Governments across the world are pledging that their countries will be Net Zero Carbon by 2050. This will result in increasing pressure on the private and public sectors to reduce carbon emissions. This pressure is likely to manifest as compulsory targets and fines for failure to meet emissions targets.
It is estimated that UK schools produce 9.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum, with secondary schools producing 42% of these emissions, 40% from primary schools and the remaining percentile from universities, academies and other schools. The largest contributor of carbon emissions in schools is heating buildings – with the majority of schools still reliant on fossil fuels. And this is exactly the reason that the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) was established. An element of the larger PSDS funding scheme called Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF) is currently underway.
Now in its second phase the LCSF grant funding is available to put in place or update an existing heat decarbonisation plan. The grant can either be used to create your decarbonisation plan or to help fund the implementation of an existing plan.
The deadline for Phase 2 Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund closed on 4th August for most public sector bodies and many schools and trusts think they have missed out. Well, you haven’t! The window for academies and maintained schools will reopen on 13th September 2021. There will be £3.5 million available to schools and trusts. The application process will close as soon as the fund is allocated, meaning that acting quickly is important.
Applications are also required to be ‘additional’, so a previously grant-funded plan would not be eligible, however an application may be successful if grant is required to implement an existing plan.
The Government funds these grants through Salix, an organisation set up to deliver decarbonisation initiatives in the public sector.
All applicants awarded funding must complete their heat decarbonisation plans before Thursday 31st March 2022. Barker’s experts will be discussing Phase 2 Low Carbon Skills Fund in a webinar on Monday 6th September, 11 AM.
Barker can help schools and trusts apply for funding, and plan and implement a decarbonisation strategy, just call us on 01279 647111 or drop us an email at mail@barker-associates.co.uk.
