If your school is wanting to really reduce its carbon footprint and change its sustainability for the long term then you will most likely be looking at installing LED lighting, EV charging points, heat pumps or rooftop solar as your options. These types of projects often require investment and as school budgets get tighter it can be challenging to find a solution.
The great news is there are funding schemes open to schools to help with such projects. In our blog we’re going to be highlighting a few of those available.
This grant is for state-funded education institutes to help provide support towards the costs of the purchase, installation and infrastructure of electric vehicle chargepoints.
The installations for these can usually cost around £1,500 to £2,500 depending on the area and the type of installation and with this grant you can get 75% off the cost to buy and install these chargepoints up to a maximum of:
£2,500 per socket
40 sockets across all sites including applications previously made via the Workplace Charging Scheme.
To find out more and apply visit – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/workplace-charging-scheme-for-state-funded-education-institutions
This fund isn’t focused directly on energy efficiency, however, that’s not to say it wouldn’t have a knock-on effect. The Condition Improvement Fund is focused on improving vital areas within schools that are needed for the basic functioning of the school. So, while this may not seem like a direct option, it could be a possible route for installing energy efficient technologies as replacements for sections your school needs upgrading i.e. air source heat pump to replace an old boiler for example.
Schools are either part of bodies that are eligible for school condition allocation (SCA) or eligible for CIF (Condition Improvement Fund), this can be depending on the school’s size and type.
For example:
Local authorities, larger multi-academy trusts (MATS) and larger VA school bodies would receive direct school condition allocation (SCA) to invest into priorities across their schools.
Smaller academy trusts, smaller VA bodies and sixth-form colleagues can bid for CIF.
You can check eligibility by visiting here – School capital funding – GOV.UK. You’ll also find more details on who the funding is for and how the funding is allocated.
This round of funding is now closed for new applicants, however 2 further phases are planned, with applications for the next phase likely to open in the Autumn of 2025. The PSDS fund is focused on helping institutions decarbonise and improve energy efficiency in public sector buildings. Phase 4 was focused on heat decarbonisation through types of heat pumps. Other technologies such as installation upgrades or LED lighting can also be completed but they are minor parts this time round.
Key updates for this round are:
🍃 The funding will no longer be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Instead, the order in which grants are awarded will primarily be driven by the application’s grant carbon cost.
🍃 Applications must have a grant carbon cost of no more than £510 per tonne of direct carbon saved over the lifetime of the measures (£510/tCO2e LT).
🍃 The definition of ‘public sector organisation’ has changed to align with up-to-date legislation. Take note, this may impact the eligibility of higher education institutions.
There are slight changes to the process and scoring criteria each year, with the changes made to phase 4 likely to carry over into the next phase. You can find out the full details of phase 4 by visiting the Salix’s website here – https://www.salixfinance.co.uk/schemes/phase-4-public-sector-decarbonisation-scheme
If your school is looking at upgrading it’s lighting or heating systems to be more energy efficient and sustainable then you might want to find out what funding options are available. In our blog we look at what’s on offer to help you bring these projects to life.
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