and what our current energy usage is, possible projects that may help to reduce our use of fossil fuels, possible utility savings, funding options etc.

But before i go too deep down the rabbit hole i wonder if anyone else has been given or involved in a similar task that would be prepared to share information to ensure i am on the correct path.

Decarbonisation plan? I would have thought that’s a job for specialists surely? All the obvious things are avoiding fossil fuels and using ‘green’ energy and not wasting energy to start with. How much time are they allowing you? Sounds like something I would avoid!

3 months, so I have time. Unfortunately it's not optional.

Has your LEA or academy got an energy efficiency department, maybe where you input the monthly meter readings, they may be able to help you with this?

It is a complex rabbit hole getting funding for anything, but energy is currently a hot topic so it might add leverage and help with your task.

In my opinion this task is well above your pay grade but your inclusion in the process should count as your task.
Good luck

Thanks Keyholder, yes i totally agree.
We use Laser for our meter readings and energy usage so i have invited them into the process along with the "School buyers Club"
Hopefully we can trash out something between us.

We had someone from the 'government' come round recently to assess the school for decarb.

I couldn't have written up what they did and wouldn't pretend I could.

We are going through decarbonisation at the moment. It's a bit of a minefield.
Planning for new doors, windows and insulation upgrades, solar panels, LED lighting, air source heat pumps to replace the boilers and a radiator upgrade. We also need a new substation and cabling to power the school and new heat pumps. Good luck.

Sounds like something the business manager should be doing, but if you have the time it might be interesting

beagle wrote: ↑12th Sep 2022 at 9:00am We are going through decarbonisation at the moment. It's a bit of a minefield.
Planning for new doors, windows and insulation upgrades, solar panels, LED lighting, air source heat pumps to replace the boilers and a radiator upgrade. We also need a new substation and cabling to power the school and new heat pumps. Good luck.

If you apply that to all schools it’s going to cost an absolute fortune. It’s odd that we spent a decades being told by politicians on both sides that there was no spare cash and we shouldn’t expect a pay rise (especially public sector) yet since covid kicked in we seem to have billions available.

greenjack wrote: ↑12th Sep 2022 at 9:32am If you apply that to all schools it’s going to cost an absolute fortune. It’s odd that we spent a decades being told by politicians on both sides that there was no spare cash and we shouldn’t expect a pay rise (especially public sector) yet since covid kicked in we seem to have billions available.

If you want to go carbon neutral its the only viable route. You need to get rid of gas or oil, but until 100% of our electricity is from renewables then you can't be carbon neutral.