Schools' climate emergency fund 2020-21
In February 2019, Leicester City Council declared a Climate Emergency. The council is committed to addressing the emergency through our own services and projects. In the Children’s Capital Improvement Programme (CCIP4) funding was allocated to the schools’ climate emergency. This programme was designed to carry out carbon reduction schemes in maintained schools over and above the planned schemes already announced.
Further information
In this programme a number of maintained schools were allocated funding and support to deliver energy efficiency measures including solar panels (solar PVs). Energy efficiency measures typically included but were not limited to:
- LED light replacement
- Timers and automatic lighting controls
- Thermostatic radiator valves
- Building Energy management systems (BEMS)
- Insulation
Each school in the programme received an independent whole site survey ‘Switching to Low Energy’. The survey looked at over 100 different technologies and suggest all those suitable for your school, aiming to reduce the energy-spend to the lowest possible level.
As a priority, funding was provided to part-fund solar panels (solar PVs) because solar panels cannot be fully funded solely by Salix Finance (and need match funding which is provided by Leicester City Council). Following the survey, the council did, in conjunction with the school, apply for additional funding from Salix Finance1 to fund energy efficiency measures. There were no up-front costs to the school throughout this process. All maintained schools had a site survey at no cost to them.
Support was provided to school leaders throughout the process including advice and attending governing body meetings. There were two identical webinars for school leaders and governors to attend to find out more about the programme and ask questions. These will be via Microsoft Teams. To attend please follow the links below:
Recordings of each sessions will be available afterwards – if you are unable to attend, a link will be sent.
Webinar one - 11 June 2020
Webinar two- 16 June 2020
Schools can find out about typical savings and benefits through case studies which are available at the bottom of this page.
If you have any specific questions at this point please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Lee Jowett
Schools' Climate Emergency Fund Lead
Environmental Education Coordinator
E: lee.jowett@leicester.gov.uk
T: 0116 454 2271
Salix provides funding for schools to improve their energy efficiency. Salix Finance Ltd. provides interest-free Government funding to the public sector to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and lower energy bills. Salix is funded by the Department for Education. Through the installation of energy-efficient technologies, schools can lower energy bills and create a more comfortable learning environment. Interest-free funding is available throughout the year for the following types of maintained school:
- Community
- Voluntary Aided
- Voluntary Controlled
- Foundation
- PRU
- Special School
Salix has Secretary of State approval for all maintained schools and colleges to take up Salix loans, however Salix Finance must be approved by the governing body. Once approved, school pays back the loan (via direct debit) from the savings of energy efficiency measures. Schools are never out of pocket or pay back more than they save. Maximum payback is eight-years. Solar panels take 12-14 years to pay back hence the need to partially fund them in this scheme, meaning payback will be under 8 years. Once payback is completed, the school continues to make the savings which can then be spent on other school-based activities.
Attachments
Please consider the environment.