Strategic Energy Procurement & Funding Services

The Warneford Green Net Zero Consortium has been designed to facilitate decarbonisation initiatives across the education estate.

Our vision is to create a service that can support schools in assessing the existing condition of their built environment and infrastructure and provide a costed prioritised programme of fabric condition improvements, energy efficiency measures, energy generation, plus a transition towards decarbonisation.

Green Net Zero & Warneford Consulting

Green Net Zero and Warneford Consulting have collaborated to provide schools with a full suite of energy-related services to support their transition towards a future decarbonised estate.

Schools are increasingly looking at their estates not only in the context of suitability, but also sustainability. Schools Net Zero is both a mantra, and the goal. Or at least, it could and should be. That’s where the Warneford Green Net Zero Consortium can help.

We understand schools are unclear about how best to start their journey, what funding is available, what type of green finance complies with the Academy Trust Handbook, what levels of return on investment can be accrued for the different types of renewable energy options, and which are appropriate for their school buildings.

We appreciate that this can be overwhelming and complicated to navigate, and we aim to make the process as simple as possible, providing access to market-leading partners and technologies that cover all aspects of estate decarbonisation.

Together, we help schools understand the existing performance of their building’s fabric and in a period of rising gas and electricity costs, what their return on investment is for appropriate renewable energy technologies and reduction behaviours.

Warneford Consulting provides a hub and a network of independent, academy funding and estate strategy specialists, working exclusively with schools to maintain, improve and optimise their built assets – resulting in sustainable, efficient, and quality teaching facilities.

Energy Services: Questions & Answers

What is the Department for Education’s (DfE) Energy Efficiency Grant?
What is the DfE’s sustainability and climate change strategy?
How many UK schools have solar panels? Is planning permission required?
The number is currently unknown, but rough estimates are around 13% – 15% of UK schools now have solar of some capacity.
For school solar installations in the UK, regulations as of April 2015 typically classify projects as permitted development, which means they don’t need full planning permission if they meet certain conditions:
1. Solar panels on roofs or walls must not protrude more than 200mm.
2. On pitched and flat roofs, panels must be at least one meter away from the external edges.
3. For flat roof installations, panels should not extend more than one meter above the roof surface and should not be the highest part of the building, excluding chimneys.
4. Ground-mounted solar arrays must be no larger than 9m², not extend beyond three meters in any direction, and not exceed four meters in height.
However, permitted development rights do not apply in the following situations:
1. Installations on listed buildings, within the grounds of a listed building, or on a site designated as a scheduled monument.
2. Installations on buildings within Article 2(3) designated land unless the equipment is installed on a wall or roof slope facing a highway
3. If there is more than one ground-mounted system within the property’s boundaries.
For installations larger than 50 kW, prior approval from the Local Planning Authority is required. This process, less detailed than a full planning application, mainly evaluates the design and external appearance, particularly regarding potential glare impacts on neighbouring properties.
How much energy is used by schools in the UK?
What is a school energy policy?

A school energy policy is a commitment to become more energy efficient to reduce the environmental impact of activities and save money for the school. These policies typically state several actions that are adopted and reviewed in line with local authority or trust wide targets. Some inclusions might be scheduled regular school walk-around audits, the adoption of energy-saving solutions, and the education of pupils and staff on energy awareness.

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Testimonials

Tim looks to develop collaborative partnerships with his clients and his supply chain partners. Tim and his team have recently developed a new product that seeks to provide a stepping-stone for schools wishing to explore their cost and carbon options and base their decarbonisation strategy on qualified and quantified data.

Paul Edmond

CFO

The trust are delighted to have been awarded CIF for the renewal of much of the school’s life expired roofing. The trust were very happy with the scope and all round quality of the bid. We are now using Warneford Consulting for energy related services too.

Mark Stebon

School Business Manager

The trust is delighted with the recent solar pv installation and are looking forward to achieving both electricity cost savings and reducing our carbon emissions. Our thanks to all parties who have contributed to make this happen.

Mark Midgley

Head of School

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