Following the recent report release by the IPCC, we have limited time left to act to help curb global warming. See Gina’s recent 'Story of Tens' piece on this, here.
The devastating effects of climate change can be seen across the world, but also here in the UK. Weather extremes throughout the year; from flooding to drought, freezing cold to extreme and unprecedented heatwaves. As a result, our school buildings are having to work a lot harder to maintain the environments needed for learning.
School campuses often comprise of buildings in a range of different ages and styles, documenting their expansion over the decades. However, this growth has often left buildings disconnected from one another. Unfortunately, schools are feeling the pinch trying to heat and maintain these sprawling campuses, with the ever-rising cost of energy. The historic reliance on gas as a main heating source is both damaging to the climate and the school budget, as costs continue to rise.
However, help is at hand, and through careful planning and targeted retrofit these campuses can work to tackle both climate change and energy consumption. Retrofitting and reusing the school's existing built assets will give them a longer life - avoiding the need for demolition, futureproofing the buildings and improving their health, reducing risk of damp and making for better internal comfort.
At Levitt Bernstein we have a wealth of experience when it comes to education building design and sustainability. We consider sustainability from the outset and work with clients to achieve the best possible building performance. We create projects which are energy efficient and have improved thermal comfort and indoor air quality, that help to improve the health and well-being of students and teachers.
The steps below outline how, together, we can work to tackle the issues faced by schools and create a clear pathway to Net Zero. The following steps can form a part of the overarching school Masterplan and create a guidebook to follow over the next 10 years - which can be easily worked towards as part of the school’s development and maintenance plan.
Existing building management:
Review the building management system; reducing energy could be as simple as turning off the heating during holidays, or making sure the lights are turned off at the end of the day.
Energy Audit:
Audit of the existing buildings; assess the profile of the current buildings, (age, fabric, heating source) and assess how this affects their energy consumption.
Decarbonisation Plan:
Leading a small consultant team, we can holistically bring together an overarching sustainability plan for the school. The report will identify which buildings are the ‘gas guzzlers’, which are the ‘low hanging fruit’ and easy to tackle first - forming a plan of action of how to move forward. We then evaluate the different holistic solutions, highlighting where the school can retrofit buildings or harness renewable energy, to help on the journey to Net Zero. High level cost consultant analysis will also give a broad picture of the expense and savings, which helps inform budgets.
Retrofit Plan:
The next big step is action. It can be daunting, but a proper retrofit plan can provide a detailed route map to improvements. We will work with the school to help break it down into clear and achievable bitesize portions, which fit into the school’s budget and forecasts. The tailored retrofit plan for each building will fit into the long-term masterplan providing a joined-up approach to combat the issues faced. Within the Retrofit plan the following areas of carbon reduction are considered.
Reduce embodied carbon:
Carbon has been used to create the existing buildings, so why waste it? By retaining the 'big ticket items' such as retrofitting existing buildings we can reduce waste, reduce project costs, and reduce project carbon. Each building will have to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, with the help of a structural engineer.
Improve the fabric:
Fabric improvements are key in reducing heat lost through the roof, walls, windows, and floor. Upgrading these elements can make a huge difference to the energy consumption of a building.
Renewable Energy Sources:
As well as benefitting from lower running costs, the school can make savings on energy bills by generating renewable energy on site, helping to reduce operating costs over time. However, in order to get the maximum benefit, renewable energy must be considered as part of a whole building upgrade.
Net-zero carbon schools can serve as an example for sustainability for both their students and the community - providing opportunities for students to learn about renewable energy, energy efficiency, and environmental stewardship within the building that they are in. This can help to prepare students for careers in green industries and foster a culture of sustainability within the school and the wider community.
