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Key Drivers
Lower energy bills and better value for money
The most pressing rationale for addressing energy management relates to reducing costs and saving resources. The Retail Price fuel index rose in real terms by 26% in the 12 months to December 2006¹, which presents energy managers with a strong incentive to identify and act in a way that minimises energy wastage. A survey in Yorkshire and Humberside’s HE sector found that many organisations had renewals of their electricity contracts costing 40/50% more in 2005 than 2004, and this upwards trend continues. Most establishments could reduce energy costs by 10/20% through implementing simple actions that produce quick returns² . All cost savings on unnecessary energy use go straight onto the ‘bottom line’.Reducing carbon dioxide emissions
Although education buildings are not currently subject to sector wide targets for reduction of energy use or carbon emissions, there is an increasing emphasis on identifying ways in which the education estate can reduce its overall carbon footprint. The national carbon dioxide reductions required to meet the UK’s 2050 target of reducing our emissions by 60% will place obligations on all areas of the economy. If all sectors were to contribute equally to achieving the goal of 60% reduction by 2050, a 2% reduction in carbon emissions each year from now onwards would be required. There is no currently comprehensive data available about the total amount of energy use or carbon emissionsby educational buildings. A study by the Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, in 2005 estimated total HE building stock emissions to be about 0.54 Mt carbon (derived from approximately 7.4 TWh/year), equivalent to about one percent of total UK emissions from all sources (2% of total service sector emissions). This estimate suggests that the likely contribution of carbon emissions from the FE sector would be at least the same amount.More efficient use of natural resources
Educational establishments can be ideal for implementing combined heat and power (CHP). This combines power generation with heat production, and is a recognised costeffective solution where year-round heating as well as electricity demands are needed.There is an increasing level of interest in the use of renewable energy resources. Using renewable energy can cut energy bills significantly and also contribute to ways of reducing carbon emissions. Renewable energy can be generated from a range of energy sources including wind, wave, tidal, solar, hydro, geothermal and biomass. These forms of generation offer an enormous potential energy resource. The UK has one of the best onshore and offshore wind resources in the world. The potential energy resource available from biomass (including wood, crops, or organic wastes) is being realised at many installations around the UK for providing heat and/or power in installations ranging from individual wood-fuelled boilers in households to large scale biomass-fired heat and electricity generation schemes. Many technologies have been operating in other European countries for a number of years and are now starting to be deployed in the UK in increasing numbers, for example ground/air source heat pumps, solar electricity from photovoltaics and solar thermal heating.
New energy technologies
There is also a range of new energy technologies that are being developed to provide heat or power. These new technologies may include microgeneration, fuel cells or hydrogen technologies, all of which are currently at early stages of deployment into economically viable energy solutions, but which are being actively adopted in early demonstration sites. A number of educational establishments are investigating how these new technologies can provide cost effective energy as well as providing an educational resource for learners and the local community about sustainable energy.Regulations and taxes
There are an increasing number of energy- related regulations and energy taxes that are directly relevant to educational establishments, which aim to achieve reductions in the environmental impacts from buildings.The Climate Change Levy is a tax applied to energy used in the non-domestic sector (industry, commerce, and the public sector). The aim of the Levy is to encourage these sectors to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Businesses and public sector pay the Levy through their energy bills.
The EU Emissions Trading Scheme controls carbon emissions from larger energy using plant such as boiler houses. The threshold for participation is 20 MW so it is unlikely that FE sites will be eligible for consideration at present, but the Scheme may change in the future.
The EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive aims to deliver substantial reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from all buildings, both domestic and nondomestic, by 2010. The Government is implementing the Directive through the requirement for all buildings to have an Energy Performance Certificate by 2008. All buildings occupied by a public authority or visited by a large number of people with a total floor area over 1000m² will be required to display a current energy certificate showing its energy performance. Regular inspections of boilers and air conditioning units, and re-evaluations of building performance, will also form part of the requirement.
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