Friends School

 
 
 
 
05 February 2007
 

The Friends’ School in Essex wanted to reduce the yearly cost (£8,500) of heating its swimming pool.

Using a Carbon Trust interest-free loan it was able to purchase a new mechanised cover, which, although it cost £7,000, should be paid back in less than four years, just by using the money saved from the reduced energy bills.

The Friends’ School is a three hundred year old independent school in Essex. Currently the school employs 115 staff and has almost 400 pupils. One major area of energy spend was the school swimming pool, which was costing the school around £8,500 a year to keep heated.

In order to find an energy efficient way to reduce this heating cost, the Friends’ School contacted the Carbon Trust. The Carbon Trust recommended that the school purchase a cover, which would greatly reduce the heat loss from the pool, as well as lead to savings of over £2,000 per year in energy bills. To purchase the pool cover, the school applied for a Carbon Trust loan, which it received in October 2004.

Although the new mechanised pool cover cost nearly £7,000, with an interest-free Carbon Trust loan, this investment will be paid back in less than four years from the money saved each year on the energy bills.

Jane Corwin, the school bursar says, “The loan has enabled the school to make real and tangible energy savings, as well as making a lasting upgrade to the pool environment”.

 

Publications

 
 
 
 
Starter Pack - Schools
This Energy Saving Starter Pack provides advice for schools on saving energy quickly and easily at little or no cost.

 
Schools Resource Pack
This resource pack contains four guides from the Carbon Trust designed to help you to manage your energy use by identifying energy saving opportunities and providing practical help.

 
 
 

Useful links

 
 
 
 
Department for Education and Skills
DfES - Information and advice on all stages of education and learning
 
 
DfES Sustainable Schools
New site specifically developed to consolidate all sustainability issues for schools from the DfES in one site. Relevant frameworks are 'buildings and grounds' and 'energy and water'.
 
 
 

Further Information

Energy-Efficiency Loans
The Carbon Trust provides interest free loans to invest in energy saving projects such as improved lighting, boilers or insulation.

Further information on the schools sector can be found in Savings by Sector - Schools.