Tip
Use a seven-day time switch to help you manage your energy usage on vending machines.
With energy costs on the up, up, up, taking big chunks out of school budgets along the way, we wanted to provide you with some quick and easy tips to help you save money where and when you can!
Whether you are an independent school, part of an Academy Trust or a school that has your energy contract managed through your local authority, you can join our specially created schools service any time you like.
If your vending machine has non-perishable items, then switching it off when the school day ends is an easy way to save on energy bill. It costs around hundreds of pounds per year to keep these machines running, but, by switching them off out of hours, you could save over a hundred pounds every year instead.
Use a seven-day time switch to help you manage your energy usage on vending machines.
Remember that PCs and monitors use a lot of energy when switched on but not in use. At the very least, all computers in your school should be set to ‘hibernate mode’ after not being used for 10 minutes.
Monitors are responsible for almost two-thirds of a computer’s total energy consumption, with each monitor costing you upwards of £50 a year if left on 24hrs a day, so encouraging staff and pupils to switch them off after use could see a significant cost saving for your school.
It is encouraged to use natural light in classrooms when possible; it’s not only good for your bottom line, but also great for your pupils, too, with studies showing that pupils are more productive when working in natural daylight. It’s a win-win!
Encourage your teachers to fully open their blinds before classes start and to always check on the amount of available light at the beginning of each lesson. This will allow them to choose the best lighting for their pupils. Oh, and keeping windows and skylights clean and clear will help you with all of the above, too.
This leads us nicely on to our next suggestion…
Your school should have a policy of reminding staff and pupils to play their part by turning off lights when they leave a room as this could cut your lighting costs by up to 15%.
LED Lights use up to 85% less energy
LED Lights use up to 85% less energy than traditional bulbs. They improve the quality of light and much longer than older bulbs.
LED replacements for fluorescent, halogen, and incandescent lamps can run with no maintenance for more than a decade, while the costs of purchasing them are repaid through the savings you’ll make on your energy.
It’s important to ensure that electrical devices and appliances are turned off throughout the holiday times. You should also be aware that many devices in standby mode continue to consume electricity.
Having a checklist of all of your electrical equipment – lights, printers, PCs, photocopiers, projectors, vending machines, water heaters, TVs etc. – will allow you to check all of those machines are turned off before the gates are shut for the holidays.
You can also help to cut costs by switching your energy source. Solar panelling is an eco-friendly and efficient alternative that can work alongside your current supply of electricity.
If you’re interested in finding out more about how switching your lighting to LED can help your school save money, please get in touch with our team using the button below.
LASER and nPower Business Solutions (nBS) came together in 2024 to develop a Social Value plan as part of the 2024 – 2028 Electricity Flexible Procurement and Supply Framework. Helping food banks was at the top of the list. Read all about the food banks nominated and the difference the funding has made.
Launching July 2024, TotalEnergies, in partnership with LASER, launched their community fund competition as part of a joint social value initiative. Available exclusively to TotalEnergies customers on our Flexible Procurement Framework, they had a £5,000 fund open to applicants who wanted to make a difference to their community centre.
We are very proud to be working with one of our energy suppliers, nPower Business Solutions on several social value initiatives that support our customers and the communities they represent. One of the projects was collaborating with an education charity, Energy Sparks to deliver energy workshops to schools.