Everyone wants to take action on climate change but the recent and unprecedented rises in electricity and gas prices have added further urgency to this issue.
Put simply, doing nothing is no longer an option. However, with many technologies, suppliers and funders in the market, many organisations do not know where to start or are worried about making the wrong decision for their estate.
Barker is an integrated property consultancy and trusted advisor to schools, trusts, colleges and universities across the country. Partnering with sector bodies such as the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), The Trust Network (TTN), Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), and Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL), we help promote best practices in estates and energy management in the Academies Sector.
Barker can help you navigate the complex world of energy and sustainability, provide you with professional, impartial advice and get you on the road to net zero.
What Action Can You Take to Mitigate the Impact of Rising Energy Costs?
There are 3 main areas where schools and trusts can implement change. These sustainability and energy efficiency upgrades will not only reduce carbon emissions but save money too.
1. Energy Procurement
You can buy your energy in an efficient and sustainable manner across your organisation. Using a specialist broker who understands the market and gets to know your organisation can help in finding the best tariffs and contracts. Contact us to learn more about energy procurement methods and choosing the right broker for your estate. We can guide you through the minefields of energy demand, capacity, tariffs and risks.
2. Reduce Energy Consumption
Reducing the amount of energy consumed will reduce your energy bills and carbon emissions. This can be achieved through a variety of projects from insulation to LED lighting and building management systems. Barker can advise you on the most suitable and cost-effective methods for reducing your energy consumption and eliminating energy waste. For advice on energy efficiency strategies, contact us today.
3. Generate Renewable Energy
The more energy you can generate, the less reliant you will be on energy companies and the less impacted you will be by shifting energy prices. A school can typically generate 25% of its electricity on-site from Solar PV panels. Funding solutions are available to enable schools and trusts to generate their own renewable energy even if they do not have available capital to install panels. For a FREE Solar PV assessment contact us today.
“Many of our clients have already met or exceeded their 2030 carbon reduction targets.”
Using the Barker Energy 360 process, our dedicated team of sustainability consultants can support and guide you on your sustainability journey. Barker manages the entire process, from start to finish – letting you focus on delivering your educational goals.
Barker is an integrated property consultancy and trusted advisor to schools, trusts, colleges and universities across the country. We help develop and implement energy management strategies that save money, reduce carbon emissions and engage with your staff, students and community. We are proud to work with many of the largest Multi-Academy Trusts in the UK.
From undertaking a full energy audit of your estate to identify opportunities for energy improvements and creating a detailed energy transformation plan to overseeing the delivery of energy efficiency projects and monitoring their effectiveness, we provide an end-to-end service.
A key part of our energy and sustainability service includes identifying funding options for energy projects. There are several sustainability grants for schools and energy efficiency grants for schools, such as the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) and Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF). There are also different funding avenues to explore, like Less is More Capital and the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
We can recommend the most suitable environmental grants to fund your energy transformation, providing complete transparency into the pros and cons of each. The funding landscape is ever-evolving and lack of budget is no longer a barrier to implementing change. Our funding experts and bid writers can help you to obtain the funding you need for your projects.
When you’re considering working with a sustainability consultant for schools and trust, it’s important to ensure you’re entrusting the right company. You can contact Barker for energy and sustainability services in confidence knowing;
We are not salespeople. We do not favour particular products, technologies, finance models or procurement routes. Our impartial advice will help you make the best decision for your organisation and obtain the best value.
We help you through the whole process from strategy to delivery and beyond. We provide clear, transparent proposals with no hidden surprises.
We build long-term partnerships with our clients. Our aftercare services help you manage and monitor your projects to ensure effective operation and protect your investment.
We are not generalist sustainability consultants. We are education estates experts. As such, we know how education organisations are governed, operated and financed so we can provide solutions that comply with financial regulations.
We have a proven track record of project delivery with organisations throughout the UK. We know how to deliver projects on live education sites prioritizing safety and ensuring business as usual.
To find out more about how Barker can support your organisation to save carbon and save money, contact us today. Whether you run a secondary school, sixth-form college or university, we can support you with your sustainability goals and help you to improve energy efficiency.