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Nottingham school: overnight energy surveys find £5,000+ savings
Nottingham school: overnight energy surveys find £5,000+ savings
- Nottingham school
- 01/01/2025
- Energy Surveys
Overview
An out-of-hours energy audit revealed opportunities to improve the lighting control at a large secondary school in Nottingham, saving more than £5,000 a year.
Objectives
At a large secondary school in Nottingham, higher-than-expected overnight electricity and gas usage was noticed on half-hourly metering/AMR data.
The school wanted to check that all of the heating/lighting settings were correct and that no energy was being wasted at night when the school was shut.
Project scope
Concept carried out two energy surveys at the school – one during term-time and one during the school holidays.
Following a review of the BMS settings and set points, we toured the school on both occasions, noting all equipment that was found to be in operation. This equipment was then divided between “essential” and non-essential” items, allowing for easy switch-off of the non-essential.
We also analysed the electrical load measuring usage from the school’s various meters. This allowed the school to identify the fact that the site’s external lighting, which was switched on all night for security, was part of its own energy burden. (Previously, the school had thought the leisure centre next door was responsible for this lighting.)
Outcomes & deliverables
- £5,000+ energy savings per year from one initiative
- Further energy saving opportunities identified
- Carbon footprint reduced by 14%
The school now has better control of its external lighting, which has reduced the overnight baseload by around 30kW over eight hours every night. This one initiative alone translates to more £5,000 in savings in energy bills every year.
Further opportunities for energy saving were also identified by our energy surveys, with recommendations ranging from improved ventilation control in the gym, through to more efficient use of catering equipment. Collectively, the initiatives have reduced the school’s carbon footprint by over 14%.