Updated: 24th September, 2024
Created: 17th August, 2022
Robert joined Barker in 2002 and is a Partner based in our Braintree office. A Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, he has over 20 years’ experience of all core building surveying services and provides strategic estates advice to key accounts in the education, commercial, ecclesiastical and public sectors.
An education specialist, he provides the following services: estates and energy strategy, asset management planning, project management and capital funding applications.
Robert works closely with clients to plan and implement energy efficiency and sustainability strategies to save money, reduce carbon emissions and meet ESG objectives.
As a RICS Certified Historic Buildings Professional he provides conservation consultancy for clients with listed and historic buildings.
Robert is an experienced APC Assessor and Chairman and is also an external examiner for Anglia Ruskin University
As a Partner Robert leads the Business Development and Marketing function at Barker, builds relationships with key sector bodies and helps steer the strategic growth of the company.
Email: rgould@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01279 648057
What is happening with energy prices?
The seismic shocks to the energy market experienced earlier this year show no signs of abating, putting severe strain on school budgets. Wholesale electricity prices are over 500% higher and Gas over 600% higher than this time last year which is directly impacting the price schools are paying for energy.
So far the Government has resisted calls for financial support to help offset this unexpected increase to operating costs. Until and unless this changes, the only option is for schools and trusts to take action to mitigate the effect of energy inflation.
Scope for saving
Although this presents a huge challenge for schools and trusts, the evidence shows that there is significant scope for reducing consumption across the school estate. Based on a recent survey, Barker discovered that around 60% of the energy consumed at a typical school is when there are no students in the building.
Based on our analysis of 350 of the largest trusts in the UK representing 5200 schools, eliminating the gas use whilst schools are closed (24%) would save £45million. Halving the non-open element (30%) of electricity consumption would save £96 million.
For a typical primary school in 2022-2023 with a utility bill between £80-120,000 a saving of £20-30,000 should be achievable.
For a typical secondary school with a utility bill between £300,000-£400,000 a saving of £70-100,000 should be achievable.
What can be done? Quick wins and housekeeping.
Schools looking for quick, low-cost initiatives to save money should consider the following:
1.Understand your energy data – getting a thorough understanding of your current consumption costs little but can help with effective procurement, inform target setting, identify opportunities for saving and help engage building occupants to make behavioural changes.
2. Optimise controls and programmers – ensuring time clocks and controls match operational use. Look at putting new or improved controls on equipment such as sandwich fridges and water heaters.
3. Temperature settings – review setting on boilers, air conditioning units, local programmers and states and minimise the use of temporary heating where possible. If your school has a Building Management System (BMS) this may be outside the capabilities of site staff and you may need a qualified engineer but this is often money well spent to ensure systems are running efficiently.
4. IT equipment – Ensure all IT equipment is switched off when not in use (not just put in standby mode) and server/hub rooms are not set below 24degrees C
5. Lighting – ensure everything is switched off when not in use. Consider a review of operational hours for sports hall and external lighting.
6. Commercial/community use – where spaces are let out, review the rates charged to reflect the uplift in energy prices.
You can view a recording of our webinar on energy saving and housekeeping WATCH HERE
You may also be interested in our blog post Energy & Sustainability Advice For Schools And Trusts where we looked at longer term solutions and large scale programmes that can drive further savings.